Another Happy Customer...

Good Morning Chris -


Sorry for the delay but I’ve been straight out these days, with good weather I had to get the outside work complete. Not quite there yet but most of the way now.

The skirt siding is done except for a few boards to complete the prow front and one to transition from log siding to stone which will complete the remaining white below the log siding in the pictures. Electrical is done except for the plugs and covers. Heating installs in a couple of weeks and I’ve got a good start on finish pine on the inside. Work is slow when you are working by yourself but I do enjoy
the work. It’s hard to explain to someone what it feels like to fulfill a lifelong dream.

Your people have been great. I’ve called with many questions and always get quick and cordial replies. I have never tackled a project of this magnitude before. Tell Mike and Todd thanks. Beaver Mountain will always receive high praise from me as I talk to other people. Thanks for your patience and service.

Take care.

Fran W

A Sneak Peek inside the Beaver Mountain Mill Tour

You're Invited to our September Open House, Mill Tour & Seminar!

Summer is winding down, the kids are back in school. Leaves are starting to turn and nights are getting cooler. Fall is just around the corner! That means that we're gearing up for our fall Open Houses, Seminars, Mill Tours & Workshops!

The next special event is just 2 weeks away - September 13-14. So make your reservations today! The fall events tend to fill up fast since everyone is planning for 2009 building already. Saturday, September 13 is the Mill Tour and Workshop starting at 9:30am. Then at 1pm, the Home Planning Seminar is held at the Design Center & Showroom. Please RSVP for these events by going to www.beavermtn.com/events or by calling 800-233-2770.

If you can't make it to the September events, check out the rest of the Fall Open House & events at www.beavermtn.com/events. Hope to see you there!

P.S. We're also Open Year Round, Monday-Saturday 8:30am-4:30pm!

Are you passionate about log homes?

We’re looking for a passionate, highly organized sales consultant to join our award winning family of log home professionals at our Hancock, NY Design Center and Showroom. E-mail your cover letter and resume to Chris Weyer, Sales Manager at cweyer@beavermtn.com or fax it to 607-467-2715.

Want a FREE Planning Guide?

Fall is a great time to get started on your custom dream home! So to help you begin your journey, we're offering a FREE Beaver Mountain Planning Guide (a $50 value!) through the end of September when you visit our Design Center & Showroom near Hancock NY on Route 17! Just print out this post and bring it with you when you visit. That's all you have to do to receive our Seasons of the Dream Planning Guide full of information and floorplans to get your dream home off to a great start!

This offer is good through September 30,2008 and subject to change without notice. No substitutions. One planning guide per family, please. Guests must visit the Beaver Mountain Design Center (200 Beaver Mountain Drive Hancock, NY 13783) to receive their free planning guide.

Not your ordinary Gazebo...

Introducing Beaver Mountain Timber Gazebos & Pavilions! Over the past year we've had requests from many of our clients looking to add one to their porches and decks or wanting a unique timber gazebo to match their homes for landscaping.

Every Gazebo and Pavilion incorporate the quality and handcrafted touches you expect from Beaver Mountain - custom designed for your home! They are each crafted of 10" and 8" timbers and are available now.

Visit our Design Center and Model Homes and check out the newest Gazebo model (still under construction).

To order your custom designed Gazebo or Pavilion, call your sales consultant at 800-233-2770!

The Palmer Home...

We took a gorgeous drive last week up to the Palmer home in upstate NY. What a beautiful area they chose for their home! And once we got to the house, we found is snuggled into a beautiful lot overlooking a valley. Their home itself is absolutely breathtaking. They finished it with aisan, american indian and african touches and decor all of which offset the logs beautifully. But the thing that strikes you most when you first walk into this home is the amazing smell - it's just got this natural, spicy scent that makes you want to sit down with a cup of coffee in the living room and never leave. We can't share the scent over the internet, but we can share the pictures of this gorgeous vacation home. Enjoy!

Excuse the mess...

We're currently in construction phase at the Design Center & Showroom! The porch has been totaly remodeled and is now being put back together with new hancrafted beams and trussesand there's a new Gazebo being put up next to the Design Center! (More information on the Gazebos, which will be for sale, in a future post.)

What the Design Center used to look like...

You can see the porch roof has been totally redesigned with hancrafted beams and trusses

During construction, we ask that you use the lower entrance to the Design Center

The site of the future log Gazebo

Fall 2008 Special Events

Now is the time to plan for the Fall 2008 special events and to reserve your space at one of our Mill Tours, Log Building Workshops and/or Home Planning Seminars! These events usually fill up, so RSVP today!

September 13-14, 2008
Open House 9/13 8:30am-4:30pm
Special Sunday Hours 9/14 11am-4:00pm
September 13, 2008
Mill Tour & Log Building Workshop 9:30am-12:00pm RSVP
Home Planning Seminar 1:30pm-3:00pm RSVP

October 10-13, 2008
Open House 10/10-10/12 8:30am-4:30pm
Special Sunday Hours 10/13 11am-4:00pm
October 12, 2008
Mill Tour & Log Building Workshop 9:30am-12:00pm RSVP
Home Planning Seminar 1:30pm-3:00pm RSVP

November 8-9, 2008
Open House 11/8 8:30am-4:30pm
Special Sunday Hours 11/9 11am-4:00pm
November 8, 2008
Mill Tour & Log Building Workshop 9:30am-12:00pm RSVP
Home Planning Seminar 1:30pm-3:00pm RSVP

In addition to the dates above, Beaver Mountain Model Homes, Design Center & Showroom is Open Year Round Monday-Saturday 8:30am-4:30pm.

Technical Assistance...

Technical Assistance is included with every home we sell. Our field technicians, Jimmy & Rusty come out to your home site to get your home started right! They meet with your builder at the beginning of the project (and bring donuts along with them!) A lot of companies say they offer technical assistance, but few offer it at the level we do, with professional field technicials that have over 35 years combined home building experience.

This slideshow is from one of our recent TAs. This was an especially exciting one because the home's owner, John, was on site and ready to help lay some of the first rows of logs!

From the Wall of Dreams Come True...

Hi Mary! I have been meaning to drop you a note for nearly 2 weeks now but we were so caught up with our wonderful home building project. We drove upstate on June 12th & went straight to the property, abandoning our plans for a vacation in Vermont as we couldnt wait any longer to see the progress Ethan & Sam (our excavator) had made.

Both Rob & I were so emotional on our first sighting. We parked the car at the bottom of the driveway & chose to walk up Everest! We turned the last bend & there it was - absolutely fabulous! Attached are a couple of pictures. We just love it! It is nowhere near finished but it is now so real, so marvellous & so fantastically exciting...........words fail me.

Our living room has one heck of a view! Everyone that has been up there comments on it after their steep ascent. Robert & I both want to pass on our thanks for all the help & support that you, JoAnn & your team have given to Ethan & our project overall. Your contribution has made life much easier from our perspective.... 3000 miles away. Also we cant speak highly enough of Ethan & his team. We have contacted & met with Bob Granger - he is one passionate solar guy! We hope to investigate further the options available from his company as they seem really cost-effective & sensible.Well that's it for now.
Kind regards,

Helen

5 easy tips to live greener!

There's a big buzz around "living green" right now. And hundreds of ways to do it! Here's a few easy steps you can take to start living to be more environmentally friendly!

1. Use less hot hair
Your clothes dryer uses a lot of energy to get your clothing dry. But now that summer's here, consider putting your clothes outside to dry. Not only will it save electricity or gas, but your clothes will smell wonderful and will last longer! If you do need to use your dryer, throw in some dryer balls, which will fluff clothing and can cut drying time by 25%!

2. Use EnergyStar appliances
As you build your new home, shop around for appliances that comply with EnergyStar efficiency standards. These can save you about 30% in energy costs per year (compared to a normal appliance.) You can find more information at http://www.energystar.gov/.

3. Don't idle
If your car is stopped for longer than 15 seconds, turn it off. Letting it idle will use more gas and emit toxic fumes. Not idling could have a significant impact on greenhouse gases - just ask Burlington, VT's mayor Bob Kiss. They've had a law against idling on the books since 1990. So just turn your car off when you're stopped and you'll save money and the planet.

4. Use eco-friendly cleaners
Next time you start to pull out the industrial strength window cleaner, ask yourself if you have anything in the house that's eco-friendly to clean with. Chances are you do. Warm water coupled with a microfiber towel or scrubber will clean up most messes. Add a little white vinegar or baking soda and you've got an environmentally friendly solution that's tough on messes. For more homemade cleaning ideas, visit http://organizedhome.com/pantry-recipes-homemade-cleaning-products

5. Check over your vehicle before heading out on your summer vacation
Millions of people will hit the road this summer and if you're one of them there's a few things you can do to get the most out of your road trip.

• First, check your tire pressure. Tires with low air pressure will mean you get a lower mpg. Fill up those tires and watch your mpg rise!



• You can also pack lighter. Vehicles that are loaded down with luggage and weight will be less efficient than the same vehicles that are carrying less cargo.



• Tune up your car before you leave. Replacing your vehicles air filter, changing the oil and regular maintenance will help cut down on emissions.



• Visit http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/maintain.shtml for more tips for keeping your vehicle in shape

Remember, living green isn't about taking a huge leap. It's about all the little things that we can do every day to make our lives more environmentally friendly!

Tell us your story...

Your dream home is finished! It's gorgeous, and the landscaping is finally completed! Now you want to show it off!

We're looking for Beaver Mountain homes to photograph, include in our Naturally Home newsletter, on our website and even to feature in one of the top national log home magazines! To submit your home, e-mail us:

• Interior and exterior photos


• Your name


• Phone number we can reach you at


• When the home was completed


• Where your home is located


• A short explanation of your dream home journey, how you found Beaver Mountain and why you chose us

Send your e-mails to kcprochazka@beavermtn.com. We can't wait to see your pictures and hear your story!

So You've Decided to Build Your Dream Home

You may have been getting those glossy log home magazines for years and glanced at the advertisements from the various log home manufactures. But the question is, “How do you research all those companies and where do you start?!” This is a big question, as there are over 400 log home companies in North America and there just isn’t a “Log Home Consumer Reports” to help you with sorting them all out.

The recommendation that I like to give is to start with those companies who are members of the “Log Home Council.” To qualify for and maintain membership status, a log home manufacturer must:

• Conduct or participate in a certified log grading program. This insures that customers will get only graded logs when purchasing from a council member. The Log Homes Council recognizes three third-party certified log grading programs: One administered by the Council, Timber Products Inspection and VTT.
• Subscribe to a rigid Code of Ethics developed to ensure well- constructed, code-complying structures and fair business dealings.
• Agree to provide interested persons with truthful and accurate information and educational materials about log home building systems.
• Follow the recommendations provided in the "Log Homes Council construction manual guideline" designed to address issues unique to log home construction as they relate to their individual system.
• Participate in and sponsor research, training and marketing programs committed to raising log home industry standards.
• Make a continuing commitment to professionalism and customer service. Be an active member of their local NAHB chapter.

Remember, companies that do not belong to the Log Home Council do not necessarily follow these standards. When you keep your research list narrowed to only council members you have the reassurance that those companies are committed to the above. For your first research assignment, visit the Log Home Council’s website at http://www.loghomes.org/.

-Frank Myka, Beaver Mountain Sales Consultant

Meet our Customer Service Team!

Jimmy, Mike, JoAnn & Rusty - Beaver Mountain's Customer Service Team!

Beaver Mountain's dedication to customer satisfaction doesn't end after the sale. In fact, our team of Customer Service Representatives are there with you and your builder throughout the entire process. Mike & JoAnn will help get your questions answered and will coordinate your delivery and help make it run smoothly. After delivery, Jim and Rusty come to your home site for Technical Assistance to get your project off to a great start! Plus, we have a dedicated toll-free phone number so you and your builder have direct access to the answers you need! Our team of Customer Service professionals is another reason to trust your dream home to Beaver Mountain.

Did you miss the May Seminar, Mill Tour & Log Building Workshop?

Then you will want to register now for the Fall events! Saturday, September 13 we'll be having another Mill Tour, Log Building Workshop and Home Planning Seminar! To register for the events, go to our events page, choose the event that you want, and click "register". Throughout the summer we'll still be having Open Houses and Special Sunday Hours, so check out those dates too!

Tour the Classic Lodge on your computer!

Beaver Mountain is now featured on "Home Talk Tours" by Andersen Windows! The Home Talk Tours website is designed to let clients virtually walk through a home on their computer screen. The site also has information about how to choose a builder, what to look for, questions to ask and links to help with the interviewing process. Just go to http://www.hometalktours.com/builder/beaver-mountain-log--cedar-homes and you can virtually tour our "Classic Lodge" model home.

After you've done that, call us to make your appointment to visit in person! We have 3 model homes on display for you to walk through, a design center to browse as well as special events monthly!

Register Now!!

This weekend is another Open House weekend! That means in addition to our regular hours (Monday-Saturday 8:30am-4:30pm) we're also hosting special events hours! Plus you can attend our Mill Tour, Log Building Workshop and/or Home Planning Seminar (register now for those events!)

Saturday, May 10 will start out with a tour of our manufacturing facility. Located just 8 miles away from our Design Center, the Manufacturing Facility tour will show you what sets Beaver Mountain apart from the rest of the industry. We'll cover full log vs. half log building systems, you'll get the opportunity to see where your home will be produced and will get your questions answered by our team of professionals! We'll also discuss kiln drying, grading, log species and engineering. A drystacked home will be on display for you to walk through (and yes, it is a client's actual home and not just something we put up for the tour!) Immediately following the tour you'll be invited to the Log Building Workshop where you'll see firsthand how a Beaver Mountain goes together!

Then after the Mill Tour & Log Building Workshop, you can attend our Home Planning Seminar. It's everything you need to get started with your new home project!

Special Sunday hours on May 11 we from 11am-4pm.

To register for any of the events, call 800-233-2770 or visit our events registration page.

Did you notice???

We've just finished another website update! Now http://www.beavermtn.com/ is easier to navigate, has more information and our Builder's Corner is taking shape! Plus we've updated our Gallery of Homes and created a new Testimonials page, full of inspirational images and letters from Beaver Mountain homeowners!

We'd love to know what you think of our site! Please drop us an e-mail or leave us a comment! Happy browsing!

The Best of Today's Log Homes

We just got the news that "The Best of Today's Log Homes" is out in stores! Beaver Mountain contributed images for the book, in collaboration with the NAHB's Log Homes Council . To purchase your copy, visit Barnes & Noble or go to your local bookseller.

A special Thank You to the Foley's, who opened their spectacular house to us for photos and images, which were included in this book.