" So You Want To Build A Log Home"
By Craig Peister

You have been thinking about it, looking through all the magazines that you can find, going to log home shows and open houses and yet you still aren't sure where to start. You aren't alone, that's the what all most all prospective log home owner' s start.

Perhaps if I break it down for you it will become a little easier to comprehend. I know what all of the magazines tell you to do- make out some kind of a questionnaire and send it to several log home suppliers in hopes that the supplier that you are looking for will stand out. Forget it!

Being in the log home business for over 20 years nothing causes me less excitement as when I receive one of those in the mail. First of all most consumers don't understand the cryptic language of the industry and don't have any idea when looking at the answers whether or not they are good answers based on limited knowledge or even how they would effect what you have in mind to build.

There are some very simple questions to ask that will help you in selecting your log home supplier and here they are:

1. What type of logs do you use? Are they green, kiln dried or dead standing?
   
   
2. What shapes of logs do you offer?



3. Are the logs all precut or do you supply random length logs?



4. How long is the longest log that they offer?



5. Will they custom design the home that you want, and if so is there an extra cost for that?



6. Do they offer finding you a crew to erect the shell or any on site supervision?



7. Do they have any homes in the area?

These very questions will tell volumes about the company. Being in the business for many years tells me that there are a few things that will give you the best possible log home. The things that make the most difference in building a quality home are these:

My experience tells me that you want to use dead standing timber and the second important factor would be the use of what I call long logs eliminating any unsightly butt joints. By eliminating the butt joints you just eliminated perhaps hundreds of possible potential problems. Some may tell you that the only way to get a home without any exposed butt joints is to go handcrafted and that is not so.

Your Big Bear Log Home consultant can recommend and supply hand peeled milled logs up to 60 feet in length. The two things have just shortened your list of prospective log home suppliers. In the next article I will continue taking you down the path to building your log home.