Nice interview from associated press. Article goes through main issues like how modern log homes can be very convenient and beautiful compared to the old image of log homes. Nothing new in here but article tells the background of the company.

There are some brave claims made in the article for example this – (log home) it can be 35 to 40 percent more energy efficient than a traditionally built frame home. It might be true, but on average, log homes have difficulties meeting new insulation standards on both sides of Atlantic Ocean. Anyway, the owner of the company seems to be very dedicated person. I think you should consider this option if you are looking to build a log home or a log cabin. Read the article over here and go to homepage of the company over here.

In the April framework deal the two parties agreed on using quotas as a solution to the lumber dispute that has been hampering trade relations. Now many industry associations and companies on both sides of the border are suggesting that governments should take some time to reconsider the details.

U.S. has strong demand for lumber products and domestic producers are not able to meet the demand. Now loggers and mills on U.S. side of the border are doing extremely well and their lobbying has given them wanted results. Unfortunately for primary producers NAHB has started almost opposite lobbying efforts. Value added producers like builders and various constructors benefit financially more than primary producers. Dilemma here is that primary producers are few, loud and organized, ram material users haven’t been too fast to react to the situation. Let’s hope that matter is settled smoothly, nobody wants to see housing market crash because of high material prices.

First Eurovision song contest victory for Finland with this outrageous band called Lordi!

Comments are now closed. If you want to reach me, please send me an email.

I don’t know how they found me but comment spam has been attacking me like an angry swarm of wasps. Took me a while to get the hang of comments moderation and management. I think that I get rid of comments all together. Nobody really used them and now they have become a time consuming problem.

Lately I’ve been paying some attention to a fact that Appalachian Log Homes are practically invisible on the press release front. Much smaller companies fret about their miniscule achievements, just take a look at this if you don’t believe me.

Now there is something very positive in the silence of the Appalachian Log Homes, sure they must have their fair share of customer complaints, but you can’t find them from the pages of any well-known review site. Downside of this invisibility is that you don’t get praises either. Appalachian Log Homes is a member of the Log Home Council so there shouldn’t be a problem with their credibility. They are also a listed company so it is easier to get hands on their financials. Fascinating company indeed, does anyone have any experience with them?

My quick trip to Iron Age gave some wonderful insights on the evolution of log home building techniques. Especially interesting detail was the process of log into rough boards.

I am determined to join that Iron Age association and their activities as much as I can. It is a good way to pick up the knowledge on how to build a primitive log home. Luckily I’ve been slaving away on numerous construction sites since youngster, so I don’t have to learn everything from start. Here are some learning goals that I have set for myself:

1. Learn how to choose right trees for a log home
2. Learn how to use wood to build a primitive log home
3. Learn practical woodworking skills
4. Learn to take it easy (oh, this I can do already)

Eventually, I’m hoping that I will be able to purchase a piece of land with suitable pine trees and then use my own logs to build a primitive log home. I will do it from start to finish and naturally there will be extensive documentation on it. I better install electricity otherwise you get to read the info via letters.

I visited Iron Age trade village replica here in Helsinki. Sommelo organization demonstrates various construction styles in the village, which this non-profit organization has built.

It was fascinating to see how ingenious solutions people had back then. Everything they knew is still valid in building today’s log homes. I have plenty of pictures of those huts and cabins. I will post them, as soon as I can find where my wife put them. Do you ever need help in finding your socks?

America’s Northeast has a strong growing trend of radiant heating systems. Other areas of the country are trailing bit behind. Builders cite that even heat and cleaner air combined with lower operating costs are the main factors favoring radiant heating.

In this Building Online article fireplaces were also found popular source for heating. However, traditional wood is not the favorite choice for fireplace heating, but gas is gaining acceptance.

In my opinion, log home owners belong to the group, which favors fireplace heating. Radiant heating system is especially good on tiled floors, which conducts heat much better than wood floors. Wood is the most common flooring material in log homes and it acts as an effective insulation layer, reducing advantages of radiant heat floors.

There is always the ceiling. Radiant heating can be placed under ceiling panels, which tend to be much thinner than flooring materials. This way radiant heating can be used in log home to a satisfactory degree, but cost of installation can be high, because this sort of installments are still quite rare and require skilled workers, which do not come cheap.

This family has generations involved in the running of their log home business. They started with small cabins but have been expanding their product slate into bigger log homes. This warm news article goes through family’s ideas of taking the business into the future.