A: Generally, we provide the log home superstructure customized to include the materials specific to your home design. We specialize in the design build of the log work itself; this includes the log walls, log beams and log posts to support the log roof structure, the log floor joists to support the upstairs floor, a log staircase and handrail if required, and related hardware. However, we can assist with arranging for additional materials you may require in the finishing of your home such as: dimensional lumber, stain, windows, doors and cabinets. The following list is typical of what you could expect in your package:

• accurate production dates and scheduling
• honest and exact log work costing before construction
• on-site re-assembly supervisor
• hand-peeled standard log walls of 12" - 14" diameter (larger is available)
• all logs will be full length with no wall log breaks
• all lateral grooves and corner notches scribed, fitted and lined with Sofrod gasket
• log walls with window and door openings cut out and key-ways pre-cut and supplied
• all log ridge poles, and log roof purlins cut to accept roof framing and wall slotting
• log posts for porches, entrance, breezeway etc., including steel settling jacks as required
• log trusses, structural and/or decorative
• hand crafted log stairs including landings and log support posts
• hand-peeled mortise and tenon log handrails where required
• all rough openings cut-out, notched back, flared and sanded
• 6" foam sill gasket supplied for log to sub-floor seal
• pre-drilling and installation of plated steel 3/4" through-bolts with timber washers
• 1" diameter drift pins supplied and installed during re-erection as required
• all log components sprayed with non-toxic mildewcide to minimize moisture damage during shipping and erection
• dependable and ongoing construction consultation after the log shell delivery

...for more info see the pages Stacked Log: What's Included and Post and Beam: What's Included

A: It is not cost effective to send turnkey construction crews the great distances, so we only offer the log shell portion of your home. We do work very closely with your chosen general contractor to ensure a smooth building experience.

A: We have in-house designers to help you with your log home planning ideas and create your final blueprints. When required, The Log Connection drafters work with your Architect to prepare the log building shop drawings. Upon completion your architect will have a final review prior to starting the build.

A: Absolutely, we are custom design builders and build according to our customers specifications. The few log home floor plans we offer are really to help get people started with ideas for their new home. Almost all of our homes are customized using our standard floor plans as a starting point. By utilizing our incredible design team clients can adjust, make changes and design the home to suit their own needs. You can also submit your own plans or plans from another company for us to build your Log Connection home. Send us a sketch, floor plan, or your blueprints and we will provide you a detailed quote.
...for more info see the page Custom Home Design

A: We offer a choice of Engelmann Spruce, Douglas Fir and Western Red Cedar. Our professional foresters, harvest only the highest quality logs from our northern forests here in British Columbia, Canada. Wall log sizes are on average 12 to 14 inches in diameter. Floor and roof log sizes are on average 14 to 20 inches in diameter. We inventory and air dry many loads of logs for our future projects.
...for more info see the page Selecting Log Species

A: The Log Connection provides only the highest quality logs available. Typically all logs used on any given project are graded as "premium" (best possible). When required by your local building inspection agency or engineer our logs and timber are graded by a licenced third party Timber Products Inspection Agency and a written report is provided indicating all pieces exceed the requirements.
...for more info: (http://www.tpinspection.com/loghome.html) (opens in new window or tab)

A: We offer dead-standing timber as a choice for our customers. A tree that has died by natural causes (insect infestation) and remains standing begins to dry even before it has been harvested which does offer a head start to the drying process and reduces the shrinkage encountered with green logs. Many of the boreholes are removed when the log is hand-peeled but the subtle blue staining commonly seen with some of these logs can not be peeled off.

A: Our logs are air dried in our construction yard to average moisture content of between 15% and 19% before we begin building.

A: There are many log homeowners but only a few can claim to live in a real handcrafted work of art. One of our experienced log smiths using the highest quality full log uniquely creates each of our homes.

• Unlike machined log homes, you would never find a butt joint in our log walls.
• Each log is allowed to retain its character. Only 5% to 9% of the handcrafted log is wasted during construction, compared to up to 50% in some milling operations. That is a lot of wasted R-value.
• Many manufactured log homes are built using timbers only 6 inches thick or less. Our homes are built using timber an average of 12 to 14 inches thick; an obvious advantage of this being the greater insulation value.
• Most manufactured log home companies send their "log kits" without any pre-fitting; that is left to the builders you hire on your site. This may take from many days to a few weeks. The pieces may have to be cut and hundreds of spikes must be pounded in the walls to hold them together. A skilled crew at our construction yard on the other hand, builds a handcrafted home to exacting tolerances while your foundation is being prepared. Every notch is scribed by a qualified artisan and fits perfectly. The roof structure is fitted and ready to accept roof framing; all the openings are cut out and sanded. The walls and notches are insulated as the home is re-erected and all the through-bolt holes are pre-drilled.

A: It is very difficult to quote a per square foot price, as there are so many variables which effect the cost of a handcrafted log home. Some of these variables are: log species, size of logs, the detail of the plan, the number of corners, the intricacy of the floor and roof system, wrap-around porches, as well as any special feature or individual touches you might want to incorporate into your log home. If you have a rough plan of what you want, we can provide you with an approximate price.

A: In a stacked log home, the wiring is generally run up from your sub-floor and through a pre-drilled vertical hole in the log wall. We also pre-cut all locations for electrical boxes, face plates and specialty electronics as needed. The plumbing is always installed through interior frame walls, just as it is in conventional homes. For a stacked log shell package, in the final blueprints we provide the construction slip joint details for your contractor.

A: The freight is usually a small portion of the overall expense of your log home. All log shell packages are constructed in British Columbia, Canada and you are responsible for the cost of the freight to your site. We typically arrange the transportation and have you pay the transporter directly.

A: Our log homes are some of the most thermally and energy efficient log homes being built today. There are two factors that determine the energy efficiency of logs that we use: the diameter, and the thermal mass. The greater the diameter of the logs used to construct your home the higher the R-value. The cellular structure of logs themselves provide the thermal mass, and serves as a very good natural insulator and radiates back into your home warm air in the winter and cool air in the summer. The accepted calculation is R = 1.25 ~ 1.75 per square inch. Our 13" to 15" logs provide an R-value of 18.75 ~ 26.25 PLUS the thermal Mass. As a rule, our log homes are more energy efficient to heat and cool than a conventional stick frame home built with 2x6 studs and R20 insulation.