Older log home news articles

 

Members Meeting Scheduled for April 14th, 2007! The next member's meeting will take place on April 14, 2007 from 4 to 8pm at Skip's ranch. All members of the Log Home Builders Association are invited to attend! This will be a potluck style meeting, so please bring something to share. If you are local and can bring a homemade specialty, please do! As usual we will supply coffee, tea, soft drinks, etc. RSVP is NOT required for this meeting, so just show up. All the normal rules apply; no alcohol is permitted, parking is in the lower parking lot, and your membership card is required (no guests). You can send us an e-mail to info@loghomebuilders.org or reply to the log home meeting thread [members only] on our log home forums if you need more information.

Exceptional Log Homes Award for Jeff Cooley (February 26, 2006) Jeff Cooley built this stunning log home in Gig Harbor, Washington. He built the shell in only 5 weeks, and it was completed less than a year after he started construction. He built it all by himself, even though he was busy with a full-time job! We think you'll agree that Jeff is a log home artist when you see the details... You can click on the picture for a photo tour, or join in discussion about Jeff's log home on our log home forums. Congratulations to Jeff Cooley, winner of the latest Exceptional Log Homes Award!

Link to us (February 14, 2006) We have recently updated our linking procedure and criteria. Please consider helping us spread the word about log homes built the right way by adding a link to our site from your website or blog. Who knows, you might save one of your visitors from buying a lousy log home. ;)

Wind Power for Log Homes (February 7, 2006) Ever wanted to build a log home "off the grid" with wind power? Join the discussion about wind power for log homes on our log home forums. Share your experiences or pick up great tips from other members.

Exceptional Log Homes Award for the Dale Family (January 21, 2006) Jim & Paulie Dale built this huge house in Sammamish, Washington with the help of their children. And it's a masterpiece. Nearly every log and board used in the construction was harvested from the building site. Congratulations to the Dale family on this Exceptional Log Home! How about a tour of this log home?

Thanksgiving Members Meeting Scheduled - November 18, 2006 The next member's meeting will take place on November 18, 2006 from 5 to 9pm at Skip's ranch. Members of the Log Home Builders Association are invited to attend! This will be a semi-catered meeting. We will be supplying a couple of famous smoked turkeys from Dixie's BBQ in Bellevue, Washington. In addition we will supply rolls, mashed potatoes, pop, coffee, tea, and also Dixie's famous lemon cake. Members are welcome to bring additional dishes that would go well with a Thanksgiving party theme. Also, we have two members who are going to be deep frying a turkey for the event. If you haven't tried deep fried turkey before, you are in for a treat! RSVP is required. Please RSVP by November 9th. You can send us an e-mail to info@loghomebuilders.org or reply to this thread on our log home forums.

Next member's meeting scheduled for June 24, 2006 -- with free catered barbeque! (May 24, 2006) On June 24, 2006 members are invited to the ranch for our big summer kickoff. This meeting will be catered by Jasper's Barbeque at no charge to members. This is the same restaurant that catered our last few barbeques, and has received rave reviews by those in attendance. The meeting will be from Noon to 4pm, with the barbeque served starting at 1pm. Jasper's will be supplying all-you-can-eat pork loin, beef brisket, chicken, pork ribs, potato salad, cole slaw, baked beans and corn bread. We'll also supply coffee, tea and soft drinks. You are welcome to bring anything else that others might enjoy (such as vegetarian items or dessert). As always, guests are not permitted and everyone attending must have their own membership card. Alcohol is not allowed at the ranch. Because this event will be catered, we need an absolute final headcount by June 19, so please RSVP before then (either send us an e-mail or add your name to the list on the member's forum).

Exceptional Log Homes: Christmas Edition! (December 16, 2005) There is one thing about a living in a log home that you will discover -- everyone in the family wants to celebrate Christmas at your house. There is something about a log home that seems to make the holidays more special. This month we congratulate the Jessup family on their Exceptional Log Home! Come take a peek at this holiday log home treasure, complete with tree, lights, and garland!

Log Home Builders Association Celebrates 40th Anniversary! 1965-2005: 40 years of service to log home builders and enthusiasts all over the world As 2005 draws to an end, we are celebrating 40 years of teaching the traditional craft of building log homes from scratch. Over the years we have greatly enjoyed passing the craft on to new generations of log home enthusiasts! Congratulations (and a special thank you) to our 45,000 members! Our next members meeting is on February 25, 2006. We are going to celebrate our 40th anniversary at that meeting with many of our members. We will also be giving away many special 40th anniversary prizes. If you're a member, we hope to see you there!

Next members meeting scheduled Our next members meeting will be Saturday, February 25, 2006. This will be a potluck style feast, so please bring something to share. Bring your building plans, scale models, and finished house pictures! The meeting will be at Skip's ranch from 4pm till 8pm, with dinner being served at 5pm. There will be lots of door prizes, too. There is no charge to members. For more information or directions to the ranch, e-mail info@loghomebuilders.org. (As always, alcohol and non-prescription drugs are not permitted. Everyone attending must have their own membership card, guests are not allowed.)

Good books for log home builders? (October 5, 2005) Our log home forums contain a conversation amongst our members about books that people interested in log homes might want to read. These aren't limited to construction books -- you'll find recommendations for books about homesteading, real estate, buying land, homeschooling, making and saving money, and alternative power for your log home. The books mentioned on the forum are in addition to our log home Builders reading list article.

Don't forget - Members Meeting Tomorrow Tomorrow (Saturday, February 25) from 4 to 8pm we'll be having a member's meeting at Skip's ranch. This will be a potluck style feast, so please bring something to share. Also bring your building plans, scale models, and finished house pictures! You do not need reservations to attend -- just show up. However, everyone who attends must have their membership card. Guests are not allowed. Alcohol and non-prescription drugs are also prohibited. For more information or directions to the ranch, e-mail info@loghomebuilders.org.

Exceptional Log Homes Award for Greg LaFrance (July 1, 2005) This beautiful log home in Duvall, Washington is this month's Exceptional Log Home Award winner. Greg LaFrance is an Association member who built this home from scratch, and it is amazing. Join us for a tour of Greg's log home. You can also join in the discussion about this home on our log home forums.

Can log homes help with debt-free living? (July 18, 2005) Join the discussion in our log home forums - log homes and debt-free living. Read lots of good tips for shedding debt, and suggest some of your own.

Exceptional Log Homes Award for Mark & Lisa Sherrodd (August 8, 2005) South Dakota is home to many beautiful things, including Mount Rushmore, Badlands National Park, and this stunning log home. Come in for a tour, and we think you'll agree. You can also join in the discussion about this home on our log home forums.

Thinking of buying a log home kit? Better read this first... (August 24, 2005) Every year we hear hundreds of horror stories from people who bought a log home kit (or a home that was built from a log home kit) and it turned into a disaster. The various log home "kit" magazines are supported by advertising from the kit manufacturers, so they usually won't print the stories. You can read them on our log homes horror stories page.

Exceptional Log Homes Award for Patrick Gillespie (September 8, 2005) This month we are sharing some incredible photos of this log home in central Vermont, built by Patrick Gillespie. These photos were taken this summer while it was still under construction. The house was recently completed and we hope to have an update in a few weeks with "finished" photos. Come take a look at this Vermont log home, or visit our online log home forum to discuss this home with other members.

Why do you want to build your own log home? (September 26, 2005) What sparks your interest about building your own log home from scratch, without a kit? Join in the discussion on our log home forums. There are already lots of views on the matter, and we'd like to hear yours.

Log Home Builders Association Member's meeting October 22, 2005 with free catered BBQ (September 15, 2005) That's right -- by popular demand we will be hosting our next member's meeting on October 22, 2005 from 4 to 8pm (dinner will be served at 5pm). At our last meeting (you can read about our last Log Home Builders Association member's meeting here) we had the party catered by a professional barbeque company with "all you can eat" chicken, ribs, brisket, and pork loin. It was such a success that we're doing it again. And just like last time, there will be several door prizes. All of this is free for members of the Association. Please note that this meeting is a rare Saturday meeting. Because we need to arrange catering, an RSVP is required. Members can RSVP on the log home forums or send an e-mail to info@loghomebuilders.org. As always, everyone attending must have his or her own membership card (no guests are permitted).

Are you too young (or too old) to build a log home? (June 22, 2005) Are you wondering if you are at the right place in your life to build a log home? We recently received a question from a 16 year-old about whether log home building was an option for a young person. You might be surprised at the responses from our "adult" members. Join in the building log homes age discussion on our log home forums.

June Members Barbeque a Success (June 19, 2005) Did you make it to our June Members meeting? If not, you missed the opportunity to meet about 60 log home builders who flew in from around the country. Many had built one or more homes from scratch, and many are building homes now. Everyone enjoyed free catered barbeque from a local BBQ restaurant. We also gave away lots of door prizes and traded lots of fun construction stories. If you are a member, you can read about the event in our members forum [requires membership].

Free land for log homes (July 8, 2005) Many Midwestern small towns are offering free land to people who want to move there and build a home. You can read about free land for log homes in our log home forums. These are usually very small towns who want to increase their population, so it works best for someone who has a "virtual" job.

Poll: What roof color looks best on log homes? (July 5, 2005) What type of roof will you put on your log home? Most of our members install a standing seam metal roof, but you have a choice of colors. Which color do you think looks the best? Choose a roof color for log homes on our log home forums, or suggest your own color.

June Log Home of the Month! (June 6, 2005) We recently discovered this 2,400 square foot log home in Camano Island, built by one of our members about ten years ago. It's absolutely beautiful, and you are invited for a grand tour! Click on the photo to visit the June Log Home of the Month. You can also join in the discussion about this house with other members on our log home forums on the log home of the month thread.

April Log Home of the Month - Wallace Falls Lodge (April 6, 2005) This month we have another log home lodge selected as the Log Home of the Month! Congratulations to the Wallace Falls Lodge. The lodge walls were erected in an incredible fourteen days by one of our members and his nine year old daughter. Then the roof was put up in another ten days. Click the picture to visit the April log home of the month, or visit our Student Log Homes page for other homes. You can also join in discussion about Wallace Falls Lodge with other builders on our log home forums.

Why do you want to build your own log home? (March 17, 2005) Join in our discussion of why our members want to build a log home (from scratch, without a kit). This topic has been raised on our log home forums and it's definitely worth reading and considering.

Couple buys "dream" log home kit, turns out to be nightmare (March 5, 2005) We recently received a letter from Rick & Debra Shannon of Minot, Maine. After years of dreaming about owning a log home, they bought a log home kit from a well-known kit company. Needless to say, their dream home turned into a nightmare. You can read their story at http://www.reliablebuildersinmaine.com/. If you are thinking about buying a kit log home, you owe it to yourself to spend just a few minutes reading Rick & Debra's log home construction diary. You'll be glad you did. You can read other similar stories on our log homes horror stories page.

March Log Home of the Month (March 3, 2005) Would you like to visit a really BIG log home? This month's Log Home of the Month is the Lucky Dog Lodge in Bozeman, Montana. Click the picture to see more details, or visit our Student Log Homes page for other homes. The Lucky Dog operates as a guest lodge, so if you would like to spend some time fly fishing in Montana, we highly recommend it. Congratulations to our March Log Home of the Month winner!

Where are the best real estate bargains? (February 13, 2005) If you are shopping for real estate, where can you find bargains? This is an interesting topic that came up on our log home forums. Read the real estate bargains thread for more information.

Join our online Log Home Forums (January 24, 2005) Just announced! Our log home forums are up and working. You can meet other log home builders, trade free labor, trade log home related products and services, and talk about anything log home related. We have special sections for homesteading, solar energy and alternative power, and alternative construction. The new forums are open to the public, but we also have a special section just for members of the Association.

January Log Home of the Month (January 11, 2005) This home was built by Mike Vowels. It was also published in the book Hands-On Log Homes by Cindy and Art Thiede. All we can say is... Wow! Visit our student log home pictures page for the full tour.

New student log home added to the log home pictures page (November 27, 2004) You won't believe the log home we found for the December log home of the month. It was built by a student who took our class thirty years ago, and it's one of the most beautiful log homes we've seen. Visit our student log home pictures page to see it. Congratulations to our December "log home of the month" winner!

Member's meeting Tuesday night (January 31, 2005) The next member's meeting is Tuesday night, February 1st. Be sure and RSVP to info@loghomebuilders.org if you plan to attend. Bring your log home scale model, bring your photo album if you've already built, or bring your plans if you have them. As usual, this will be a potluck affair from 6pm to 9:30pm. Please bring a dish to share. Our meetings are for members only and everyone who attends must have their own membership card (sorry, no guests permitted).

Log home kit manufacturer contaminates soil with preservatives, goes out of business (November 22, 2004) Here's a great reason to build your own log home -- you can use natural, preservative-free logs (if you build it correctly). In Massachusetts a kit builder went out of business in 1993, leaving an 8-acre property that was contaminated with pentachlorophenol and has been taken over by the Center for Disease Control (CDC). The cleanup is expected to cost the town millions. You can find more details and a link to the article on our log homes horror stories page. What they don't mention in the article is what happens to all of the people who bought log home kits treated with those chemicals from the kit manufacturer. Manufacturers of log home kits today still treat their logs with chemicals, although they usually only use "approved" treatments -- but how long until today's treatments are found to be toxic to humans?

Best travel deals to our log home class (July 16, 2004) Read our discount travel page for the latest information on airfares and hotels in our area. We have a group rate with the local Best Western, and lots of other valuable tips for those traveling to the class from out of the state or out of the country.

Save the Shumways! (February 24, 2004) We just received a note from a gentleman named Mark Shumway that says: "Please show people what can really happen if they are not careful." The Shumway family was taken by an unscrupulous log home kit builder who is now out of business. You can read about their log home nightmare here. We can show you how to prevent this from happening to you.

Newspaper article about us (February 16, 2004) The Herald published an article about us a few days ago and you can read the log homes article. Also, here is an older article written about us in the Northwest News -- log home news.

New "class announcements" e-mail newsletter (February 5, 2004) We have just set up an e-mail alert system to notify you when we schedule new classes or have last-minute cancellations. Subscribers to this newsletter will, in most cases, hear about new classes that are scheduled before they are posted on our web site. Since our classes fill up very quickly, you should join this newsletter if you are thinking about taking our class. To sign up, visit our log home newsletter page.

Our privacy policy (January 9, 2004) Our privacy policy is as follows: We do not, under any circumstances, sell, rent, or trade your e-mail address or contact information with anyone. Period.

Don't Panic (December 28, 2003) We are currently in the process of rearranging our web page. All of the free log home building information is still here, but it has been moved. A lot of it is now on our new articles page -- or our page about Skip Ellsworth. However, in case you can't find what you are looking for on this new site, we have saved our old home page, in its entirety.  We're always working hard to make our web site as useful to our visitors as possible.  Therefore, we would like to hear your comments about the new layout. Please send an e-mail to info@loghomebuilders.org and let us know what you think.