Building a Better Log Home?

The Timber Times

April 4th 2005

When researching log home building companies it is helpful to have a basic understanding of the range of quality levels and variety of log home packages available to you. This involves a great deal of work for the log home consumer, but is well worth the effort considering the dollars you will spend on your log home to bring it to completion.
The most easily identifiable difference in log home packages is that of the milled log home, versus the handcrafted log home. As hand crafters of log homes, we obviously consider our product to be superior that said, there are many reputable producers of fine milled log homes, (as well as a great many, in our opinion, that are no more than butt jointed stacked fire wood and you get to do the stacking, and sometimes the notch cutting too!)
Of course similar disparities in quality occur with-in the handcrafted log home industry as well. Good questions to ask your potential log builder both milled log home producers and handcrafted log home builders:
1. Do you pre-drill your log homes for electrical?
2. Do you prepare the logs for interior framing?
3. What level of finish can you expect on your logs? (sanded, peeled, etc)
4. Pitches cut on roof timbers?
5. Are you gasketing your log homes?
6. Do you provide a supervisor or crew to assist in the re-set of your log homes?
7. Do you anticipate and build for settling and compression in your log homes?
8. What is the average mid-span diameter of the logs you use in your log homes?[

Of course there are many other questions you will ask as you become more familiar with the product by speaking with various log home producers. In our opinion, your log home should arrive at your site, ready for re-set. All logs pre-cut and finished. Pitch cuts on roof members, ready for the roof to go on, and all ready for your general contractor or carpenter to begin their part of the work as you wave a fond farewell to the log builder. At Nicola LogWorks we build our log homes anticipating the needs of your finishing crew and general contractor. We make every effort to facilitate completion of your log home in an efficient and cost efficient fashion. (2005)

Testimonials

Mohawk College Reference

Nicola Log Works has the ability to source and custom fabricate the materials required for the installation and the ship these components several thousand miles across the country where Nicola crew efficiently erected the structure. In the future I hope to be fortunate enough to work with Nicola Log Works and John Boys and I would not hesitate to recommend Nicola’s service to any one requiring wood or log structure work.

David Nairne and Associates

John Boys and Nicola Loworks have played a positive role in the complex project delivery process with contribution to both design and construction through attention to detail, project preparation, and their knowledge and passion for the celebration of wood

Selkirk College

I was impressed at how well organized the erection crew from Nicola Logworks was. Despite poor weather conditions (rain, snow, and wind),the erection went smoothly.