Hand crafted jobs in upstate NY?

[Jason Brooks]

Hello all,
I am new to the log home building world, and I am very excited to be stepping into the world of hand crafted log homes. I am attending a ten week session in canada put on by Mr. Pat Wolfe. I am told its a great baptisim in to scribe fit log homes. I need to try and set up some employment for when I return home and start applying the teqniques I have learned. I am having troble locating builders in my area (the Lake George region of NY). anyone know of builders in this area? I am 29 and very good employee,with a large thirst for knowledge but willing to start from the ground up. Any Input would be very appreciated------Jason

[rreidnauer]

Hello Jason,

I'm afraid you probably won't have much luck finding a builder through this forum. Rather, most folks here are their own builder, as the Log Home Builders Association teaches individuals how to build their own homes affordably as possible, and it is encouraged that you do not use professional builders for their homes. There are plenty of first hand stories of builders screwing over the homeowner, though, it's usually due to a kit manufacturer providing a substandard product, and the builder getting caught between that and a customer demanding a properly built structure.

Wishing you the best of luck finding a job.

[rocklock]

Jason;
There are other log home forums that are more suited to scribe fited homes. Below is one of them. They will have more contacts that will be of more use to you.

http://www.lhoti.com/board

We are primarily interested in the butt and pass method of construction. We do not scribe fit our logs...

Best of luck in your quest... My yongest son is also 29 and he has really enjoyed our experience in building with logs...
Dave

[Susan]

Jason,
Please do visit lhoti.com they have an employment forum where you can post your query. You may also want to introduce yourself on the general log home forum as well.
Best of luck to you.

[adubar]

Jason, along with LHOTI.com, you should canvass your area. Some of the beter builders don't advertise and are not listed in any of the .com or association publications. when a builder gets work from word of mouth, they usually don't need to waste their time soliciting work (in my neck of the woods, we have a few that are back-logged five years!--no advertising, save for a small 8.5 by 11 inch sign posted on a latest home, that is difficult to read from the road). Same goes for our horse loggers out here--just a residential name and address listing in the white pages--you gotta ask around. Would never find anything in the yellow pages.

If that area of NY is anything like the PNW part of the US and Canada, many will take you on as an apprentice simply because you have some training afforded by your course studies (even better if you get a certificate)--many have more work than they can undertake--they need bodies. I'm not specifically familiar with the program you are entering but many in Canada are acredited by the government for learning and occupationaly certification.


Best of luck to you.
If you ever find yourself persuaded to look into the LHBA's methods, you will find that the information would put you a cut above.

-A

[Susan]

Jason,
I had a thought, there is a handcrafter in Onieda NY (not sure how close that is to your home) called Beaver Creek Log Homes. It's owned by a husband and wife. Her name is Robbin Obomsawin and at one time she was the president of the association for log home handcrafters (not sure of the exact name of the organization-the website is logassociation.org) Anyway, you may want to get in touch with her. Even if Beaver Creek isn't looking to add to their crew right now, Mrs. Obomsawin would probably be able to give you some ideas about employement with handcrafters in that area.