Choosing the right Floor Plan for a Log Home

One of the biggest decisions that clients will have to make when determining what the layout of their new log home will be, is the final floor plan that they choose. We try to simplify these decisions by assisting in the final layout. We currently carry a number of different models on our website to assist clients in getting the process started. These designs are not written in stone, they can be altered in anyway imaginable so that the dimensions of the rooms can be adjusted to fit the lifestyles of the clients. Any design, in any design book can be converted into log construction without any issues or concerns, as our designers and engineers can make any structural alterations, if required. For most of the log homes that we construct, the clients have found a floor plan in a conventional construction plan book. In tomorrows blog we will be discussing the service that we provide regarding the completion of custom design sketch drawings.

Please check our website at Muskoka Log Homes & Chalets, as the Holiday Special runs till January 15/09.

Will Ship Log Home Kit Packages Anywhere in World

One of the concerns that people have regarding our log home kit packages is that they can only be shipped in the Muskoka and Parry Sound Districts. This is not true, we can and will ship our material package kits anywhere in the world at a very small cost. In this day and age with the internet, people everywhere become knowledgeable regarding our products and services. Also a benefit to a lot of potential clients outside of Canada is the advantage of the exchange rates. If the log home material package kits are to be shipped in North America, the usual means of transportation would be by transport truck. If the package needs to be delivered overseas, we make all of the arrangements to have the materials delivered via storage containers that would be delivered by ship and then by transport truck.

To get even bigger savings on our material package kits, please check our website at Muskoka Log Homes & Chalets Inc. Our Holiday Special runs to January 15/09.

Log Homes on Christmas Cards

I was going through the stack of Christmas cards that we received this year plus I was checking out the local realtor newspaper and I was amazed to find that there was one common graphic, the scene of a log home in the wilderness nestled among the trees with smoke coming from the chimneys. I was looking at these very similar photos and designs and came to the conclusion that there must be some type of lifestyle that must be associated with Christmas and living in a log home. Funny, I could not find one single photo of a home with vinyl siding or brick as a Christmas greeting card or ad. We always indicate how cozy, comfortable and warm that the homes are but that is our and our clients feelings, we don't create Christmas cards or provide photos, drawings or paintings to different companies that wish to advertise over the Holiday Season, so what are they trying to indicate or what feeling are they trying to instill by having graphics of log homes ? Is there something your missing out on by living in a drywalled home with 8 foot ceilings and exterior vinyl siding ? Log homes are not only to be enjoyed over the Holidays, they are designed to be pleasurable, rewarding and satisfying year round !!!

Please don't forget to visit our website at Muskoka Log Homes & Chalets, the Holiday Special runs out on January 15/09.

Best Time to Purchase Property for a Log Home

One of the services that we provide free of charge is lot evaluations. We are constantly visiting vacant lots with potential clients to determine whether or not the log home design that they have chosen will accommodate the property. In most cases the only issues that need to be addressed are the locations of the utilities and the septic tank and bed. We usually will visit a number of lots with the clients to make sure that they are 100% comfortable with their final selection. Since we visit so many prime building lots, we create a data base of the best lots that are available. Also by working with a qualified realtors, we usually receive information as soon as quality lots arrive on the market. The best time to purchase any building lot is during the winter months, as most vendors don't receive many inquiries since most purchasers are reluctant to hike through snow to visit a lot. This is where our knowledge comes in, assisting our clients in finding the perfect lot to build their dream log home. With this information we can assist you in making an offers to vendors that are willing to unload their properties at a lower than listing price.

Don't forget to visit our website at Muskoka Log Homes and Chalets and to also take advantage of the Holiday Special that we are running.

Log Chalet vs. Park Model Trailer

The reason why we developed the log chalet model line was to create a competitve product that would compete with park model trailers. The advantages to having a log chalet constructed are many. The most important benefit is that with a log chalet home built, it will appreciate in value where as a park model trailer will depreciate in value over time. It is also easier to get financing for a building on a foundation in comparison to a structure that is constructed on a steel frame with wheels. Banks always look at permanent buildings as being more of a solid investment. You will find that when comparing costs in regards to having one of our log chalets or homes built, that the final product will be substantially of a higher quality and will hold a much higher resale value than a trailer. Just contact us for model prices.

January 15/09 is fast approaching, please check our website at Muskoka Log Homes for details on the Holiday Special !!!

Decorating a Log Home

When decorating a Log Home, one need not be limited to what style of decorating to choose. Whether it be, victorian, eclectic, contemporary, or modern it can all be incorporated into a log home. You can carry the same style throughout the home or you can mix and match different styles, to get the look and feel you like. Dark wood furnishings stand out well against lightly stained log walls and light wood furnishings stand out well against darker stained walls. It's also a good idea to try and bring some of the outdoors in. For instance, you might want to have a lot of greenery in your log home or the floors can be made of slate, bamboo, wood, etc. The fireplace can be erected of real river rock or of cultered stone, which looks like the real thing, at a fraction of the cost, and weighs much less. These are just some of the decorating ideas. You can feel as free as you like when it comes to decorating your very own log home.

Our Holiday Special runs out on January 15, 2008. Please check the Muskoka Log Homes & Chalets website for more information.

Relaxing by the fire in a Log Home

One of the pleasures of living in a log home is the feeling of warmth and comfort after a hard days work. This evening the outside temperature is minus 25 with about two feet of snow on the ground. My wife and I after dinner sat and relaxed by the fire with our after dinner coffee enjoying the ambience and coziness of our log home. With the lights dimmed down low and with the reflections of the flames bouncing off the pine logs the feeling of tranquility sets in. There is definitely a comfort level that one feels in this environment that cannot be achieved in any other type of home. As we sit here in the peace and quiet with the only sounds being the crackling of the wood in the fire, we are pleased that we had chosen to live in a log home. We find that all of our past clients feel the same way we do, which is owning and enjoying their dream log home. I have to stop writing this blog now and go and enjoy the warmth of the living room.

For details on our Holiday Special don't forget to visit our website at Muskoka Log Homes & Chalets Inc.

Location of Your Log Home

When building on a country or shoreline property, and when determining the location of the log home a number of factors need to be considered before finalizing the location of the home on the property. The most important item to consider is the location of the septic system and the tile bed in regards to the location of the log home. When considering the location of the septic tank one should always take advantage of gravity, by doing so, it takes away from having pumps installed in the system which at some point in time will require maintenance and replacement. Obviously by having a gravity fed system the overall costs for the installation are lower. The other items that need to be determined but are not as important are the hydro, well location and driveway. One of the services that we provide to our clients free of charge is in helping to determine the best location for the log home. All items as indicated above are considered and if a walk out basement is requested, this item is also addressed.

For information on our Sale that we are running till January 15, 2008 please visit the website at Muskoka Log Homes & Chalets Inc.

Foundations for Log Homes

During the blueprint stage, one of the items that should get attention from the clients in consideration of their log home is the foundation. This is always one item we pay a great deal of attention to, as solid footings and a foundation need to be addressed from the begining of the design process. The engineer determines all of the load bearing requirements so that the footings are built to the correct dimensions and that the foundation walls are of the correct thickness. The options for foundation walls are as follows. Block, poured concrete and insulated concrete forms (ICF). The ICF foundation walls are the most expensive to construct but the advantage is the high R-Factor that is created by having the insulated foam on both sides of the foundation walls. The block foundation walls seem to be the most popular, the one feature that we include is the adhesion of 2" insulated foam to the interior of the block walls. There is a considerable cost savings by constucting the foundation walls in this manner.

Please don't forget to visit our website at Muskoka Log Homes & Chalets for our Holiday Savings Special. For our American friends the savings are even greater considering the current exchange rates.

Threaded Thru-Bolt System for Log Homes

The thru-bolt system has been designed and developed to provide continuous vertical pressure on the log walls of a building. The logs are all milled to have a tongue and groove profile so that they may easily be stacked. After a course of logs are stacked, we apply to the top of both tongues on a log, a closed-cell pvc foam gasket tape which provides a positive air, water and dust seal. Once the logs have all been stacked, a 1/2" threaded rod is inserted in all of the drilled openings which were created in the factory prior to assembly. A compression spring is inserted onto the log and is compressed into place. With the springs being rated for a thousand pounds of pressure per foot and with approximately 40 rods and springs being used in the construction of a home, the system provides a totally airtight structure with no future maintenance issues regarding re-adjustments. Plus, by using this system, no chinking is required.

For additional information pertaining to our system, or to check out the current Holiday Special we are running, please visit our website at Muskoka Log Homes and Chalets Inc.

Seasons Greetings - Holiday Special

The Holidays are fast approaching which means that Muskoka Log Homes and Chalets Inc. are once again having a special sale for the season. From December 1/08 to January 15/09 we will be reducing our material package kits for our models by 5%. This adds up to significant savings considering that our product is produced using the same high qualities and standards as our competitors. This discount will also apply to any of our potential clients that received quotations for custom designed homes over the past year. For those that currently have rough sketch drawings and are looking at starting a log home build out in the Spring or Summer of 2009, please contact us to take advantage of this limited time discount. We will also honour any of our competitors quotations. All the Best over the Holidays !!!

Please check out the Muskoka Log Homes and Chalets website for design models and material package kits.

Sub Jamb Openings for Windows & Doors

One of the innovations that we have created is the development of a steel t-bar system that gets used to vertically align the logs at all window and door openings. We router out all of the log ends that align with all of the openings, in our factory. By creating all of the required cuts during the manufacturing of the home in our shop, this allows for speedy and trouble free installations out on the construction job sites. The steel t-bars are factory pre-cut and are simply installed on site. By installing these steel inserts at all window and door openings they maintain the log walls to remain plumb. The other added benefit of this system is that because of the manner in which the logs are milled for the steel bars, they allow for any movement that might take place, such as any settlement that might happen over time.

Stain Preservation of Logs

The stains that have been created, researched and developed over the years have greatly advanced in the area of adhesion and durability. The waterboune latex stains that are on the market today are also more environmentally friendly and emit less volatile organic compounds. With latex stains applied to logs, it absorbs deep into the grains of the wood, it allows the wood to breathe plus it permits any moisture in the log to dissipate. Years ago the norm was to use oil based stains on the exterior of logs. The most common problem was that the oil finish was a surface topper that did not allow the logs to breathe which caused moisture to get trapped within the logs, causing the logs to darken to a black colour. The latex products that we use today, log homes will have the same appearance 50 to 100 years from the day the home was constructed. By following some easy cleaning procedures and reapplying a maintenance coat to the logs once every 5 to 7 years the logs will continue to look like new.

Engineered Log vs. Hand Hewn/Scribed Log Homes

The difference between engineered log homes and hand hewn/scribed log homes is as follows. With engineered logs homes, we rough saw the logs and allow them to air dry for approximately 15 months before the final milling takes place. This means that all of the logs are milled to the exact same dimensions and profile, complete with tongues and grooves. By following this procedure, the logs moisture content has drastically been reduced and most of the shrinkage has been completed. With the sealants that are used along with our compression spring thur bolt system, no future maintenance issues need to be addressed, plus there is no chinking in this system. With the hand hewn/scribed log homes, the trees are cut down, debarked, scribed and stacked one on top of another and spiked together. The lowering of the moisture content and shrinkage of the logs all takes place during the first couple of years after the home is built. All of the logs are stacked in all different dimensions and profiles and do not have any tongues or grooves to create a locking system. This method does not have a compression spring thur bolt system and maintenance is an annual event addressing the shrinkage and chinking which is required in this system.

Wilderness Conservation

The lumber that we use for our engineered milled logs comes from managed forests. Our suppliers contribute to reforestation which means that the lumber that we use on all of our log homes, that we construct, comes from suppliers that proactively address the environmental sustainabilty of the logging industry. Addressing wilderness conservation as well as supporting and maintaining our natural resources is of major interest and concern for us all, here at Muskoka Log Homes.

Energy Efficiency of Log Homes

One of the common concerns that most people have is the R- Factor and how energy efficient log homes can be. Typically with the structures that we build the log walls will be equivalent to conventional homes with an R-Factor of 20. The minimum thickness for log walls allowed for construction by the Ontario Building Code Standards is 6" (our product line consists of 6", 8" or 10"). One must remember that the logs because of their solid thermal mass provide a superior thermal resistance to temperature change, this must also be taken into consideration along with the R-Factor. Translated this means that during the winter months it takes less energy to heat a log home in comparison to a conventionally constructed insulated home, the same is also true for the summer months because of it requiring extremely long periods of time for the outside temperatures to affect the inside climate of the log home. Hence, it is very rare to see a log home which requires any air conditioning means.

After a hectic and busy week working in highly populated urban centres, what could be more pleasing and relaxing than spending your weekends and vacations in your very own log home nestled in the country or on a peaceful, serene lake. Better yet, living full time in the comfort of your beautiful and picturesque log home. The lifestyle of living in a log home can only be discribed as having a special warmth, coziness and ambiance that once experienced will be a feeling you will not want to let go of. One of the most common responses from people we build for is, "After living in a log home we could never move back to a conventional home". Over the next few blogs, we will be discussing the benefits of energy efficiency and environmentally friendly materials used in the construction of our log homes.

Pre-Drilled Logs for Electrical

One of the things that we do during the manufacturing stage of the log homes, which is done at our facility, is pre-drill all of the logs for all of the electrical rough-ins. During the design stage and prior to going to blueprints we consult with the client and determine all of the electrical requirements needed for the home. This includes the locations of all receptacles, coach lights, wall sconces, ceiling fixtures and switches. If requested, we can also pre-drill the logs for security systems. When faced with manufacturing a log building that will be used for commercial purposes, we also pre-drill the logs in our factory for all of the fire alarm system hookups. By doing all of this prep in an enclosed environment, this allows for a more problem free and efficient process. By doing so, we can better quality control the process and eliminate problems, which may occur, by trying to drill the logs while on a construction jobsite, which would not only delay and slow down the assembly of the logs but may create faults or mistakes.

Please visit our Muskoka Log Homes & Chalets company page.

Welcome to our first post!

Welcome to our company blog's debut post! As we state on our Muskoka Log Homes & Chalets website:

Muskoka Log Homes & Chalets Inc. is proud to be one of Canada’s most modern and advanced log home manufacturers on the market today. We pride ourselves on having the most precise milling and cutting machinery and techniques in the industry, which produces consistency in our product line and will provide the most exceptional energy efficient and structurally sound log homes. At Muskoka Log Homes & Chalets Inc. we use the most modern and innovative techniques in the assembly and construction of log homes which is setting the standard in the log home manufacturing industry.

If you are interested in retaining us to construct the log home of your dreams, please contact us via the site.

We look forward to your next visit to this blog.