FAQ'S
(Frequently Asked Questions)
Q:: We have always dreamed of building a log home. How do we get
started?
We are involved in the building process well before any construction
begins. From selecting plans to helping procure permits, we can
help you. We have worked with many different lenders, and can offer
advice there. If you are still looking for the perfect piece of
property, we can refer you to local real estate people. Our experience
and local knowledge will expedite your entire construction project.
Q:: Can you work with plans other than Lodge Log’s
standard plans?
Absolutely! We can work with almost any plan; however, some may
need to be modified to work with our computer cutting system. We
can offer many standard plans as well as custom drafting. We also
work with area architects, if the customer so chooses.
Q:: Can we customize your standard plans?
Yes! As a matter of fact, we have yet to build a house without
at least a few minor changes to the plans. Our homes are very versatile,
and many changes can easily be made. Door and window locations,
as well as interior walls are quite easily moved. Room sizes can
also be changed. We want the home to be what you want and need.
Do not hesitate to make it your custom home.
Q:: What kind of logs do you use?
BW Construction uses a cured,
kiln-dried, turned log. They are available in several species,
including pine, fir, cedar, and tamarack. We work almost entirely
with pine, as it has usually been the choice of my customers. It
is light colored with an attractive and distinctive grain pattern.
We call our homes “contemporary log homes”,
as the logs are all true to size, grooved to fit tight with no
chinking, and bolted together with a Thru-bolt system. We combine
the best of nature with the latest technology to create a very
nice log home.
Q:: Do your logs shrink? How much checking can we expect
to see?
Our kiln-dried logs shrink very little, generally
3/8” or
less per 8-foot log wall. That is about the same as you see in
frame construction. We make minor allowances for it as the house
is built. By cutting a curing kerf in the log prior to drying,
we can eliminate almost all log checking. There is always some,
but it is minor and the checks are small.
Q:: Are log homes more expensive than traditional, stick-built homes?
Given
the same size and features, the cost of a BW Log Home is comparable
to many custom-built stick-frame homes. However, people who build
a log home usually plan to stay, and therefore invest in higher-quality
fixtures and finishing, which can raise the value. Each home that
we build is bid out individually; No two are exactly alike.
Q:: Are log homes harder to finance than traditional construction?
Not really. While your neighborhood bank may have little or no
experience with log home construction loans and mortgages, there
are a number of lenders who are more familiar with the product
and thus willing to work with you, including those who utilize
familiar mortgage products such as Fannie Mae.
Q:: What type of maintenance is needed for a log home?
A
log home typically requires less maintenance than a conventional
stick-frame home. A preservative treatment – with stain if
desired – is recommended as soon as possible after construction
is completed. Depending upon the manufacturer and environmental
exposure the preservative should be applied to exterior surfaces
every three to five years.
Q:: Are log homes energy efficient?
The thermal properties of wood make logs great insulators, and
the insulation value increases with log diameter and the cellular
structure of the wood type. Graded logs, kiln drying, pre-cutting,
pre-drilling, profiled corner notches, open-cell foam, Thru-bolt
assembly and pre-manufactured openings make BW Log Homes substantially
stronger and more energy-efficient than any other type of log system
on the market.
Our homes heat and cool very nicely and very cost efficiently.
We put electric heat pumps in almost all of our homes. Many, many
customers have told us how happy they have been with their power
bills. Our logs have excellent thermal mass characteristics; they
hold heat very well, and they stay cool for a long time.
Q:: What is your sales area?
We serve the Kitsap and Olympic Peninsulas
and Greater Northwest region.
Q:: Can we buy a log package from you and
build the house ourselves?
Yes,
we have sold many log packages over the years. Whenever we do this,
the price includes some hands on help from us with the log stacking
process. We will come to your site and help you properly get started.
We want to teach you the correct way to seal and stack the logs.
Q:: What services do you offer?
We are a full service construction
company. Most of our log homes are turn-key finished homes, but
we also construct shells if the customer so desires. We build to
suit, so we just need to know what involvement in the project you
want from us. We build log homes and sell a full range of log home-related
building materials, including log home packages, log railing systems,
log posts, log roof trusses, hand-scraped flooring and Scotch-pine
interior doors from Finland.
Q:: Why are you associated with Lodge Log
Homes?
Over the years,
we have worked with several different brands of house logs. There
are none that compare to what we sell. These logs are consistently
dry, straight, and nice in every way. The logs fit together very
well and are superior in all respects. We have been a dealer for
Lodge Log Homes for many years and are proud of our association
with their company. In our opinion, they are the leader in milled
log homes. That is very important to us, as we guarantee everything
that we build. Many of our log homes are also available for showing.
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