Trade Shows or Seminars

[R. Terry]

A friend of mine living in central Mexico wants to start building affordable log homes and has asked for my assistance. I have conventional building experience but very limited knowledge of log homes. What I have heard is mostly problems related to shrinkage, fit and log settling. I am sure that if the right logs and construction methods are used one can build a quality affordable home. I am looking for an in depth seminar and/or trade show that would educate me to the pros and cons of log construction in central Mexico. I live in KY but will travel to the best source of informaiton. Any recommendations?

[Shark]

The class here is one of the best you would find.
http://www.loghomebuilders.org/alert
Sign up for e-mail alert when a class opens up.

Enjoy!

[rreidnauer]

Hello R. Terry,
You conventional construction experience will still be quite handy, as you still have plenty of interior framing and a roof to worry about. The LHBA method clearly addresses your concerns, and eliminates the problems of shrinkage, fit and log settling, where any other style of log construction can not. As far as I know, this method is only taught by LHBA, which commonly holds classes outside of Seattle, occasionally in Las Vegas, and rarely in Boston. It is the best $700 I have ever spent. (no, I don't get any royalties for saying that, I truly mean it)
As far as specifically building in Mexico, the class will be of little help, as the LHBA concentrates specifically on constructing the log home superstructure and means of acquiring materials to do so. (mainly in the United States) That's not to say some of those elements wouldn't carry over to other countries.
My recommedation is (naturally) to take the LHBA class. They are sold out of seats right now, but will likely add more real soon. Sign up for email alerts for the next upcoming class. http://www.loghomebuilders.org/alert

[loghousenut]

As affordable as you want it to be. You don't have to be too fussy about logs (I like them big and ugly). You can frame in a window tightly with no settling space and you'll never loose a window. No screws or jacks to compensate for settling. No milling of your wall logs. No rotting logs... ever. No kidding. My logs are fairly big with some crook and curve and a bunch of taper and they'll make a really great house that will outlast my grandkids (who have not even been born yet). Take the class. I'm glad I did.

[Yuhjn]

In Mexico I would think you would want a north-facing berm home. Tires and dirt!
If you have any plans at all to build with logs, take the class.
To be quite honest, I would be a lot more capable of building with tires and dirty from having taken the class. The class teaches things outside of the log construction techniques itself that can relate back to any construction project. It helps teach you to think outside the box.

[Will Dye]

I live in Louisville and I want to go to this, but not sure I can swing it. Disputanta Cob is having a complete cob building seminar that is six days long in Berea. It's Actually starts at 9 AM on the 5th of july and is six days. They cover everything from how to pick the ingredients to make the cob, building a cob structure, installing AC system in it and even how to build a rocket stove which is one of the things I really want to learn how to do. It's only $319 for the course and I think that includes meals. Pretty sweat deal.