March 2013 Blog Posts (15)

One day, I’m convinced, you’ll be able to buy your log home online, probably from Amazon. I don’t begrudge them their success. I have an Amazon credit card for the reward points because I buy so much stuff from them. I wish they sold even more because I love free shipping. But they’re killing independent stores. I wouldn’t mind, except one of them is ours.

That’s right. The Log Home Bookstore has gone out of business. I remember when I started at Log Home…

Dad was a forester, earning his degree from WVU (West Virginia University) and working in the woods or around timber for most all of his life. Spending a season or two in fire towers he passed along his respect for the proper care and treatment of forests to his kids and immediate family – especially his respect and concerns for fires. When building my log home in 1992, he…

Timber Block has been answering the Top 10 Frequently Asked Questions. Number 8? What's included when purchasing a Timber Block home?

This is a question that is asked all the time from Timber Block customers. Here is a rundown of the inclusions when purchasing a Timber Block home:*

-Complete Wall System

-Complete Floor System

-Complete Roof…

We do build more than log homes....this tree was being chopped down for firewood by a tree removal service and I stopped and bought it but had no idea its' final use until I had pontificated for several months. It is a rot-free Honey Locust weighing aout 8000#s and attracts more attention than a billboard.…

On Tuesday, March 19th, 2013 Beaver Mountain Log & Cedar Homes was host to builders, crew members, material suppliers and several speakers to learn about new building products and options available in the housing market including spray foam insulation, geo-thermal heating/cooling, Superior Wall and roofing options. After a BBQ lunch and prize give-a ways, our New Retail Store was unveiled and opened for business. Despite the snowstorm outside, it was great day to educate and…

There are some that think the logs used in log homes are created equal. That's why many potential consumers think all logs should all be priced the same. As with any product, there are differences in quality, thus differences in price. Let's take a…

It is underway!

As part of Timber Block's March Madness event, we are hosting a special 3 day Open House at our Model Home in NC.

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Here's something to think about if you're thinking of building a log home.

I asked my friend Greg Ebersole, the Residential Mortgage Banker for Susquehanna Bank his thoughts about mortgage rates for 2013 and here's what he said:

We do expect rates will increase as we go throughout the year.  I think most clients realize these low rates will end at some point and most importantly when inflation increases it’s a double edge sword, rates increase and costs go up.

For…

I'm preparing to stain my newly constructed log home for the first time and as everyone here knows there are WAY too many options! I'm looking for input on what stain to use and why. Thanks in advance!

Although we've blogged before that we do more than just log homes, I thought you might like to see and read about some of the projects Appalachian Log Structures has been working on this year that are more than just log homes.

A few years ago our…

People who make their living selling log homes regularly inform me at log-home shows that they want customers who’re ready to build, not just wishful thinkers. But anyone wishing for a log home is ready to build it. They just haven’t cleared the hurdles to make it happen.

The past four or five years, a lot of people have been postponing their dream. Now, instead of sitting on the sidelines they’re finally making their move.

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Every time I walk out of my home through my garage, I cringe at the number of bins and boxes piled high along the sides. There are storage units that look more organized. I think I would be less annoyed if I hadn't actually invested in organizational products that were supposed to prevent this exact type of thing. But life happens, and with it comes enough clutter to fill, well, a garage.

Some of the cleanup is simple - getting rid of things that are no…

Welcome Spring! With such a light winter in the South this year it seems that the carpenter bees are beginning to hatch a bit earlier than normal. If you live in a home (log home or otherwise) with wooden structures like porches, decks, fascia trim, etc. now is the time to begin thinking about how to protect these area of your home from this wood destroying…

March Madness has arrived at Timber Block Insulated Log Homes! (USA Only)

As part of our special March features, we are very excited for our upcoming three day Open House, happening at our model home near Hickory, NC!

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We received a call from a client requesting a replacement for a failed carved arbor that had rotted twice in the past.

He didn't want anything to do with pressure treated.

We discussed teak as a replacement although purchasing 8" X 12" teak out of old growth is really quite ghastly in expense whereas we have a native specy that does not rot nor shrink and was used for fence posts as they will last for 50 years in the ground with no treatment. Eastern red cedar is another name…