An online log home community for log home enthusiasts.

July 2008 Blog Posts (19)

The "Tree Situation"

I'm starting to think all my blog posts are reflecting the theme of "what not to do at your log home" - I'll need to start focusing on the positive - I do do some things right!! Anyways, I had learned and heard early on to make sure there were no trees / shrubs / plants etc. that could touch, compromise the logs of our home. When I looked at the mature trees on my lot - it was a little emotional… Continue

Added by Shelley Martinez on July 31, 2008 at 6:09pm — 2 Comments

Share It

I think when I joined our group I was number 134 or close to it. Being that there were so few of us it was not surprising that very few were lucky enough to own a log home. At last count, I think the number of members is over 530 plus. With that come more folks who own log homes. But I find that most of the people who do own log homes simply state that they are owners and leave it at that. So my request of those of you who do own the home of our dreams is simple, PLEASE SHARE IT. Take some… Continue

Added by Ted on July 31, 2008 at 4:34pm — 5 Comments

Got granite countertops? Might want to check this out...

"...with increasing regularity in recent months, the Environmental Protection Agency has been receiving calls from radon inspectors as well as from concerned homeowners about granite countertops with radiation measurements several times above background levels. “We’ve been hearing from people all over the country concerned about high readings,” said Lou Witt, a program analyst with the agency’s Indoor Environments Division."

Not all countertops have elevated… Continue

Added by Shad on July 27, 2008 at 9:30pm — 2 Comments

Show season is upon us!

What is the best way to get face-to-face with industry professionals from the top log & timber home companies, maintenance experts, furniture craftsmen, building product dealers, and anyone else who can help build your dream home?

Attend a Log & Timber Home Show!

Our fall season line-up brings us around the eastern United States. We'll be going to Louisville, Charlotte, Milwaukee, Atlanta, Chantilly, and Tampa. Visit… Continue

Added by amber on July 25, 2008 at 4:42pm — 4 Comments

What does 'going green' mean to you? Is the term overused or diluted?

As a baby boomer raised by an energy-conscious mother (heaven help you if you left the water running or didn't turn the lights off when you left the room), I have been a fan of 'green' before the concept was cool.

I'm thrilled to see that the new focus on energy-efficiency, earth-stewardship and healthy products appears to be here to stay.

I'd like to get feedback from our community regarding what these terms mean to you: green - natural - sustainable - eco- (as in… Continue

Added by Laurie Sloan on July 24, 2008 at 5:57pm — 4 Comments

Log Home Neighborhood Now Has 500 Members!

As of 7:30 AM (East Coast Time), the Log Home Neighborhood has 500 members! We would take a minute to pat ourselves on the back for setting this up, but not only would that be corny, it would also take away the credit from the people who deserve it most: You.

Amazed. Blown away. Tickled pink.

These are some of the feelings we've collectively had in the few months since this block party got started. Without you all, we have no community, we have no Neighborhood, and to be… Continue

Added by Neighborhood Host on July 23, 2008 at 12:35pm — 8 Comments

Wishful Thinking

I find it amazing that there are so many people now who are "Log Home Neighbors". At last count there were 495 and growing. I also find it amazing that there are so many people from Florida who are members. Like me they have the vision of a different kind of life. Personally, I've been in Florida now about twenty years, coming from Westchester County in NY. I don't know about the rest of the members from Florida but for my part I'm tired of a year that seems to be made up of endless hot and… Continue

Added by Ted on July 22, 2008 at 10:07am — 7 Comments

My First Time(s)

Do you remember when you got the bug for log home living? When you decided that a log home would be the home of your dreams?

There are two occasions that stick in my mind that I thought I'd share. The first was when I was around 13 and we were visiting my dad's college roommate. About 20 miles east of Payson, AZ, in the White Mountains, is a small community called Kohl's Ranch, built in a valley along Tonto Creek. All sounds very westerny, doesn't it? Anyhow, this community is mostly… Continue

Added by Shad on July 21, 2008 at 9:00am — 11 Comments

Outdoor Lighting

I always had that dreamy vision of what my log home would look like lit up at night. I'm coming in from the lake on my boat (I don't have a boat yet but stick with me), pulling up to the dock and seeing my nicely lighted cabin like a beacon in the sky! Or it's winter, snow has covered the cabin, it's nighttime...well you get the picture. Anyways, the reason I bring this up is the other night when I was taking photos of my "Log home at night" - I… Continue

Added by Shelley Martinez on July 20, 2008 at 9:05pm — 2 Comments

DEADLINES!!

Well we've put a deadline on completion of our cabin. We want to move furniture in on Labor Day. And since the deadline was developed, every day feels like a "labor day". I'm sure all of you who have gone before me can attest to the rigors of wrapping up construction. We will visit our cabin every weekend (and have for the last two weeks) to finish the chinking, clean, finish the painting, clean, install various fixtures and hardware, clean, finalize arrangements with pest control, security,… Continue

Added by Anne on July 18, 2008 at 8:15am — 2 Comments

Get in the Groove

In the August issue of Log Home Design, we featured the new line of planet-friendly furniture from Groovy Stuff. The rustic-inspired collection is perfect for log homes, and what's even better: They've recently begun the process of complying with the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) standard, with the goal of achieving… Continue

Added by Sara Brown on July 15, 2008 at 10:00pm — 3 Comments

How's your vacation so far?

Me? I elected to cram my summer chores into one week... and I almost made it. We define "summer chores" as those projects we do to prepare for the upcoming winter. You know the drill, re-staining, wood repairs, fixing driveway cracks, storing firewood, etc., etc.

My big project this year was to re-treat the horizontals - decking, railings, steps - those surfaces that take the most abuse from the sun and weather. I last treated… Continue

Added by Tom Heatherington on July 15, 2008 at 3:17pm — 4 Comments

Best Stain

What is the best stain to use for a log home interior/exterior?

Added by Ray Mazza on July 11, 2008 at 10:56am — 7 Comments

All-American Fun

I just traveled back in time. At least it felt like it. My husband, daughter and I just returned from an extended 4th of July weekend at his aunt and uncle's lakeside vacation house at Indian Lake, Ohio. On the 4th itself, 14 of us gathered for an old-fashioned family picnic, where we chowed down on burgers and watermelon, played lawn games (I learned the art of "cornhole"--a beanbag-toss game that's all the… Continue

Added by Donna Peak on July 9, 2008 at 11:30am — No Comments

Designing in my mind

In the last couple of months, it seems as if this place has exploded with new members. Which is absolutely fantastic. Congrats to the LogHome Team for pulling this together.

It would seem, after briefly looking through some of the blog posts, that the majority of members own, or are at least in the process of building, their own log homes. As for myself, the reality is that I won't be in the log-home of my dreams for at least the next ten years (waiting for the kids to be out of… Continue

Added by Shad on July 9, 2008 at 10:00am — 3 Comments

Wildlife around the Log Home

I think considering that a majority of log homes are in scenic locations (lake, mountains, etc.) - there is just so many great opportunities to view all the different wildlife. It's just better somehow to view it around your log home in my opinion. Here are a few photos of my new friends. Looking forward to seeing other log home member's "friends" as well!

P.S. The elk is actually part of a fenced herd nearby to us.…

Continue

Added by Shelley Martinez on July 7, 2008 at 11:35am — 6 Comments

Getting started

In the process of building a Green log home. So far we are in the driveway building / Lot clearing stage. We are hoping we can do pretty much everying with the most enviormentally friendly way possible. We are always intrested in any information anyone can offer.

Anyoune have any good Green septic system information or links?

Home solar system info?

Green building things to think about?

Added by NEKVT on July 5, 2008 at 8:44am — 5 Comments

What Are Your Plans for the 4th?

I've always loved this holiday---indeed, it's my favorite. The 4th, appropriately enough, is the most democratic of holidays. If you adore freedom, no one gets excluded.

We will watch our hometown fireworks surrounded by long-time friends and family. Earlier in the day, I'll march with the Little League team I coach in the local parade; then we'll head over to the firehouse, where local fire departments compete to hit targets with their fire hoses from 50 yards away----the kids stand… Continue

Added by Michael McCarthy on July 3, 2008 at 12:04pm — No Comments

Log Home is stained!

Our log home is finally stained! And we had help from our builder Randy - well actually, he did everything! Hubby was traveling and I as the wifey was starting to freak out at the weather exposure to the logs so we made an executive decision to have the builder do it - especially as it had finally stopped raining in Northern Michigan. If you would like to view more photos, please visit my blog at www.logcabininmichigan.blogspot.com . (Thanks to everyone who gave me so many great tips - it was… Continue

Added by Shelley Martinez on July 3, 2008 at 12:00pm — 2 Comments