Professional Documents
Culture Documents
1. Brett Youngstrom
The Youngstrom family owns yellowstoneloghomes who have shipped over 10,000 log cabin kits
around the world from Idaho since 1962.
Keep your logs dry! I would suggest that you are certain you are getting dry logs for
your home. 20% moisture content is considered green. Kiln dried logs are usually dried
to 19%. 12% to 15% is better. With lower moisture content in the logs settling becomes
a non-issue. Provisions like settling jacks can be eliminated from the structure with dry
logs.
Long roof overhangs, covered decks, and proper landscaping should then be included
into the design to keep water off from the logs after they are installed. Roof overhangs
should be at least 3 feet. Sprinkler systems should be kept well away from the logs a
malfunctioning sprinkler head can spray logs and go undetected for months.
2. David S. Mann
David is the Chief Executive Officer of Alta Log Homes who have been building hand-made rustic
log cabins since 1971.
I think getting the design right is important for the following reasons: It will help you
get the house to work better on your land for energy efficiency and future maintenance,
as well as make sure it can be built within your budget.
3. John E. Schroeder
John owns Schroeder Log Home Supply a hardware marketplace for log home supplies and tools.
I would say the most important tip when building a log home is Design prudently.
This encompasses:
These considerations early on will make the maintenance of the home a cinch. Its when
the home is exposed to too much sun that you have to re-stain/re-finish your home much
more often, and its when the home is exposed to too much moisture that you run into
the eventual decay of wood. Plan to keep the sun and the moisture off your wood and
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4. Doug
Doug is a log cabin owner in Georgia United States.
For me, I would say that the #1 most important tip is properly protecting your home
from the elements (Water/rain/snow, termites, everything else). Now, this is true for
every home built in the world, sure. But, log homes and cabins can incur damage from
these elements far easier than traditional housing.
5. Joe Folker
Joe is the owner of Timberhaven Log Homes in Pennsylvania provide high quality kiln-dried logs
for your log home.
The single most important tip I can think of is Dont make your selection of a log
home manufacturer based on price alone. Every log home company supplies a different
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level of completeness and quality standard. Know what youre getting, via a detailed
estimate/quote, before making your decision.
6. Hank Schaffeld
Hank is the founder of Gold Valley Log Homes who provide expert advice in the design and
planning process for log cabin homes.
The most important thing that anyone can do when building a log home is to obtain
their log home building material package from a company that has a high degree of
integrity, who does all they promise from your initial conversation through the
completion of your log home.
That means that the material they provide performs as claimed and they not only have
the knowledge and personal experience to assist you with guidance beginning with your
home design through the construction process and completion of your home, but are
able to articulate that information in a way for you to make the right decision to have
the home of your dreams.
7. Billy Rioux
Billy is a log cabin owner in Canada and an enthusiast with a YouTube channel to document his
adventures.
Having built multiple log cabins my answer is; Find the best spot to built your cabin!
With the sun east to west facing the cabin is the best. Another one? Be friendly with
your neighbors!
8. Tod Parmeter
Tod is the founder and owner of Golden Eagle Log Homes which has been building log homes
since 1966.
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The #1 tip is to work with a company that has a solid reputation, plenty of experience
(so they are not practicing on your cabin) and treats the homeowner with respect from
day one.
9. Mark Long
Mark Long is a log cabin designer from Old Virginia Log Homes.
Air-dried logs are superior to kiln dried logs. When logs are air dried correctly, typically
6-8 months, they acclimatize to the atmosphere. Meaning the moisture content in the log
evens out to what it would be like when it is used in a log structure. So you get minimal
movement in the home and no need for adjustments on a regular basis. Yes there will be
pops and checking but that is normal.
Kiln dried logs are just that, the logs are put into a kiln and dried. Once the logs are
removed from the kiln and placed in the atmosphere they swell up with moisture. If they
are cut and put into your home at this point there will be issues as the logs acclimate and
begin to shrink. This is why many companies are now selling maintenance packages.
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18. Ruskee
Ruskee is a log cabin owner in the United States.
The most important thing is Location, Location, Location! It took me many homes to
figure that one out and its probably THE most important thing. Will my cabin face
south? Whats the average temperature in the middle of winter? Is there a hill to block
the winds? If there are high winds, where are the trees going to fall? How deep is the
well water?
Like I said: location, location, location.
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