Checks & Caulking

You just noticed some small splits or as they are called in the log home industry “checks”, in the logs on the outside of your home, what should you do? First off, this is a normal occurrence. These can occur in the first couple of years after your home is completed, especially on the more exposed west and south sides of the home. These sides receive more sun and higher temperatures. This can cause the logs moisture content to dry more than the less exposed sides. This additional drying will sometimes cause checks to occur.
How concerned you should be, depends on where the check is, if they are small, less than a ¼” wide and on the under side of the log radius, you can apply caulk or leave them alone. If they are on the upper side of the log radius they should be caulked.
Checks on the upper side of the log can have rainwater or snow melt running into the opening. This will increase the weathering process of the wood and during the winter months, the water can freeze and expand increasing the size of the opening.
To get a good weather tight seal with the caulk, we recommend using a wire brush or coarse sand paper to remove any dirt and finish from around the crack, then clean the area with mineral spirits, let that dry then apply caulk into and over the crack. Allow the caulk to skim over, and then apply a coat of finish over the caulk. This will create a weather tight seal over the check.
We provide Sashco’s Conceal caulk for caulking any small gaps that may occur on the outside of the logs. If you decide to use another brand of caulk make sure it is a high quality caulk and for exterior use, as a rule of thumb the high the cost of the caulk the better the quality. And make sure the caulk color will match the finish color.
Also check the handrails and exposed log ends for new checks. If you have any questions please give us a call, we will be happy to give you some guidance.
Fred Hathaway

Dan & Jean's Design - Part 5

Continued from June 9th...

What an exciting day June 15th was for Dan and Jean. This was the day that three tractor trailers pulled up to their building site and delivered the logs for their home, along with many other materials, but after all it's the logs which make it a log home.

Site work was done, the foundation was poured, and Dan and Jean's builder, having picked up the first floor materials a week earlier, was not only ready for delivery of the main structural components, he was ready to begin assembly of the log walls.

In order to keep the project moving along, the builder had made arrangements with Mike (Beaver Mountain's Customer & Builder Relations) to schedule Technical Assistance. So bright and early on the 17th, Jim, Beaver Mountain's Field Technical Advisor, arrived to assist in getting the log wall installation underway. About a week later, the log walls were assembled and the builder was ready to move onto the roof system.

We will wrap up this string of post the week of August 3rd, when we give an update on the building progress.

Thinking outside "THE BOX"

For the past several months I have worked with a lovely couple on their dream home. And while many of our correspondence has been by fax, phone and email- for now "the box" has made a lasting impression on Ken and Lori’s Beaver Mountain building experience!

These attractive and yet sturdy boxes are typically used to mail documents, drawings and other items that otherwise would not fit into an envelope. A few months back when Ken and Lori needed to review some documents, being the frugal, environmentally responsible person I am, I decided to try something different with my nearby neighbor.

I placed the first documents in “the box” and with Lori’s permission decided to drop it off at their house. Lori in turn, left me a message that after they reviewed the documents she too, would leave “the box” on the porch for me to pick up. Over the next several weeks we passed "the box" back and forth many times. All the while our design and engineering department, in conjunction with the builder, collaborated and analyzed the design, materials and site location in order to satisfy NYS Energy Star requirements. They analyzed windows, overhangs, thermal mass, color and type of roof shingles as well as the energy efficiency of the corner styles. As a result, Lori and Ken will be substantially reducing their carbon footprint not only with their design but with the use of geothermal radiant heat and enough photovoltaic solar panels to provide 93% of their electrical usage.

So over the next few months the chronicles of “the box” will quickly draw to an end but the excitement that comes with the delivery and construction of Lori and Ken’s beautiful new “Environmentally Friendly” Beaver Mountain Home will last for many years to come!Debbie D- Building Consultant

For more information on how Beaver Mountain can help you build your dream home call 1-800-233-2770

Dan & Jean's Design - Part 4

Continued from June 1st...

Our production department began milling Dan & Jean's wall logs on May 20th. This process involves taking a kiln dried rectangular "cant" of pine and running it through a special planer which mills a face on all four sides at the same time. Setting up the planer takes between four and six hours. Once the planer was ready, it took about four hours to mill Dan & Jean's logs.

Next, our precut production line took the lineal foot logs and cut them into all of the individual log pieces required for the log walls. This process includes cutting the logs to length, milling for splines, milling the necessary log corner joints and predrilling all of the logs for lag screws. After three days, the wall logs were cut and dry stacked.

Meanwhile, our panel shop was manufacturing the gable panel walls and precutting the rafters over the span of about one day. The component shop took about a day to manufacture the timber posts and truss pieces. Materials such as plywood, framing material, shingles, fasteners and finishes were pulled from inventory and packed for delivery in about 1 1/2 days.

Before we packed the logs for delivery, Dan and Jean were invited to visit our production facility and view their dry stacked wall logs. They arrived, along with their builder, and spent a little time sizing up the future rooms, taking snap shots and doing the "final inspection" of the wall logs.

Materials are pulled and we are ready to deliver Dan and Jean's package. Check back the week of June 29th when we will let you know how delivery went.

Dan & Jean's Design - Part 3

Continued from April 20, 2009...

Near the end of March, the quote was updated to reflect Dan and Jean's redesigned home, and the builder submitted revised numbers. After reviewing the new plans, quote and builder's figures, on March 31st, Dan and Jean signed their revised approval drawings, purchase agreement and Detail Specification Form. A delivery date of June 10th was agreed upon, moving the project to the next phase in the design process.

The project was next put into the engineering department schedule for completion of Construction Drawings, including foundation and framing plans and construction details which the contractor will use when building Dan & Jean's home. Thermal Performance Calculations were also run to document that the home will meet state energy codes. On April 27th, these Architect sealed drawings and thermal calculations were sent to the customer. The engineering department then began work on Assembly Drawings.

Assembly Drawings, which include log & panel wall cutsheets, precut timber cutsheets and rafter patterns, plus the material list were next completed and forwarded to the production department on May 11th.

In Part 4, we will continue to chronicle the manufacturing of Dan & Jean's home as we approach the June 10th delivery date.

The Fun is in the Journey; The Pride is in the Home!

I recently went to visit a Beaver Mountain Home under construction. I met the homeowner at the site. Both he and his project manager took me around the property where they explained the plans for the finishing touches of the home such as the tile style, the floor coverings, kitchen pantry area, and master bath fixtures. They removed their unique light fixtures from the boxes they were stored in and they lifted the protective covering off of furnishings that were waiting to be moved into the completed home for me to see. As they moved from room to room, you could see in their eyes the pride and satisfaction that the project was giving them, but more importantly, they were having fun!

Building your dream home, whether it is a 4000 sq ft lake house, or a 1200 sq ft hunting cabin is an experience where the fun is in the planning and the journey as much as in the finished product. At Beaver Mountain we understand this, and we do our best to help you plan, design, and co-ordinate the construction of your new home. We want you to remember your journey as a wonderful experience! We know you will be proud and completely satisfied with your Beaver Mountain Home for generations.

Come to the Mountain and see our model homes, check out our web site for plans, ideas, and information or call 1-800-233-2770 for information or to make an appointment.

Stopping Carpenter Bees

Warm spring weather is here and with it the insect world reawakens. The carpenter bee or boring bee, so named because of the ½” diameter hole that they make in wood, also comes to life and starts looking for a site to start a nest.

The adult carpenter bee resembles the common bumblebee but has a shiny bluish-black abdomen, where as bumblebees have a hairy abdomen that is mostly yellow. They have a preference for certain softwood species, including southern yellow pine, white pine, cedar, redwood, Douglas fir and cypress. They overwinter in the wood, emerging in late April through June, find a mate, and search for a nest site. The female bores a new tunnel or cleans out an existing one. She bores into the wood approximately 1 inch then turns 90 degrees and tunnels another 4 to 6 inches and lays her eggs, starting the next generation.

Carpenter bees tend to return to the same area that they emerged from. Look for small amounts of sawdust on the logs and ground, which result from the boring. The hole, approximately ½ inch in diameter and almost perfectly round, is usually found up near the eaves or upper logs. When you find that the bees have started a nest you need to stop the bees and plug the holes.

The best control is to put a finish on the raw wood before the bees find the wood. Bees prefer unfinished wood but will bore and nest in stained wood. Special additives can be used with the finish to deter bees. We offer NBS30 (natural botanical) repellent, which is mixed in with the finish. There are other chemical products that can be put on or in the bored hole area to control their presence. Another method is to run a length of flexible wire into the tunnels to destroy the bee and larve, and then the hole can be filled with steel wool and caulked.

By being aggressive about detering carpenter bees, you can control their presence.

Fred Hathaway, Purchasing Manager

Thinking about Remodeling?

Are you looking to add that touch of luxurious lodge or cozy cabin to transform your current home into a rustic mountain retreat?

Did you know that not only does Beaver Mountain Log & Cedar Homes design and manufacture log, panelized half log and hybrid wood homes, but we also offer a diverse line of individual log/timber components as well.

We offer:

- A wide variety of wood siding options to satisfy any style
- 1/2 log timber stair components
- Large milled and lathed turned log and timber components
- Wood railings, decorative posts

and much, much more!

Come to the Mountain and tour our (3) model homes, showroom and design center and see for yourself how you can transform your home and give it that unique handcrafted, mountain appeal.

For more information call 1-800-233-2770

Enhancing Your Buying Experience

Beaver Mountain recently received a 50-50 matching grant from New York State to train our employees in process improvement. The funds we received from this grant allowed us to hire an outside consulting firm to help us stream line our home order process and help us implement better procedures. As a result we have been able to move home orders through our facility faster and with more accuracy and quality control. In some cases we can deliver your home in as little as 4-6 weeks from time of order, however, the earlier you start the process the better. Typically 8-12 weeks provides enough time for custom order items and finalizing construction details.

This has been beneficial to our clients as we are able to better accommodate their needs. It also helps us find any mistakes that may have happened and correct them prior to delivery, ensuring that delivery will go smoothly. Beaver Mountain is always evolving, looking for ways to improve our processes and our products and this is just one example of how we are staying ahead of the industry. Thanks to the funds received from New York State we have been able to take advantage of this important training.

-Drew Prochazka, Business Manager

COME TO THE MOUNTAIN... IT'S FREE!

Did you know Beaver Mountain has (3) model homes that have been described by industry experts, “as one of the most impressive displays in the northeast?” And did you know that Beaver Mountain's manufacturing facility is affectionately called, “The Cabinet Shop?”

We know these things very well and we would like everyone to know about them. The best way to do that is to schedule a personal consultation or sign up for a mill tour and seminar! We are so confident that you will love what you see that we are now offering a “Travel Reimbursement Program” to make it easier for you to Come to the Mountain! If you make the trip to see us and purchase a Beaver Mountain Home, we will reimburse you for the costs of travel and lodging. To learn more, contact your Beaver Mountain sales consultant for all the details!

1-800-233-2770

Dan & Jean's Design - Part 2

Continued from March 30, 2009...
After reviewing the design, Jean decided she would like a third guest bedroom on the main floor and the master bedroom bumped out to give more space. I revised the design and with the bumped out master bedroom, we also added a covered porch for that room and a rec room down below in the basement area. I emailed the drawings on to Dan & Jean for their review, as well as their sales consultant Chris, for updated pricing.

"Some of the changes made were to better orientate things in the floor plan to take full advantage of the features inside the home, as well as views outside. "

Jean stopped in one day on her way by to talk about options for dressing up the appearance of the approach side of their home. She met with her sales consultant Chris and discussed adding some roof lines and more glass to that view of the house. At that time we invited them back, along with their perspective builder, to explore some of these options on the computer. Jean agreed the builder would be a big help at our next meeting so we could avoid making changes that would blow the budget.

We had our meeting near the end of January with Dan, Jean and the perspective builder Jim Cammer. We were able to dress the front of the house up with some false roof lines, some log siding to cover the exposed basement walls and some stone work around the entry way. We relocated a few windows and added a mudroom entrance from the rear of the house during this meeting as well. Jean loved the changes and was ready to move onto the approval drawing stage of the design process. We agreed to meet again once the ¼ scale approval drawings were complete.

We got back together in February to review the approval drawings and made some minor changes. We discussed different areas of the home and walked through each room thinking about the ways they intend on living in each space. Some of the changes made were to better orientate things in the floor plan to take full advantage of the features inside the home, as well as views outside. Once the revisions are complete on the approval drawings, they will be able to get final quotes from Beaver Mountain as well as the builder and his sub contractors. Revised drawings will be sent out shortly.

Now that our quote has been finalized and the builder has been able to put his numbers together Dan & Jean feel the project is coming in a bit over budget. I spoke with the builder and reviewed some changes we could make in the design that would reduce cost without compromising too much in the overall layout. We both felt these changes would be required to bring the cost down so we set up an appointment with Dan & Jean to re-work the plans.

I met with Dan & Jean around the middle of March and re-worked the design trying to shave some cost and bring them back into their project budget. We eliminated the bump out on the main floor along with the small private covered porch off of the master bedroom. This caused us to move the master suite back within the main footprint of the house and relocate a guest bedroom down to the daylight basement area. We were able to eliminate one of the garage bays in the basement to make space for the bedroom, as well as relocate the rec room, which was in the bump out below the master bedroom that we removed. These changes really make a lot of sense from a cost standpoint as well as from a “Building Greener” standpoint. We spoke to the builder on the phone during this appointment and he agrees we are heading the right direction. The next step will be updating the quote and getting revised pricing from the builder and his sub contractors.

Watch for Part 3, coming in June.

John Lanner, Senior Design Consultant

"The Devil is in the Details"

Recently I received a wonderful letter from a customer currently building their log home. As a Sales Consultant here at Beaver Mountain, I try to convey this philosophy to people repeatedly. To hear (read) it from a client is the ultimate validation!

“Until I built a log home I didn’t have a complete appreciation for the importance of choosing a manufacturer. Log home construction is unique. We chose quality and we have throughout the process but I mean the right manufacturer is not only about appearance but about structure, structure, structure. Beaver Mountain Log Homes are battleships in their structure surrounded by some of the finest detail work I have ever seen. Structure not done correctly at the start can never be corrected and in a log home the logs are the structure, the insulation and the appearance. They say the devil is in the details and they are correct. I was astounded in the milling tolerances, in a fifty four foot wall with multiple openings (doors, windows, etc), each opening was perfect."
- Excerpt from John C- Beaver Mountain Customer 2008

SATURDAY, APRIL 18th: FACTORY TOUR!

Please join us and see for yourself the details and the precision craftsmanship of our pre-cut log walls, panelized components, and timbers.

Call 1-800-233-2770 for more information!

Explaining Log & Timber Checks

From my experience in the log home industry, the number one question ask by customers viewing their home dry stack is about log and timber checks.

According to the Standard on the Design and Construction of Log Structures, a check is "A radial crack in the log that occurs as the wood is seasoning". The definition goes on to say that a check is "...a natural an unpredictable result of the seasoning process that generally does not affect the structural integrity of the log."

As a timber dries, the cells at the outer surface lose moisture more quickly than those at the center of the timber. This process causes stresses in the timber which is relieved by a check occurring. This happens whether the timber is air dried or kiln dried. Generally speaking, a larger timber will produce a larger check. Here at Beaver Mountain, our combination of air drying and kiln drying, work to remove the majority of moisture from our timbers. This, along with our grading procedures, mean that although logs and timber joists will have checks, the amount and size of checks is controlled as part of the production process.

This process starts during milling. As we run material through the planer, we try to orient any existing checks up and down so they are not exposed on the inside or the outside of the home. If the stock material does not allow for this kind of orientation, we try to place the existing check to the inside so it is not exposed to the weather.

Next, because we pre-cut every home, we are able to remove any check that does not meet the Wall Log 53 Grade, which is a structural grade. However, we go a step further and visually grade out unpleasing checks that are structurally sound, but may not be visually appealing. We make every effort to place logs that do have checks in areas of the home so as to be less noticeable, such as behind kitchen cabinets, in bathrooms and closets. Logs that have checks on the outside top half, can be placed under overhangs and porches and thus not exposed to the weather.

Remember, checking will occur during the timber drying process, so a timber with no checking may not be dry. It makes for a nicer home when check size and location are controlled, after all, checks are part of the natural beauty of wood.

Rick Hamm, Production Manager

Dan & Jean's Design Process

While working at the Syracuse Home & Garden show this past weekend, I was asked the same questions over and over……..Do you sell pre-designed kits? What if we have our own floor plan? Can you custom design? These are all valid questions of which you will receive many different answers on throughout the log home industry, so I would like to give you our answer on “Design”. At Beaver Mountain we pride ourselves on custom designing your dream home to meet not only your wants & needs but your project budget as well.

The following is just one example of a typical design process here at Beaver Mountain, but I thought it would be nice to lay a project out for you from the start. Since this project is not yet complete and the design is often times a multiple step process I will be posting updates as things move forward……..

The design process for Dan & Jean Marie:

I first met with Dan & Jean Marie back in December for a preliminary design consultation where I learned they wanted to build in two phases. The first phase was going to be a two car garage with living quarters above, carriage house style, and then when they were ready to move up full time, they would attach a house as phase two. After reviewing their ideas, we soon realized it would be best to merge the two phases and build the house and garage all as one structure. This would reduce the overall footprint of the home and take full advantage of their site. We discussed a few options for positioning the house and decided it would be best for me to visit their site. We set a schedule for a site visit as well as a follow-up appointment to get the design started.

I made my visit to the site early one morning in December & took several photo’s of the area we all discussed locating the house. Based on the natural slope of the property and the beautiful country views, I felt we were in a great spot! I headed back to the office and put some of my initial ideas on paper to share with Dan & Jean Marie during our next scheduled visit.
The New Year arrived and Dan & Jean came back for the preliminary design session where we sat down at the computer and began the house design. We located the garage space below the house in the daylight basement area to take advantage of the natural slope of the land. Also planned for this space would be an entry / foyer with timber stairs up to the main living areas, laundry room, full bath and a utility room. The main floor was blocked out with the great room, kitchen & dining overlooking an open meadow to the west. To the east we planned for a master suite, (2) guest bedrooms and a full bath with the master suite capturing the sunrise over open fields separated by a wonderful tree line. The design session went well and gave us the info we needed to begin the estimate process. We discussed getting back together once they had a chance to review the preliminary design and we had a chance to run some numbers.

Watch for my next posting on Dan & Jean's design process the week of April 20Th.

John Lanner, Senior Design Consultant

The Beaver Mountain Promise

We at Beaver Mountain, are proud of the level of customer service we provide. This high standard begins with The Beaver Mountain Promise.

Our Promise states that "... the materials provided to you as listed on the material specifications attached to your Purchase Agreement will be of the kind and quality specified, pre-cut as specified and supplied in sufficient quantity for their intended purpose." Further, "... if it is determined that materials were inadvertently missed, pre-cut incorrectly or shipped in deficient quantity, Beaver Mountain will provide the materials to you at absolutely no cost...".

You may expect this kind of service from all log home manufacturers, but this is not the case. I have read the fine print on competing companies material lists. One such list states that "... materials are figured to the best of our abilities, any overages or shortages are at the expense of the purchaser." Not something many people want to hear when making a large investment.

The Beaver Mountain Promise details our commitment to our customers and builders alike. In the Promise, it states that "... our goal is to deliver customer service that is Second to None." As part of the Customer & Builder Relations Team here at Beaver Mountain, I have worked with hundreds of homeowners and almost as many builders. We have always done our best to work together to find a solution to any situation that may arise. The bottom line is, we try to do the right thing.

For more information about The Beaver Mountain Promise, contact your sales consultant.

~ Michael Santamaria, Customer & Builder Relations

Beaver Mountain is on the Road...

(2) LOCATIONS: SYRACUSE, NY or BINGHAMTON, NY

Beaver Mountain Log & Cedar Homes will be on the road this weekend and would like to extend an open invitation to anyone interested in learning more about log and timber homes to stop in and see The Beaver Mountain Difference!

- Meet members of our professional Sales and Technical Support team
- View log corner samples and various timber components
- Learn about our unique custom crafted design why it should matter in your home
… And much, much more!
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Home Show Syracuse, NY : NYS Fairgrounds

Thurs. March 19th 5:00 PM– 8:30 PM
Fri. March 20th 2:00 PM– 8:30 PM
Sat. March 21st 10:00 AM– 8:30 PM
Sun. March 22nd 10:00 AM– 5:00 PM

Booth Location: Toyota Exhibit Center # 733
______________________________________________________

Home Show Binghamton, NY : Broome County Arena

Fri. March 20th 4:00 PM– 8:00 PM
Sat. March 21st 10:00AM -8:00 PM
Sun. March 22nd 10:00 AM- 4:00 PM

Booth Location: # 170-171

For more information, contact our Models Homes and Showroom located in Hancock, NY

1-800-233-2770

Mill Tour & Log Building Workshop: Sat. March 14th

Are you looking for an investment that will bring great returns?
If so, we would like to invite you to invest a few hours of time and take that first step in planning your dream home!

Beaver Mountain has scheduled its first Mill Tour and Log Building Workshop of 2009 on Saturday March 14th at 10am. Learn first hand what sets a Beaver Mountain home apart.

· Tour our (3) Model Homes, Showroom and Design Center.
· See first hand how our custom homes are manufactured and produced.
· Walk through a dry-stacked/ pre-assembled log home.
· Meet with members of our sales & technical team and have all of your questions answered.

CALL TODAY TO REGISTER AS SPACE IS LIMITED!

1-800-233-2770

“We just had to let you know how much we enjoyed our day at Beaver Mountain. The Mill Tour was extremely informative and helpful. The laid back and pressure free atmosphere was especially appreciated.” - Ned & Sandy 11/8/08

Spring Log Home Maintenance

Spring, the time of renewal, is also a great time to inspect your log home for exposure to the elements. Take some time on one of these sunny weekend days to walk around the outside of your home. Look at the logs from the basement to the roof line for things such as fading and "checks" in the logs.

Are the sides of your home that receive the most sun faded more than the sides that are shaded? You may need to plan to apply another coat of finish on the faded side once the weather allows.

Test the moisture resistance of the finish by spraying some water on the logs. If the water beads up and rolls off the logs, they are in good shape. But if the water is absorbed into the wood, it's time to apply another coat of finish. Look at the ends of the logs at the corners. Because these stick out, they are exposed on more surfaces to the elements and will show signs of needing a touch up more than the logs in the wall.

You will also want to look for any checks that may have opened up since last year, especially unprotected checks on the top half of the log. Small checks can become larger after a winter of several periods of freezing and thawing. Water will run into checks during a thaw, and then when it freezes, the ice expands forcing the check to open more.

To seal checks, use a good quality exterior caulk in the color of the finish on the logs. If the check is greater than a quarter inch, put backer-rod into the check, then caulk. Remember to always follow the manufacturer's recommendations.

Doing maintenance inspections in the spring means your home will receive the care it needs.

~Fred Hathaway, Purchasing Manger

Green Building Standard Approval

The National Green Building Standard was recently approved by ANSI (American National Standards Institute). This is the first and only green building standard that is coordinated with International Code Council (ICC) building codes and standards.

The ICC and the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) developed the standard with input from code officials, building professionals and the green building community. The National Green Building Standard is an alternative to rating systems such as the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED rating system.

According to the NAHB, the newly approved standard provides a framework "...for all residential construction work including single-family homes, apartments and condos, land development and remodeling and renovation...".

The ICC reports that "The standard's rating system allows builders, designers and communities to choose the levels of high-performance green building that best suit their needs." Minimum points must be earned in area such as land conservation, rainwater collection, construction of smaller homes to conserve resources, site design , resource efficiency, high energy performance standards and homeowner education. These mandatory requirements, plus discretionary options, allows for final certification at one of four levels.

Considered by many as rigorous yet flexible, the standard defines the green practices that can be used in residential construction and further educates homeowners on operation and maintenance of their green homes.

To learn more about incorporating green building standards into your project, contact a Beaver Mountain sales consultant.

Q&A with Chris Weyer, Sales Manager

Q: Why would one choose Beaver Mountain’s panelized insulated ½ log building system over the full log?

A: Since 1982 Beaver Mountain has offered full 10” thick log and ½ log (hybrid) building systems to satisfy the needs of our customers in a demanding northeastern climate. Although there are several advantages (too many to list here) to our panelized-insulated ½ log construction- there are two that primarily stand out.

First, because the walls are panelized (walls manufactured in ready to build sections) the time to erect and dry in the building is reduced. With the short northeastern building season this allows a homeowner/builder to take delivery later or earlier in the year. It also protects your investment by getting the home closed in faster protecting your valuable materials and investment.

Second, framed walls allows for greater design flexibility in your home. For example the interior walls because they are framed, can be finished with a combination of log siding, tongue and groove, drywall, or stone. Also, because of the framed construction, window options are expanded.

Finally, it is important to remember that although the initial time to erect the shell is reduced (days vs. weeks) your overall construction time won’t vary. The reason is compared to the solid log systems, when the logs are stacked the entire wall is finished in one step (interior, exterior finish, vapor barrier and insulation). With the panelized-insulated ½ log system, the contractor will need to go back and trim out siding, install the insulation and interior finish. Therefore the total investment, log or ½ log (hybrid), will generally be about the same.

In the end, it really depends on your needs and comfort level with the construction. Either system will produce a tight, energy efficient home. For more information on Beaver Mountains products, services and which system would be best suited for you, contact our office to schedule a personal consultation.

~ Chris Weyer, Sales Manager