A Beaver Mountain Dream Home Being Built

"Hi Joan,

You have asked us if we're satisfied with our new Beaver Mountain log home. In short, YES-ABSOLUTELY! From day one we've been impressed by the quality of workmanship that has been designed into your product, which has been carried through with your high quality manufacturing process.

However, of equal importance has been the quality of customer service that you folks have provided throughout the whole program...from our initial inquiry through the floor plan brainstorming, CAD development, production, timely delivery, and now actual construction. It's been a distinct pleasure working with you and developing a personal - as well as professional - relationship that has led to genuine friendship.

As you know, Ann Marie and I have been researching our retirement home plans for quite some time, dating back at least four years. While we were researching various log home manufacturers, one thing we quickly learned is that Beaver Mountain is highly respected even among your competitors! We were frequently ask what log home manufacturers we were considering, and we'd say 'Brand Y' and 'Brand Z', etc., and finally 'Beaver Mountain.' The almost universal response was 'well, those other brands are okay but - yes! - Beaver Mountain is a good company with a quality product.

I would certainly - and unconditionally - recommend Beaver Mountain Log Homes to anyone who is seriously interested in purchasing and building a superior quality log home! Many thanks to you and all the folks at Beaver Mountain. We're looking forward to completion and beginning our retirement years in our beautiful new Beaver Mountain log home.

Sincerely,

Ann Marie and Hank G."

Come visit us in Valley Forge, PA!

This weekend, April 27-29 we'll be at the Log Home Living Show in Valley Forge, PA! It will be held at the Valley Forge Convention Center (click here for directions). Stop by our booth and see samples of our construction, browse our planning guide and talk with Chris or Bruce about your getting your project started! Hope to see you there!

View from the Top

Happy Spring!

Spring has arrived here in the Catskill region of New York!
As you enjoy the warm sunshine and cool breezes, if you find your mind dreaming about log home living please contact us through our website or phone (1-800-233-2770). As we watch the flowers blossom outside, we'd love to help you begin your new home journey.

Q: How do you handle the logs?

A: With TLC. Total Log Care.

It starts at the kiln. Once dried, they are covered by a thick tarp to our manufacturing facility. Here they are unloaded and stored under cover in our large storage buildings, designed specifically to ensure the materials stay dry. Our logs are graded to Log Wall 53, a rating above the industry's standard.

After being cut to exact specifications inside our mill, the logs are drystacked and taken down being reverse stacked onto protective pallets. Once packed, the logs are wrapped with lumber wrap for further protection from the elements. All of the materials are then stored under cover in our shipping yard. Every Beaver Mountain home receives a designated storage bay so that all components are kept together.

When the materials are all loaded on the truck to be shipped, everything is tarped again (rain or shine) and ready for the journey to your construction site. The homeowner is then responsible for keeping the logs and other home components away from the elements on the site.

We find that the extra TLC we put into every log ensures that your home will be a lasting legacy for generations to come.

What do you think?

The purpose of this blog is to benefit you. How are we doing?

Do you like reading the posts? Are the topics varied enough? Or too much? Which do you prefer reading about: testimonials, floor plans, product information, Q and A, upcoming events at BM, customers’ stories…or is there another topic you’d like us to address? Is there too much text in each post? Not enough? What about the pictures? Do you prefer pictures of construction or finished exterior and/or interior? Do we update the blog often enough?

Please e-mail us and let us know what you think. We’ll welcome your comments and suggestions in order to make this blog even better for you!

Another satisfied Beaver Mountain homeowner

Dear Beaver Mountain -

"Just a note to let you know that my wife Terry and I moved into our Beaver Mountain log home just before Christmas, 2006. As you are aware, we shopped around for nearly a year before deciding upon Beaver Mountain. Believe me when I say that is one decision we will never regret!

From the first time we walked into your sales office we felt we were working with people who truly cared about their product and their customers. The support and guidance you personally provided was greatly appreciated and the planning workshops and mill tours gave us the information needed to proceed with confidence. In fact, everyone at Beaver Mountain has been great.

Don Kotulka, our builder whom we chose from among those recommended by you, proved to be an excellent craftsman and has become a good friend. He and everyone working on or just visiting our home have been impressed with the quality of plans, materials, and service provided by Beaver Mountain. I know I heard an awful lot of 'Wow!' whenever anyone came through. And our building inspector even commented upon the blueprints saying they were among the best he has seen. I also think he stopped by several times just to 'inspect' the materials. He was that impressed.

We still have a few things to be done in the spring...but we are snug and cozy in our new home. Thanks again for making the entire experience a great one!

Sincerely, Richard"

Be sure to check the Fabers' personal blog for pictures and postings that document their entire home planning and building process.

Meet JoAnn Drumm

Title: Customer/Builder Relations
At BM since: 1996

Background: Department Manager & Office Manager for 16 years prior at local grocery store

Best part of the job: Working one on one with each customer, helping them work through any problems or concerns they have

Recreational activities: Flower gardening, drawing/painting, cooking/baking, walking, remodeling home with my husband, spending time with my children when they visit

Perfect Paradise

Nestled into a tree line of deciduous trees and evergreens and perched above a calm and sparkling lake, there is a place so relaxing, it seems like time stands still. A place so beautiful, it seems like nature is shining in all its glory. For Joe and Kathy Brillinger, this is home.

They have always dreamed of living in the country and their dream started to come true in 1990. After purchasing a four acre lot with 116’ feet of lake frontage, "we knew we wanted a log home,” Joe states.

When looking for a manufacturer, Joe and Kathy started with the most obvious choice: a log home company that was close by. But after the company failed to return phone calls, “We went to Beaver Mountain,” Kathy says, recalling the times they saw the model homes while traveling Route 17. “Right away we saw such a difference in their attitude and professionalism,” Joe added. “We totally enjoyed working with them from the get go.”

Working with their Beaver Mountain Sales Consultant Joan Decker and designer John Lanner, Joe and Kathy were able to adapt a stick-built floor plan to a log home floor plan. They chose posted corners to maintain the more contemporary look they desired and added a gabled porch “to provide interest to the front entryway.”

Their solid log white pine Beaver Mountain home was delivered in August of 1999 and built by Bob Kelly. “Beaver Mountain was great with getting his questions answered,” Joe remarked. The house was ready to be moved into in June of 2000....


They love living in their 3,000 square-foot home. “It is very difficult to leave.” An abundance of wildlife keep them company: birds, loons, beavers, deer, and the occasional coyote. Joe and Kathy’s two adult daughters and son-in-law frequently visit as well. “This house brings everyone together,” she comments. The large kitchen and adjoining dining room that lie just steps away from the living room are great for entertaining. Living space extends outdoors with an abundance of decks, porches, and bluestone patios. And they both landscaping: perennial flowerbeds burst with color and rose bushes fill the air with a sweet aroma.

Their dream of life in the country has emerged into a lakeside paradise evolving around the sparkling waters of Chenango Lake and their custom Beaver Mountain home. Sitting at the dining room table adorned with fresh-cut flowers in a pottery vase, Kathy looks out at the view. Mesmerized, she says, “It is absolutely perfect.”

Eagle Valley Cabins

Spring is here! To help you plan upcoming vacations, we will periodically showcase some cabins or bed and breakfasts that were manufactured by Beaver Mountain, located in gorgeous areas, and run by the nicest people. We enjoy working on commercial projects and share in the enthusaism of the clients' vision. There is no better way to enjoy a Beaver Mountain log home than to share that comfort and beauty with others.

Eagle Valley Cabins is located in Deposit, NY, only 2 1/2 hours away from NYC, on the west branch of the Delaware River. Direct access to the water is ideal for fly-fishing or canoeing; surrounding areas offer so much more. Thousands of acres of nearby state game land offer bountiful hunting and the nearby state park provides a beach and marked nature trails. Golf courses of various levels are also located in the area. But be sure to take advantage of the fully furnished cabin complete with a full kitchen and bathroom, television, DVD player, pots, dishes, and linens. Relax on the covered porch, barbeque on the grill, and look for the eagles that make their nest in a neighboring tree. It will be one breathtaking sight.

Dave and Tracey would love to host you at Eagle Valley Cabins. Visit their website for more information or call 607-321-3707. Tell them Beaver Mountain sent you!

The Difference is in the Details: Drip Cap and Window Buck

A specially designed window buck and drip cap system is another standard feature in all of our solid log home building systems. The materials are pre-cut to ensure a tight, energy-efficient fit that securly fastens into the double tongue and groove logs. It is an example of the focused care we put into our product, making it one of premium quality.

Take a closer look at the drip cap and window buck system - one of the many samples displayed in our Showroom. We are located on Route 17 six miles west of Hancock, NY and open Monday-Saturday 9:00am-4:00pm. Don't hesitiate to call 1-800-233-2770 for more information.

Livingston Manor Floor Plan

The Livingston Manor was recently named the Best Single-Level Floor Plan runner-up by Log Home Design!

Exterior

First Floor

Loft

The Livingston Manor floor plan was designed by Beaver Mountain's in-house designer John Lanner. Our Planning Guide features 32 other floor plans designed by John and 6 floor plans designed by award-winning designer Murray Arnott exclusively for Beaver Mountain. Let these home designs help you envision your dream home and then contact us at 1-800-233-2770 today; we'd love to help make your dream home come alive!

Q: Why should I attend your Home Planning Seminar?

A: Preparing for a log home is a grand undertaking, but it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Our seminar gives you the knowledge and the resources to successfully plan your new log home; see how Beaver Mountain provides the ultimate buying experience.

We begin by exploring the industry and explaining what sets Beaver Mountain apart. After learning how to narrow the field, we then focus on making your Beaver Mountain dream home come alive. We highlight what to expect at your first appointment, design consultation, ordering and every part in between. Then we talk about how to find a builder, prepare your site, and what to expect during delivery and construction. There will be pictures of completed houses for inspirations and ideas; questions are always welcome. You will be given a free home planning workbook to take home that goes into much more detail. We at Beaver Mountain focus on more than the home package – we focus on the process as well and guarantee that we will help you every step of the way.

Register for our Mill Tour and/or Home Planning Seminar to be held this weekend. Or visit our website for upcoming seminar dates. It is our desire to be there for you during this time with all of the information you need, the product you desire, and the service you deserve.

Our Classic Lodge Model Home

The Classic Lodge is one of our three model homes here at Beaver Mountain. With solid log construction, a practical floor plan and an abundance of outdoor decks and balconies, this is the epitome of a log home lifestyle. In fact, the Classic Lodge is our most popular floor plan.

Experience the traditional charm of the Classic Lodge home yourself. Come to the Mountain, located on Route 17 in Hancock, NY. We are open Monday-Saturday 9:00am-4:00pm and will have the coffee on! Appointments are not necessary but are appreciated for your convenience. Call 800-233-2770 to make your appointment to sit down with a sales consultant to discuss your dreams.

The First Beaver Mountain Home

"Dear Beaver Mountain Log Homes,

Our log cabin was the first whole log type built by [Ken Clark] and his father. It was built in 1983 and the original roof is still leakproof, the basement walls have no cracks, nor are there any cracks in the basement floor. After [all these] years the place is as good as new. I consider this a testimony to both the way the logs were crafted and the way they were fitted together. In 2001 we had Peter Hathaway put on an addition to the cabin. First class all the way. One of my business partners used to say, 'Pay the right price and cry once.' Our decision to have Beaver Mountain put up our cabin and the addition has proven to be a very good one.

Sincerely, Clement F."

Massachusetts Log Home Show

Beaver Mountain will be in Marlborough, MA this weekend - March 3 and 4 - at Eric Johnson's Log Home and Timber Frame Experience held in the Royal Plaza and Trade Center. Come to our booth (#106) to meet Frank and Mary and learn more about Beaver Mountain. We hope to see you there!

For questions to keep in mind as you attend the home show, please see our January 19 entry. As always, feel free to call 1-800-233-2770 with any questions you may have, browse our website, or stop in our Showroom and Model Homes Monday-Saturday. We'd love to introduce you to the Mountain!

Q: Can I build a log home during the winter months?

A: Yes! And there are definite advantages of doing so!

Scheduling:
Many contractors and subcontractors are more readily available in the winter months, making it easier to coordinate schedules. Also, due to their lesser workload and time demands, there is a better chance of getting the construction finished on time.

Preparing the site:
Site excavation can occur in up to 2' of frost with new equipment able to go even deeper, with the frozen ground providing a solid base for the heavy machinery. Ground water levels are also lower in the winter (outside of coastal areas) prohibiting the excavated sides to slump.

Building the home:
As winter is an overall drier season and snow is easier to clear away than water or mud, the job site will have a tendency to remain clean and neat. Futhermore, the sun hangs lower in the winter sky so the logs are exposed to less direct sunlight during construction. Therefore, the logs will receive less fading and sun damage than they would receive in the summer. After the exterior walls are built, if the house is not heated while its interior is being trimmed and finished, the logs will be able to better acclimate to the site conditions before the furnace is used.

Things to consider:
Regardless of the amount of snowfall, the driveway has to be clear for the delivery and contractors' vehicles. There also needs to be ample dry, clean storage space for the materials.

Meet Rick Hamm

Title: Production Manager, Safety Coordinator
At BM Since: 2003

Background: Attended the Management Institute Program at Broome Community College along with completing a variety of business and technical courses; 26 years in production manufacturing: 11 years experience as a precision machinist, and 15 years experience in production management in two different industries, steel and log homes; experience in linear and cellular manufacturing, total cycle time reduction, quality control, problem-solving techniques and project management.

Best part of the job: “There are two things that really make me enjoy what I do. One is the satisfaction I get from seeing the highest quality manufactured log home completed and delivered on time. The second is inspiring and motivating employees at being the best both personally and professionally.”

Interests: the outdoors, camping, target shooting, paintball, watching his son playing high school football, summertime barbeques, computers, wood working, holidays enjoying family, and a good James Paterson book

February Open House

Many log home enthusiasts attended our Open House last weekend despite the snow and cold weather. What a successful time it was! Beaver Mountain employees enjoyed interacting with the participants during the Mill Tour, Log Building Workshop, and Home Planning Seminar. Many good questions were brought up; this group showed that they are researching the industry, which Beaver Mountain strongly encourages. After learning the basics, the only way to understand and appreciate a product is to see it and meet the people behind it. That's exactly what our Open House is all about.



We would love to introduce you to Beaver Mountain on a future Open House weekend. We'd be honored to spend the day with you showing and sharing what makes Beaver Mountain unique. The next Open House weekend with a Mill Tour, Log Building Workshop, and Home Planning Seminar will take place on March 17 and 18. Learn more or register on our website. In the meantime, if you travel down Route 17 near Hancock, NY be sure to stop in Monday-Saturday from 9:00am-4:00pm; we'd love for you to walk through our three model homes as we welcome you to the Mountain.

Progress on the Mountain

The complete renovation of the Grandview - one of our three model homes - is still progressing and we are so excited with how everything is coming together! Stonework has been laid inside, the kitchen is being designed, flooring is being ordered...

We are also currently remodeling our corporate headquarters: adding offices and a large seminar room that will ultimately be used to better serve you.

The sparkling snow on the ground reflects the lively atmosphere here today: it's our Open House and we love spending the day welcoming visitors to Beaver Mountain with our Mill Tour, Log Building Workshop, and Home Planning Seminar! If you weren't able to attend, please check our calendar for an upcoming date that may work better for you or stop in to see our model homes Monday-Saturday from 9:00am-4:00pm. Be sure to check back here next week: we will be posting pictures from today so that you will be able to join in the excitement! Have a wonderful weekend!