Pros and Cons of Log Homes and Log Sidings.
We will be exploring many topics of Log Homes.
Ask Dan the Log Man, YOUR concerns and questions, with unbiased answers.
Bad experiences / Good experiences and YOUR experiences with log homes, You Tell It.
How YOU can pick the right log home manufacturer.
How to pick the right builder / dealer.
10 ways to a better log home.
Why it is not good to consider the price for a log home but the quality of the log.
Watch out for the cons, the money grabbers.
How to pick a professional log home dealer / builder.
How to pick a good log home finish and apply it properly.
Moisture content of log home logs and the pros and Cons.
Log home terminology and the proper questions to ask.
How to come out with a good experience when you are building your Dream Log Home.
HOW YOU CAN PICK THE RIGHT LOG HOME MANUFACTURER!
After 30 years of dealing with different log home companies it is still evident that they want to keep you guessing about who really is right.
For an example at one log home show a supposedly knowledgeable company salesman rep stated, “ all log home corners are good, there is no superior corner system.” I have always considered that the corner that does not rot is the right one to use. I have repaired many but and pass corners but never a stockade corner.
Another time a company rep stated we dry our logs to 16%, better than the industry standard. But he did not tell them that it was only surface dried to one inch in.
And still another person stated our company uses “Standing Dead Trees”, they are already dried. Who is he kidding? The average butt log has around 23% moisture content, the next log has around 18% MC and the top log has 12 to 13% MC. I built one log home that had too many butt logs and shrank about 8” on one side and 4” on the other equals a lop sided home with tremendous problems.
Listening to salesman is the first thing you DO NOT, do..
How people say things will make you believe things differently even if the info is the same. For example a Russian newspaper stated, “The United States runner came in next to last place and the Russian runner came in next to first. But they did not explain that there were only 2 runners in the race. The US newspaper stated the US runner beat the Russian runner. Both were right and yet what did you believe
The SECOND thing is basing your decision on cost.
Here is one example that really shows you need to base your decision on HOW LONG WILL THE LOG HOME LAST? And AT WHAT KIND OF COST to get to the finished product?
Years ago a couple came in with a log home plan they wanted and I gave them a cost for logs and setting them up. Later I found out that they decided to buy from another company. There logs were simply trees cut flat top and bottom and nothing else done. They even still had the bark on the logs.
There cost was half but really was it?
They could not lift any log by hand because they were green. The crane cost them $60 per hr and by the time they had the home stacked to 8 ft high walls their cost was $16,000.00 more than mine. Later there was even more problems. The home shrank or settled 8”. This caused them to change the trim and replace several windows that were broken from the logs pushing down on them. They also had to re-calk and chink most of the home every 2 or 3 years. Then because the logs were simply cut flat there were shelves or flat places for the water and snow to set on. With-in 8 years they had rot and eventually the home was tore down -
Which log home cost more the one that had a life time warrantee or the half price one?
Now that we have gotten the cons out of the way what should we really base our selection on?
There is basically 5 things to look for in the logs themselves:
1. Log profile = a Swedish cope with a tong and grove. This basically will allow the water to run off not setting on any flat surface.
2. Stockade corners = This allows for a solid corner so water and other things can’t set on the logs.
3. Dried logs to 15% = That is dried to the center of the log. Most log home companies only dry one inch into the log.
4. Drying kerfs’ = The one that is placed into the top of the log is the best. It allows for the air to dry nearly to the center of the log while eliminating most of the warping and twisting and cracking of the log. This also allows them to test the log for moisture content to the center of the log.
5. A Life time warranty.
There are very few log home companies that meet these standards or for that matter even meet 3 of them.
I used to say that when you look at the various warranties offered the longer the warrantee the better the log but there is one company that offers a life time warrantee without meeting the other requirements I have listed. But it would take a Philadelphia lawyer to even read the fine print and make anyting out of it. And it is virtually impossible to collect on the warrantee.
So again watch out for the con artist the log home industry is sadly full of them.
I have outlined the requirements for you to pick out the best log home for your dream home.
MAY YOU HAVE A GOOD EXPERIENCE
PS: please Email me with any questions: telh101@aol.com
Also to help with decorating your new home or an existing one go to: www.pic-a-dandystore.com
Have a great day,
Dan
