An online (log home) community for log home enthusiasts.

Log Home Blogs (307)

Buying an old log house

I have found an old log house on a concrete foundation. Before I buy it I need to evaluate if it is in good shape. I don't want to pay an appraiser for something I could easily do myself. What do I look for to make sure the logs are sound? Is there a moisture content I should check for in bottom tier of logs? How do I know if there is rot, insects, etc? What do I look for? Thanks Continue

Added by gary jolivet on July 9, 2009 at 7:14pm — 5 Comments

Close to a week since I took the yard over, it's finally starting to get cleaned up...

DISCLAIMER: I forgot my camera today, and these are from my cell phone... This is starting to look like an area that could be be usable to build the log home. After a week of cleaning the weeds, it's starting to be usable. I will be focusing on getting the pads in place so the logs… Continue

Added by Alan D on July 8, 2009 at 3:57am — 3 Comments

Mo' cleaning, pulled last truck out of the far corner...

Continuing to get the yard cleaned up so I can build the pads to support the sills. I also cleaned more of the weeds up, that's slow going for me as I don't have any power tools to handle that (i.e., string trimmer), so just take it slowly and hack at them with a double edged weedi… Continue

Added by Alan D on July 6, 2009 at 12:55am — No Comments

Starting to get things cleaned up...

Yep, that's where I'm gonna build my dream! :-/ And started to get the area cleaned up, there was a bunch of trash, old tires, wheel barrel, old truck parts, etc....I stacked some of the wood against the fence for the time being...

… Continue

Added by Alan D on July 4, 2009 at 11:30pm — No Comments

Seriously, FREE FLOOR PLAN ANYONE?

PrecisionCraft Log & Timber Homes designed this plan for one of our readers.. In case you missed my last blog post, we're looking for people in the planning stages to be part of our "Y… Continue

Added by Rachel M. on June 23, 2009 at 2:51pm — 7 Comments

My first chainsaw carving...

Hopefully it looks like a mushroom, kinda-sorta if you squint… Continue

Added by Alan D on June 23, 2009 at 12:33am — 2 Comments

Paleobotany - How old is an old tree?

In the summer of 1968 I was working for the U.S. Forest Service in southeast Alaska, cruising potential timber sales. During these trips to the various islands, I came across active logging sites with the proliferation of freshly cut stumps. The growth rings on these stumps made me wonder just how old these “old growth” forests were. Growth Rings in Living Trees Sitka Spruce and Western Hemlock In the spring of 1968 I had been on a forestry field trip to northern California and… Continue

Added by Western Log Home Supply on June 22, 2009 at 10:30pm — No Comments

Another piece solved...how to lift/move the logs...???

I'm sure that some of you following have been waiting to see how I will lift and/or move these logs around while I work on them. When I was back at Tim Bullock's yard we used a Cat loader, and that worked out excellent, but the problem is that I don't have a loader, and don't actuall… Continue

Added by Alan D on June 19, 2009 at 9:58pm — 4 Comments

When landscaping your new log home, deer proof plants are not your only concern!

We recently did some landscaping around our new log home. We spent hours talking to the local garden center about just the right shrubs and trees to plant that would not be devoured by the large local deer population. So we got our plants and did our landscaping. Everything looked great for about two weeks. This is what I saw on Saturday morning leading up to our six foot blue spruce tree.

… Continue

Added by BOB HUNTER on June 16, 2009 at 10:18am — 4 Comments

8 sided log cabin

Anyone ever built an 8 sided log cabin from their trees on their property? I am going to begin building one next month and will be using my new Norwood2000 bandsaw sawmill to cut the bottoms and tops for the logs to lay flush against each other. The only problem I can forsee is… Continue

Added by Kathie Wood on June 15, 2009 at 2:32pm — 12 Comments

LaVonne

Moved into an existing log home 2 years old that was set in a cleared field. It is a virtual empty canvas. I need help for landscaping. There is a circle drive in front of garage that former owner has native plants but it was totally consumed with dandelions. I sprayed for their demise, therefore also doing away with all broadleafs but all grasses are still intact. Now what??? Please give me some suggestions. The loghouse has 920 sq ft of decking wrapping around 3 sides so need suggestions for p… Continue

Added by LaVonne Amundson on June 14, 2009 at 9:56am — No Comments

My chainsaw to cut dovetails with!

I bought this chainsaw a while ago, and ordered a new bar for it that can utilize a 1/4" pitch chain. This is the type of bar/chain that most carvers use. This is also one of the smallest and lightest rear handle saws available. The Husqvarna 336 is the predecessor to the… Continue

Added by Alan D on June 14, 2009 at 1:02am — No Comments

And this is where I will finish the wigwam...

I found this rental property today that I will be renting to complete my log home. I know it looks a bit funky, but the landlord will clear the trucks out for me. It is graveled and will work out with a forklift, it is just a tad narrow which will present some challenges, but I think… Continue

Added by Alan D on June 14, 2009 at 12:00am — 4 Comments

One Couple's Journey to Build a Legacy Home

Many of us love hearing the "story behind the home." Here is a great one by PrecisionCraft Log Homes that I thought I would share... "Kelly and Marie didn’t have a favorite floor plan when they found the perfect build location amidst the Boise National Forest. In fact, they weren’t even set on building a custom timber frame home. After some searching, Kelly and Marie thought they had found the right home for them. Knowing their heart’s desire to have… Continue

Added by Jennifer Hetherington on June 12, 2009 at 2:13pm — No Comments

Announcing the Hearthstone Eye on Design Giveaway

Don't miss your chance to win a free log home design from one of North America's top producers of log homes. Enter today for your chance to win custom design services and construction services from Hearthstone Inc. Valued estimated at $15,000 ($3.00/sf. including travel), the prize includes a site visit and preliminary topographic survey along with preliminary 1/8" scale initial sketches and 1/4" CAD drawings. Any log profile will be designed and the winner is free to use the plans as they wis… Continue

Added by Neighborhood Host on June 11, 2009 at 11:06pm — No Comments

A big hearty THANKS to my good friend and master craftsman, Tim Bullock!

Many of you have watched on for the past couple weeks as I embarked on one of the greatest projects of my life, taking on the daunting task of building my own log home. Until now I haven't given too many details about my home, where I was actually starting it at, or who was hel… Continue

Added by Alan D on June 10, 2009 at 4:37pm — 4 Comments

summer

I have been busy working on the building lot and my driveway this summer but have not posted due to the loss of my mother. I know you all like the updates so I thought I would try and post one now. I have the building lot pretty much all cut off, I have been waiting for wetter weather to do some burning of brush and limbs, I also have been working on widening my road as well as pulling final stumps that were in my road. Last weekend we Place a culvert in a small stream that we needed to cross fo… Continue

Added by NEKVT on June 10, 2009 at 2:59pm — No Comments

Checking in cause it has been months. We've been battling the crunch and the dwindling as many other…

Checking in cause it has been months. We've been battling the crunch and the dwindling as many others here in So. California. Afraid our dream is getting further and further away only we are going to be in Show Low where we want to build sooner than we thought too. Still maybe a few years before we'd start our log home though. Home currently for sale with an offer. Praying for the best cause I will not imagine it getting any worst... Continue

Added by Kevin & Terri Mack on June 9, 2009 at 11:38pm — 3 Comments

Another log goes on the wigwam!

My starter kit is almost ready, and I'll be heading back to… Continue

Added by Alan D on June 6, 2009 at 5:30pm — No Comments

Alright ya'll. Who wants to be famous?

See all those stickies poking out of last year's Annual Buyer's Guide? That's right, We're planning another monster log home planning guide. And we need your help with 3 sections: 1. Homeowner Spotlights: These appear at the beginning of each of the 5 sections of the magazine. We will… Continue

Added by Rachel M. on June 5, 2009 at 2:29pm — No Comments