What I would like to see discussed in the magazines . . .

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Permalink Reply by Glenn V on September 26, 2008 at 12:28am

I haven't seen any articles that cover room sizes. For example what is a small and average kitchen , main bath , master bedroom etc. I found myself measuring rooms to get ideas on space.I know it is all subjectable for each individual but most online plans don't list room sizes ,esp bathrooms. Also how about interviewing companies on their products like geothermal companies "water furnace", solar panel companies, lighting companies, you can even do a plumbing article for water saver toilets -brands,and faucets-showers ,energy star appliances.

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Permalink Reply by Dee on October 2, 2008 at 1:50pm

I second Glen on average room sizes. What is too small - what is extravagant etc.

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Permalink Reply by Glenn V on October 5, 2008 at 12:07pm

With log home owners being I believe more aware of the environment I was thinking articles on green ideas that could save energy and also money would be a good idea.There are so many things to write on that it could be a regular article in every issue. Here is a short list. Hot air,hot water , electric, solar; geothermal;low E windows; positioning of the house to the site; roof overhang; water saver faucet kits and toilets; water heaters; energy efficient furnaces and A/C; low maintence landscaping-windbreaks; inverters; off grid systems; wind generators; low voc paints & stains; ecco friendly flooring like wool carpet, linoleum, bamboo, reclaimed wood; set back thermostats; flouresent and led lights; green switches; energy star appliances; pellet stoves; fireplace inserts; etc.

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Permalink Reply by Rose Glenn on March 12, 2009 at 3:26pm

I just formed a group on green building that you might want to check out (go to the Groups tab at the top of the page). As someone who wants to build a "green" log home, I'm hoping we can all share our success (and horror!) stories about building green and getting back to nature. I'm also setting up a website which lists some sites that I've uncovered in my many years of research that I hope will help potential home builders: www.green4usa.org (This is an informational website only, not a plug for some business). Thanks for sharing!

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Permalink Reply by Joe on October 5, 2008 at 2:06pm

Glenn,
I highly reccommend the following web site done by Lynette who has done a great job of detailing all of her trials and tribulations in trying to get a log home built. Her articles are very well detailed on many of the subjects that you have brought up with references to suppliers etc. She is not afraid to research out a product and then walk away from it and explain from a practical sense why she made her decision. She is brutally honest in telling about the problems trying to get loans and dealing with banks. Most importantly she isn't trying to sell you anything.

One of the members of this blog also contributes to Lynettes.

http://log-homes.thefuntimesguide.com/
Joe

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Permalink Reply by Shelley Martinez on October 12, 2008 at 12:37pm

Joe - I second the reccommendation of Lynnette!

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Permalink Reply by Dee on October 5, 2008 at 3:29pm

Let's talk heating - pros/cons, costs, upkeep, labor, need for back-up heating, life expectancy of product etc. and everything else
1. soapstone heater (Tulivki or similar) versus soapstone stove (WI stove with soapstone inside) versus soapstone fireplace liners and heating your home with wood
2. radiant
3. geothermal - not sure if this is the same as radiant or not - I need information
4. combo
5. include heating the home as well as heating water (can they work on the same system?)
6. solar
7. propane
8. clean coal
9. ?????

I know very little heating a home (I live in CA and we have small wall gas heaters that we use only about two months out of the year) - so we need help and info here. Thanks for listening - D.

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Permalink Reply by Anne on October 14, 2008 at 2:41pm

"So You Have a Log Home....Now What?"
As a new log home owner, I'd love to see an article about routine maintenence... What needs to be done monthly? What needs to be done annually? I've picked Shelly Martinez's brain a bit about this and she has a "to do" list categorized by seasons - I would love to see this information published. Thanks for all of your great information and inspiration so far. Anne

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Permalink Reply by Denise on October 15, 2008 at 9:21am

How about maintenance for the older log home, log replacement, chinking, windows? Some of us own very modest log homes, how about decorating/landscaping on a budget and for small spaces?

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Permalink Reply by Michael McCarthy on October 15, 2008 at 10:23am

Denise & Company...

Hey, you've just done our planning for us! Thanks for all the great ideas. I've always said that we get our best advice from readers. Please keep them coming. If we're not covering certain topics in the magazine, please let us know---our goal is to make Log Home Living and Log Home Design both inspirational (yep, lots of gorgeous pictures) AND practical/educational (maintenance, how-to stories, etc.). It's this combination that helps everyone, whether you're already living in a log home or buying land and dreaming of the toasty hearth a few winters from now...

Have a wonderful day, everyone!

Mike McCarthy
Log Home Living

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Permalink Reply by Greg Beck on January 14, 2009 at 1:13am

I'd like to see an articles about controlling your vacation home, via yor main homes computer, I hear you can smart wire your utilities, also a way to quickly winterize and shut down the plumbing, so my weekend place can go ice cold in the winter without having to keep the heat at 40-50 degrees when I'm not there, who needs the xtra heating bills !, Also ways to build for efficient natural cooling, re: air flows.Also an article on alternative kitchen counter tops, metals, concrete, ect'' any thing outside the box. Thanks Greg Beck

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Permalink Reply by Dee on October 30, 2008 at 1:49pm

more:
1. how about a discussion on septic systems with the pros and cons? and of course include upkeep issues. That would be so helpful for a Spring issue as that's when many will be putting in systems.
2. I'm with Denise re: small homes. It can be frustrating to see the lavish and large homes in the magazines when you are designing, building, planning, and decorating a small home. Features could include: best utilization of space; storage and hidden storage; what are must haves, nice to have, and just pure luxury items - and when luxury might be worth it; ideas for guest rooms as double duty rooms so as not to have a lot of unused space; room size ranges; etc.
3. Decks, sun rooms, and screened in porches - how to make the best use of these to maximize living space in all seasons. Can I put "indoor" type furniture on a screened in porch? - for example extra sleeping for those hot humid summer nights or for the kids to camp out. How do you heat a sun room? - or cool it? is it separate or included in the regular house heating/cooling?
4. Hot tubs: on the deck or not? wood burning or gas? cedar or other? I am intrigued with the cedar hot tubs and the notion of heating with a small wood burning stove - would love to see some articles about building an outdoor spa on the deck - with hot tub, outdoor shower, etc.
5. Let's have more mudroom (shed) ideas - the brief article we got was just not enough.
6. What about the basement? - how do you keep the humidity in check?
7. What about a feature series - that takes a family through the whole process - sort of like Blog Cabin was indented to be - with more down to earth realistic issues, decisions, and problems. Start with the dream - move on to picking out and purchasing property, planning a house, picking a builder, making all the choices that go into building a house from scratch (plugs, lights, doors, windows, etc.), deciding on a decorating style - and picking out furniture and foo foos, naming the cabin, etc. You could feature different folks with different experiences in the same phase etc. Do you need a volunteer? pick me! pick me! :-)

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