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:D Carla and I took the class last weekend and are very exited about getting started. We have our land and and have already built a driveway last summer. Working with the planning department on permits is not too bad. We love to ride snowmachines, but are ready for the snow to melt so we can get started on the dirt work.
Dean & Carla
Just moved to Virginia, I have 15 ac. of trees, would love to help someone build their log home. Hope to in the near future take the class.
I live in the Williamsburg area.
My husband and I are getting ready to move to Virginia (Hampton Roads area) for a new job I've just accepted. Do you have any advice on purchasing land in VA?
Hi ya'll,
I am so excited about this site!! I have already learned so much from everyone. Thanks.
I haven't taken the course yet but intend to in the future, although my route might be a little backwards as I will probably end up building a little cabin before I get the chance to attend. :oops:
I'm a city dweller at the moment but will be moving to British Columbia Canada at the end of May. Log building has caught my imagination. My parents live out there in a log home themselves (built by the previous owner) and when we all visit it's pretty tight. So they welcomed the idea of me coming up and building them a guesthouse. I can hardly wait.....although the next few months are essential for planning and learning for I have never done anything like this before. So far my plans are to build a 18ft by 24ft hewn log cabin out of poplar as that seems to be the tree that is most abundant in the area. Mind you at this creational stage changes will happen daily and any advice from you all is very much welcomed. One thing I am stumbling on right now is notches. Dovetail, half dovetail, butt and pass.....any reommendations?? Are dovetail and half dovetail as complicated as they sound?? Probably just takes doing a few to catch on...at least I'm hoping.
So that's my blurd and my little intro. I'm happy to be here and I hope everyone out there is having a beautiful day and dreaming up a storm, as I am, about logs and cabins.
Jessica.
Hi my name is Braden and I'm 23 from circleville, ohio. I hope to be going to the class in the end of march if everything works out alright I'am very excited.
Welcome Jessica and Braden,
Jessica regarding your question on which type of log home construction; butt and pass is hands down the easiest and not to mention the strongest method.
Attend the class and they will explain exactly why and trust me, it makes a lot of sense!
Thanks Kyle,
I've only just started looking into the butt and pass method but it appealed to me because of the lack of intimidating (countless) notches. I wasn't aware that it was considered to be one of the strongest methods though. I'm going to have to read more on it.
I am also starting to think that taking the class before might be a better idea and if at all possible with my schedule I will fit it in.
Thanks for the tip.
Jess.
I recently signed on, joined up and will be attending the class at the end of March.
I am a refrigeration contractor, self employed from Canton, MI (suburban Detroit).
32 YO. Married. 1 boy 11, 1 girl 10.
Raised in WI, US Army 6 years, UA Journeymen Pipefitter, UA Contractor.
Love the concepts here. Love the energy. Dig the thoughts. Looking forward to becoming an "experienced log home builder" as the next 3 years pass by. Looking for the real deal, sitting back one day saying, I built it.
Hey I see a couple of people in my general area, Hdarty in Jasper Alabama
and Mbolin in Cullman Alabama. I'm not far from Mentone Alabama up on Lookout Mountain on the Georgia side. Love to see what you have come up with on a Cabin.
I attended the class this Febuary and had a great time and meet alot of neet people. I have purchased some land in Colorado and am planning on building an out building this year using the infromation learned in class.
For my job you can call me a garbage collector
Hello, all. I attended the class Feb 1st & 2nd, 2006. Had a great time and met great people. I have property in NE Washington and hope to build within 2 years - now shopping for tools. I enjoy the forums and plan to post more as I begin to build. Good luck to all. Ken Schell (gunner2pilot)
My husband and I attend the class Jan 2005. We have a lot in New Castle utah. We almost have our water hook-ups. We are getting our plans drawn up now. Excited to get to work.
I just took the class in March '06 and was extremely impressed. As an engineer, I was a little skeptical but everything made sense. I am currently in process of gathering materials for a couple different projects. A small cabin in Western Wisconsin and a house in Waupun Wisconsin. You can't have enough projects you know. I am definately looking forward to the challenge. All my engineering buddies think I'm nuts but once they are kicked back having a brew in my new house, they might have to eat their words.
I had been trying to get to this class for the past 3 1/2 years. I am glad I finally got the moons to line up and get there. It was great. :D
Eric Parks
Waupun, WI
Hi. My name is Frank and I live in Central Alberta, Canada and I have always desired an ownership in a log home. I will start small by attempting to build 3 log playhouses for my Grandchildren. Great to meet you all and look forward to your advice and info.
My wife and I attended class in February 2006. We already owned the land and have been working for a year to put in a driveway and dirt work for the house area. We were looking at Kits and I just kept telling my self there had to be a better way. I have built a couple of frame buildings and the kits seemed to be very expensive, not to mention that most of them look like log siding. After the class we decided this was the way for us. We have our plans, Engineering is done, going after permits soon. We want to start as soon as the snow is off later this month. Take the class you won't be sorry.
Dean & Carla
Hi All
How does one start, from the beginning is probably best.
We are Brian and Michelle Jones, we are a British couple living, in all places, Bulgaria in Eastern Europe. We have chosen Bulgaria as it is a beautiful country and is about 85% forests. To this, we have bought a lovely piece of land overlooking a river and forest and was intending to build a standard Bulgarian house on it, that was until we discovered this website. Fantastic ! Pioneering spirits do live on, and we have both fallen in love with the idea of building our own log home, in particular we are head over heels with Jim and Pauline Dales home, in fact THIS IS the home we now fully intend to build. I have had a dream of the perfect log house, including the large bath in the window, and this house fits my exact dream of the perfect home.
Unfortunately as we are at least 10,000 miles from Washington, this does pose a slight logistical problem. This problem we could possibly overcome, and everything I have read about the course shows that it would be beneficial to us. But, until then I have 2 requests to get us going.
Q: Is there a Log Home Bible (To coin a phrase), every hobby, project , seems to have a book that all turn to to get answers. Does the world of building my own log home have such a book ?
Q2: Is it possible to get details on Jim and Paulines home, I would love to recreate this in the mountains of Bulgaria.
I'll go now, but any help would be greatfully appreciated.
Best Regards to all Pioneers
Brian and Michelle Jones
Bulgaria
This is Misty & Russ Hornsby. We just got married April 22nd 2006. I'm from Michigan live there most of my life. Moved to Florida where Russ & I met. Russ is from Florida but lived in Indiana for a while. Neither of us like Florida to live. The cost of living has gotten way out of control and the pay is horrible. Both of us like small town or country living and love the look of the log cabins. We stayed in cabins on our honeymoon and even though they were built bad we still couldn't wait to get started with our home.Thats when we almost made a huge mistake and looked at a kit from Barna Log Homes. I redid one of their plans and the price changed and went up and up and up until the price was over double what was listed. The contract is sitting on the desk right in front of me waiting on us to sign.I did some log home searches and found this site. So we are taking the class before we do anything. I have never built more than a manger for our nativity seen in our front yard. Russ is fairly handy and can pretty much do what ever he puts his mind to. We have both spent a fews years of our working lives at Lowes & other home improvment stores. We have done our own floors and other basic improvments but nothing near building a house, so wish us luck. If this class goes well we will start as soon as we get the land.
So there it is for now :lol:
Hi my name is Stu, I 'm from Connecticut, I took the class in May 04 that was held in Mass. at the Whitecomb Summit. So far I have foundation in, have most of my doors and windows. Have most tools needed. Currently waiting on log delivery.
Hi, presently building a home (full scribed), have a lot of questions. Great to know that you are there to help.
Hi, my husband and I plan to attend one of the classes in the near future. We've been looking at various options for buying land and building, and found the Log Home Builders website. Aha, this is it! :D What a great resource. Looking forward to learning more and meeting some of the log home builders in the area. (We're in Silverdale, Washington)
Hello all,
I went to the 10-11 June class. Very interesting and informative. I will be buying some land by the end of the month. Once you start looking for trees, it seems that all types of oppurtunities come up. I am in Huntsville, AL. If there are any members in the area, lets get together.
Hello all,
My name's Dale and my wife is Cathy. We're in the Seattle area and are considering attending the weekend class soon. We'll likely bring a friend whom we've talked into helping us here and there. We have 50 acres east of Tonasket, Washingtion that we're trying to sell (it has limited timber, but not enough to build with), so we can finance buying a lot and building a log home on it. (Has anybody built in a city?)
I'm 43, my wife's 62, and our friend is 65.
Hopefully I'll be able to secure a lot soon. There is a potential location within 1/2 block of where my apartment is and I'm working on splitting off two pieces to create a new lot. It would be perfect to be able to walk to my building site from my apartment, but, while I haven't gotten a no from either party yet, I haven't gotten a yes either. And then there are all of the remaining hurdles: price, escrow, easements, permits, cash, site prep,....
Any suggests of any kind will be most welcome--well, almost any. :?
Thanks for the forum.
Sincerely,
Dale E.Edmons
Hi everybody,
I attended the June 10-11, 2006 class and enjoyed every minute...even walking the monster hill to get to Skip's house! :shock:
The class is definitely worth the money and in my opinion is actually worth MUCH more. I am looking for land in the SE Michigan area and plan on building using Skip's techniques over the next year or so. I'm currently doing my homework on the local building codes/restrictions, etc. and trying to secure inexpensve building materials along the way.
If anybody is from the Michigan area drop me a line.
Al
Hi everyone,
I would like to introduce myself. I have been a member for a few weeks but not posted. I live in Georgia & hope to build in 3 years, when I retire. I have signed up for the Sept class.So this comes at a good time for me. I have 3 years to plan & get ready. See ya'll there. Jim
Hey Steve! This is Dave Maiden. My son, Josh, and I took the class June 10, 11, of 2006. My son's comment is that the instructors are cool! I live in Olympia WA, the state capital, and place where our tax dollars come to give their lives. I'm looking for property to build on, and will be giving updates as we progress in building our first butt and pass log home. The class was inspirational, and very informative. Also a healthy alternative to sitting at home, (that driveway is long, and steep!)
thanks for the hello,
dave maiden
Hi
My name is Phil, born and currently living in England. Hoping to buy some land and build a Log Home (using the techniques taught) in Quebec Canada.
Did the 28-29th June 2006 course - Great. Every time I though something must be tough or complex, the guys had a easy trick. Informative and inspiring !.
After a very brief visit to Quebec, immediatly after the course, I've hopefully found the land, but didn't have much success confirming that logs of suitable diameter and length could be sourced there. May have to ship from BC. All of the kit log/dowel suppliers seem to supply BC wood.
Now back on the internet, may be able to find some Quebec logs.
Welcome anyone get in touch with insights about building in Quebec or from people builidng in GB.
Going to volunteer free labour to anyone doing a build as I'd like to get the hands on experience, even if I have to buy a cheap flight somewhere, but it'd need to be fulltime & accomodation & sustenance provided.
All the best
Phil
Hello, I am Michael from Lexington Tn, the supposedly garden state of the nation :lol: Attended the Class in March of 2006, great investement and lot's of good people on this fourm. Haven't built yet, finishing model still looking for land, may have a snag with my job though, will know in a few more days. But not worries if push comes to shove I can move to a new location, can any one say Alaska or perhaps Wyoming :!:
I've made a few postings but have not yet introduce ourselves. My name is Steve and my wife's name is Sandy. We are definitely building a log home. I will be taking the Sept. 9-10 class next month. Last year we purchased 15 acres, (90% wooded) in the endless mountain region of Susquehanna County, PA. Hopefully we can come up with a design that will work with the type and size of trees we have.
Where are we at now? We still have to get electric and septic in but we???ve made progress. We have secured the necessary easements for pole placement on neighboring properties, the well is dug, (580 feet) the perc test is complete, the clearing is ready, (about an acre) and the old motor home is parked at the far end. We have started hauling logs up to the clearing with my 30 year old Bronco and a home made tree dolly. We have a long way to go and a lot to look forward to, especially the class.
Take care,
Steve