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View Full Version : Log Cabin Newbie in need of some help.



WEASEL
09-18-2012, 02:19 PM
I do not know if this is the right place for me to be asking help but I am not sure where else to turn. So, if I need to be somewhere else please just point me in the right direction.

I am a firt time log home owner as of last week. I have purchased a log home in Ohio that was a bank owned property and it has been empty for over two years. At one time, it appear like it was a really nice log home. However, it appears that it was not properly cared for and now it needs a lot of work. I am going to attempt to repair the home with the help of my Dad and a few friends. My dad is a carpenter who has built many homes but has never worked on a log cabin and I have a couple of friends who live in a log cabin and as a hobby, they purchase old small (early 1990's ) log cabins, disassemble them, refrubish them, and sell them as hunting cabins. So, I am not going into this project home completely blind (or dumb).

However, I thought it might be a good idea to find an online community to ask a few question to. So, I hope this is a good place to get a few questions answered. The first question I have been trying to answer is what did I buy? I have been combing the internet trying to find a company that sells kits that look like my home. The home was built in 1988 and it is a square log home. The logs appear to be approx. 12" tall X 6" wide with a chincking grove cut at the top of each log. The logs also have a double tongue and groove and the corners are done with a dovetail. I have been told the logs are made from yellow ping based of the grain.

While searching the internet, I found two websites that had pictures of logs and corner systems that appeared to match the logs in my home exactly. After some more research, I found out both websites got their logs from the same mill. The all came from Battle Creek log home (www.battlecreekloghomes.com). I called battle creek and spoke to a gentalman by the name of Freddie. The guy was great. He was very helpful. He explained that he did not believe that my logs came from Battle Creek because he said the logs appeared to be yellow pine. He said they have never used yellow pine to mill their logs. Although he did say that if I could not find a supplier of yellow pine logs with the same profile that he might be able to fine some yellow pine that he could have milled special for me. I was really surprised how he was willing to go above and beyond to help me out.

So, I am still on the hunt to determine where my kit might have come from and where I might be able to order some replacement logs. Can anyone look at the pictures below and determine where these logs might have come from? Any and all help will be greatly appreciated.

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j127/zs145/imagejpeg_2_43.jpg

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j127/zs145/imagejpeg_2_40.jpg

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j127/zs145/imagejpeg_2_37.jpg

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j127/zs145/imagejpeg_2_39.jpg

WEASEL
09-18-2012, 02:24 PM
Couple more images:

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j127/zs145/IMG_1277.jpg

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j127/zs145/imagejpeg_2_46.jpg

John W
09-18-2012, 02:45 PM
Weasel, there are a couple regular posters on this forum that have repaired log homes professionally. They'll weigh in probably. But the method proposed by this group is the butt and pass system, and it uses whole logs, not milled. Good luck on your repairs, hope it all works out.

panderson03
09-18-2012, 04:14 PM
look this guy up. I bet at the very least he can answer some of your questions
http://www.wileyloghomes.com/

WEASEL
09-19-2012, 06:39 AM
Thanks for the help. Anymore suggestions would be appreciated. I will definately give Wiley log homes a call.

edkemper
09-19-2012, 03:46 PM
WEASEL,

If it has water, electric and septic, it might be cheaper to build a new place our way. Just a thought. When you get a hold of Wileyloghomes, he's your best source for some honest answers on your options.

Good luck and I hope you stick around and do some reading.

rckclmbr428
09-19-2012, 06:45 PM
Give me a shout, I am Ronnie from Wileyloghomes.com I do a lot of repair work on rotted homes. What you have going on isn't the end of the world. There's hope!