In the News
Despite the Economic Downturn, Log Home Dreams Remain
Despite the sour economy, an Ottawa website profiles families opting to build their dream log homes. Longtime Log Home Council member Ward Cedar Log Homes is profiled in this report, including mentioning that the company's building system was established as far back as 1923. Builder Don Zukowski says the economic downturn has not affected his log home building business. "Log home buyers tend to have more liquid assets to invest in this kind of speciality type of residence." Read the full story here.
PrecisionCraft Celebrates 20th Anniversary
PrecisionCraft Log Homes & Timber Frame, an industry leader in the design, manufacturing and construction of custom mountain style homes, is celebrating its twenty year anniversary today. Since its founding on May 21, 1990, PrecisionCraft has worked diligently to maintain the highest level of customer satisfaction by delivering the best in customer service, creative design, product quality and construction solutions. In doing so, PrecisionCraft redefined what a custom mountain style home is, challenging other companies within the industry to think outside the standard “kit” framework by providing a Total Home Solution, instead of just a log or timber package.
"Over the last twenty years, PrecisionCraft has remained strong, even with the many changes in the economic climate," said Jim Young, President of PrecisionCraft Log Homes & Timber Frame. "Our success is directly attributable to our unified focus on the customer. From offering the industry’s most innovative and complete home building solution to housing a knowledgeable, cutting-edge and service-focused team, PrecisionCraft continues to set the bar in the log and timber home industry.” Read more here.
Original Log Cabin Homes Selected for Field & Stream's 2010 Cabin of the Year
Bonnier’s Outdoor Group, publishers of Field & Stream and Outdoor Life, has announced that it has selected The Original Log Cabin Homes to build the 2010 Cabin of the Year: A Sportsman’s Dream. Original Log Cabin Homes is a longtime member of the Log Homes Council, which powers this site. The cabin, being built on 500 acres in eastern Kansas, will be chronicled in Field & Stream magazine and Outdoor Life online throughout the year to a total audience of more than 35 million.
“Our readers are real home do-it-yourselfers so projects like this are right up their alley,” says Eric Zinczenko, group publisher. “Every sportsman wants a cabin in the country. Working with The Original Log Cabin Homes we’re going to build the ultimate Sportsman’s Dream home.”
Field & Stream will feature the home in print, beginning in June, while a dedicated micro-site will chronicle the home with video, photo galleries and blogs. "We are proud of our commitment to our customers by providing the best quality and service in the log home industry," says Stephen Brumfield, national sales director for The Original Log Cabin Homes. "It is this commitment that sets our company apart as exemplified in the selection for The Cabin of the Year." Read more.
PrecisionCraft’s Caribou Design Earns Awards & Accolades
The Caribou home design first landed in the limelight in 2007. Created by Mountain Architects, PrecisionCraft’s award-winning team of log home designers, the design earned “Best Single-Level Floor Plan” by Log Home Design magazine.
After that auspicious start, the Caribou has remained one of the company’s most popular designs, says Jim Young, president of PrecisionCraft in Meridian, ID. “Since we created this design in 2007, 15 of our clients have opted to use this design as the basis for their dream home. This year we have five more clients who are building variations of the design. People are drawn to its healthy mix of beauty and functionality.”
The Caribou is also this month’s Featured Home at www.loghomes.org, the official website of the Log Homes Council, which is part of the National Association of Home Builders. Visit the April Featured Home page or read about the Caribou design here, or here, or download a pdf of the press release below.
High Country Press Profiles Log Homes of America
Log Homes of America and its construction division, Logs America, were profiled in the March 25th edition of High Country Press. "A Two-Part Business With Integrity as the Common Foundation," trumpeted the newspaper.
Founded in 1989, Log Homes of America has found success by concentrating on follow-through. "We do what we say we will do," say Nicole Robinson, vice president of Log Homes of America. In addition to having her contractor's license, Robinson, who helms the company's construction division, recently earned her Certified Green Building Professional status from the National Association of Home Builders. But that's not the only news. The two companies recently built a home that is the March Feature Home on this website, as well as earning coverage in a Country's Best Log Homes, which is on newsstands now.
Recycling Saves Golden Eagle Log Homes 90,000 Pounds of Waste Annually
A new recycling initiative by employees at Golden Eagle Log Homes will save 90,000 pounds of waste annually. “Our mill has gone from a 40 yard dumpster to a 6 yard one, and our wood waste is now bought by a local wood chip manufacturer to be turned in to wood mulch for landscaping homes,” says Jay Parmeter, co-owner of Golden Eagle with Tod Parmeter. “All metal banding for lumber is separated and sold to a local scrap yard. It’s really a great feeling to not only provide a service to neighboring businesses, but to help the environment as well. One man’s trash is another man’s treasure – it goes to show that recycling can really benefit us all.”
“Golden Eagle’s sustainability practices are designed to help lessen our impact on the environment," says Mike Bronk, head of HR and Facilitator of the recycling initiative. "Recycling and sustainability have been a priority at Golden Eagle Log Homes since our company was founded 44 years ago. That's why we place so much emphasis on recovering and recycling items wherever possible.” Read more.
Log Homes Council Offers Free Report on Fire Performance of Log Walls
Over the years, building code inspectors, fire officials, the insurance industry and prospective home buyers have been curious about the fire performance of solid log walls. Numerous scientific studies conducted by Log Homes Council have proven that solid log walls offer a solid protection against the threat of fire.
The tests conducted by members of the Log Homes Council, on a variety of log species and log diameters, prove that log walls pass the fire endurance test and hose stream test, as required by many building codes. This fascinating scientific data has long been some of the most requested information in the Log Homes Council library of information. This is why the Log Homes Council is offering this information on its website, in html or as a down-loadable 20-page .pdf of the study. This information is free to building code officials, fire officials, the insurance industry and prospective home buyers. Download the pdf below or you can view the press release in its entirety here or here.
Press-Release-LHC-Offers-Free-Report-on-Fire-Performance-of-Log-Walls.pdf
PrecisionCraft Home to Earn Platinum LEED Certification
For Mark and Crystal Ryan, building their dream mountain house was synonymous with building what is commonly referred to as a “green” home. This Oregon couple turned to award-winning Mountain Architects and PrecisionCraft Log Homes & Timber Frame to help them design and manufacture a log home that is now in the final certification process to be awarded the LEED Platinum rating. LEED, the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is a comprehensive framework for the integrated design approach key to high-performance building.
The 3,600 square foot custom log and timber frame home is beautiful, healthy, and good for the environment. To top it all off, the highly efficient home saves the Ryan family a great deal of money. Read the full press release here.
Honest Abe Salutes Employee for Two Great Achievements
Honest Abe Log Homes (Moss, TN) has singled out employee Inez Price on two great achievements in 2009. Price, who started with Honest Abe in 2006, was the leading salesperson in 2009--in spite of the challenging economy. However, her accomplishments did not stop there. Inez and her husband Don designed and built their new Honest Abe Log Home in the same year.
The couple broke ground in August of 2009, and by the middle of December they were moving into their new dream log home. “The most significant part of this story is Inez built her home while never taking her focus off our customers,” says Rachel Meadows, who serves as Honest Abe Log Home’s Direct Sales Manager. “Balancing all there is to do with building a new home, and in the same year reaching the level of Honest Abe’s top-performing salesperson is simply remarkable.” Read more about Inez's achievments here and the full press release here.
Original Log Cabin Homes Earns Award From Andersen Windows
Andersen Corporation, which is one of the largest window and door manufacturers in the building materials industry, recently presented Log Cabin Homes with the prestigious “Symbol of Service Excellence and Product Quality Award." Log Cabin Homes is a longtime member of the Log Homes Council.
"We are proud to have our products featured in Log Cabin Homes. Their leadership in building beautiful homes with a commitment to craftsmanship makes them a leading log-home builder in this country and a great business partner," says Andersen Corporate Executive Courtney Smith.
Additionally, Log Cabin Homes has been selected as the first log and timber home manufacturer to offer the “Certified Green” Andersen 100 Series windows. This news means that Log Cabin Home customers can now have world-class, energy-efficient “Certified Green” windows in their homes and cabins. Read the full press release here or download a .pdf below.
10554097-original-log-cabin-homes-receives-award-as-key-home-manufacturer-from-andersen-windows.pdf
PrecisionCraft's Design Firm Earns Two Awards
PrecisionCraft’s architectural firm, Mountain Architects, receives national recognition in two of four log home design categories in Log Home Living’s 2010 Floor Plan Contest. The two log homes, PrecisionCraft’s Montclaire plan as well as a custom, platinum LEED certified log home in Oregon, both top dramatic mountain sites and rise above the national competition for the brilliance of their creative combination of log and timber frame construction.
PrecisionCraft is also a longtime member of the Log Homes Council. The complete list of winning floor plans can be found in the April 2010 issue of Log Home Living, now on newsstands. Or you can read the full press release here.
Moosehead Cedar Log Homes Bouncing Back From Fire
After a fire destroyed part of the company's mill in Greenville, Maine, on Feb. 24th, owners of Moosehead Cedar Log Homes and longtime members of the Log Homes Council, say they are still making dream homes a reality. The company is shipping log packages to customers across the Eastern seaboard and beyond.
"We've had an outpouring of support from suppliers, vendors, competitors. I mean, if you have to have a tragedy, that kind of warms your heart a little bit," Randall Comber, who owns the company with his wife Lucy, recently told WABI TV5. The Combers say that thanks to dedicated employees, help from local townspeople and other members of the Log Homes Council, their customers won't know the difference.
Once they get the insurance sorted out, they'll start rebuilding their mill. They say through it all they'll keep on building homes. The company's press release is below, or you can visit their website, or read news reports here and here.
Log Homes Council Unveils New Feature Home
When turning the dream of living in a log home into a reality, it helps to convey exactly what you want to your builder and log home manufacturer. Scrapbooks, photos and floor plans certainly help. But home buyers Connie and Fred Woolard took it to the next level for a 2,380-square feet log home in Fleetwood, NC. To show exactly how she wanted their dream home positioned on their land, Connie Woolard created a miniature three dimensional model of their home and brought it to the job site.
“They were some of the most prepared clients we’ve ever had,” recalls Nicole Robinson, vice president of Log Homes of America (Banner Elk, NC) and a longtime member of The Log Homes Council. Nicole’s company crafted the log home package and constructed the Woolards’ new home.
The Woolards new home is being featured in March on the website established by the Log Homes Council. The home is also featured in a magazine, Cozy Cabins: The Ultimate Cabin Guide, on newsstands March 8th, 2010. Read the press release in its entirety or download a pdf below.
Golden Eagle Bestows Silver Award to Dealership
Log Homes of Today (North Conway, NH) was recently awarded the Silver Award for Increased Sales by Golden Eagle Log Homes, which is a member of the Log Homes Council. This award recognizes that Log Homes of Today, a Golden Eagle Log Home Dealer, was second in the company in increasing sales for the year of 2009. Melissa Leonard and Leonard Magliocca, managers of Log Homes of Today, were presented with the award by Jay and Tod Parmeter, owners of Golden Eagle Log Homes. Read the full press release here.
Newspaper & Magazine Profile Home Crafted by Northeastern
A feature article in Country's Best Log Homes led to a profile in a Feb. 20th article by The Providence Journal newspaper and website. The $1.5 million home set on 52.5-acre property in Glocester, RI, was built by homeowners Jay and Judith Forgue, using a home package by Northeastern Log Homes, which is a longtime member of the Log Homes Council. The Providence Journal also included a photo gallery of the home.
The home's design was a variation of Northeastern's "Harborside" floor plan. This substantial three-bedroom house, which is for sale, has oversized windows, skylights and a massive stone chimney. The property includes equestrian facilities, riding trails, paddocks, a pond, pastures, stone walls, heated swimming pool with cabana and a three-car garage with a second-story loft. Next door is 18-hole golf course, called Melody Hill.
The combination of a rustic design and a large land parcel make for a feeling of sanctuary that is hard to beat, the homeowners told reporter Andy Smith. “We take a walk every night, and it feels like you could just pick a star out of the sky. . . . You can’t hear a neighbor, you can’t hear a car, but you’re still only 15 or 20 minutes from Providence,” Judith Forgue said.
All this publicity for Northeastern comes on the heels of a feature story, "10 Incredible Kit Homes" by Christopher Solomon of MSN Real Estate one month ago, which also featured a Northeastern design.
Council Launches Buyer's Guide
"The Perfect Path to Your Dream Home"
Online resource helps consumers build the rustic home of their dreams.
If there’s one silver lining to the housing boom and subsequent bust is that land costs are at a historic low. This is a boon for baby boomers who envision themselves living out their retirement years in a rustic retreat. “Log and timber homes have never been more affordable than they are right now,” says Jim Murphy, president of the Log Homes Council, and a log home manufacturer from Mauston, WI. “We want consumers to get the most bang for their buck when building their dream home. That’s why we created The Log Homes Council Buyer’s Guide: The Perfect Path to Your Dream Home. This online resource at loghomes.org provides consumers with all the steps they need to take to make their dream come true, quickly and cost effectively.” Read the entire press release here.
Exceptional Properties Profiles Log Home Luxury
Golden Eagle Log Homes and True North Log Homes, both members of the National Association of Home Builder’s (NAHB) Log Homes Council, are featured in the January/February 2010 issue of the Robb Report’s Exceptional Properties publication.The article, entitled “Green, Spacious and Gorgeous” showcases the exceptional luxury of log and timber homes.
In addition to quotes from Jay Parmeter of Golden Eagle Log Homes and Rob Wrightman of True North Log Homes, the article also quotes Jeremy Bertrand, former NAHB Building Systems Council Executive Director. “These aren’t your granddaddy’s log home by any stretch of the imagination. People are coming to appreciate the concept of luxury in a log home. Plus, the whole green movement has really spurred the popularity. Log homes were green before green was cool.” Read the full press release, the online article or download a pdf below.
LHC Celebrates New Lincoln Log Cabin Penny
Winter 2009
LHC co-president Rob Cantrell awarded the 2008 Heritage Grant to the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission, the group that worked to develop a new Lincoln penny featuring a log home on the flip side of the coin. The LHC will play a role in a Bicentennial celebration at a February 12 birthday party at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.
"Log Home Cakes" Embody Rustic Charm and Heritage of Log Homes
Winter 2009
As part of the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial celebration, the Log Homes Council was uniquely honored at a "birthday party" in honor of the 16th President. The connection? Cake!
Go to www.nahb.org/loghomecakes to see more than a dozen cakes depicting the rustic charm of Abraham Lincoln's log home. You can also review a press release about the event and connect to links of the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission, the group that is celebrating the 200th birthday of Lincoln across the country this year.
LHC Offers Consumers "Shopping Tips" for Buying a Log Home
Winter 2009
In today's uncertain economy, consumers in general are wary. To ease these concerns, the LHC wants to help consumers ask the right questions when shopping for a new log home. It is a great way to get back into "buying mode."
Log Homes Council Featured in New Coffee Table Book for Consumers
Summer/Fall 2008
Log Homes Council members were featured in a new coffee table book titled "The Best of Today's Log Homes." The book was written by Tina Skinner and was published by Schiffer Publishing.
