Generally, we provide the log home superstructure customized to include the materials specific to your home design. We specialize in the design build of the log work itself; this includes the log walls, log beams and log posts to support the log roof structure, the log floor joists to support the upstairs floor, a log staircase and handrail if required, and related hardware. However, we can assist with arranging for additional materials you may require in the finishing of your home such as: dimensional lumber, stain, windows, doors and cabinets. The following list is typical of what you could expect in your package:

• design customization and complete blueprints
• accurate production dates and scheduling
• honest and exact log work costing before construction
• on-site re-assembly supervisor
• hand-peeled standard log walls of 12" - 14" diameter (larger is available)
• all logs will be full length with no wall log breaks
• all lateral grooves and corner notches scribed, fitted and lined with Sofrod gasket
• log walls with window and door openings cut out and key-ways pre-cut and supplied
• all log ridge poles, and log roof purlins cut to accept roof framing and wall slotting
• log posts for porches, entrance, breezeway etc., including steel settling jacks as required
• log trusses, structural and/or decorative
• all rough openings cut-out, notched back, flared and sanded
• pre-drilling and installation of plated steel 3/4" through-bolts with timber washers
• 1" diameter drift pins supplied and installed during re-erection as required
• all log components sprayed with non-toxic mildewcide to minimize moisture damage during shipping and erection
• dependable and ongoing construction consultation after the log shell delivery

The following items are optional, and will only be included in your package if you choose them:

• hand crafted log stairs including landings and log support posts
• hand-peeled mortise and tenon log handrails

...for more info see the "What's Included" pages for each style:Stacked Log Homes,Post and Beam andTimber Frame

We have in house designers to help you with your log home planning ideas and create your final blueprints. When required, The Log Connection drafters work with your Architect to prepare the log building shop drawings. Upon completion your architect will have a final review prior to starting the build.

We offer a choice of Engelmann Spruce, Douglas Fir and Western Red Cedar. Our professional foresters, harvest only the highest quality logs from our northern forests here in British Columbia, Canada. Wall log sizes are on average 12 to 14 inches in diameter. Floor and roof log sizes are on average 14 to 20 inches in diameter. We inventory and air-dry many loads of logs for our future projects. ...for more info see the page Selecting Log Species

The Log Connection provides only the highest quality logs available. Typically all logs used on any given project are graded as "premium" (best possible). When required by your local building inspection agency or engineer our logs and timber are graded by a licensed third party Timber Products Inspection Agency and a written report is provided indicating all pieces exceed the requirements. ...for more info:www.tpinspection.com (opens in new window or tab)

Our logs are air dried in our construction yard to average moisture content of between 15% and 19% before we begin building.

We offer dead-standing timber as a choice for our customers. A tree that has died by natural causes (insect infestation) and remains standing begins to dry even before it has been harvested which does offer a head start to the drying process and reduces the shrinkage encountered with green logs. Many of the boreholes are removed when the log is hand-peeled but the subtle blue staining commonly seen with some of these logs can not be peeled off.

There are many log homeowners but only a few can claim to live in a real handcrafted work of art. One of our experienced log smiths using the highest quality full log uniquely creates each of our homes.

• Unlike machined log homes, you would never find a butt joint in our log walls.
• Each log is allowed to retain its character. Only 5% to 9% of the handcrafted log is wasted during construction, compared to up to 50% in some milling operations. That is a lot of wasted R-value.
• Many manufactured log homes are built using timbers only 6 inches thick or less. Our homes are built using timber an average of 12 to 14 inches thick; an obvious advantage of this being the greater insulation value.
• Most manufactured log home companies send their "log kits" without any pre-fitting; that is left to the builders you hire on your site. This may take from many days to a few weeks. The pieces may have to be cut and hundreds of spikes must be pounded in the walls to hold them together. A skilled crew at our construction yard on the other hand, builds a handcrafted home to exacting tolerances while your foundation is being prepared. Every notch is scribed by a qualified artisan and fits perfectly. The roof structure is fitted and ready to accept roof framing; all the openings are cut out and sanded. The walls and notches are insulated as the home is re-erected and all the through-bolt holes are pre-drilled.

It is very difficult to quote a per square foot price, as there are so many variables which effect the cost of a handcrafted log home. Some of these variables are: log species, size of logs, the detail of the plan, the number of corners, the intricacy of the floor and roof system, wrap-around porches, as well as any special feature or individual touches you might want to incorporate into your log home. If you have a rough plan of what you want, we can provide you with an approximate price.

The freight is usually a small portion of the overall expense of your log home. All log shell packages are constructed in British Columbia, Canada and you are responsible for the cost of the freight to your site. We typically arrange the transportation and have you pay the transporter directly.

Absolutely, we are custom design builders and build according to our customers specifications. The log home floor plans we offer are really to help get people started with ideas for their new home. You are usually captured by the first look of a home and then you want to make the inside work for you. Almost all of our homes are customized using our standard floor plans as a starting point. By utilizing our incredible design team, clients can adjust, make changes, and design the home to suit their own needs. ...for more info see the pageSend Us Your Plan.

ou can also submit your own plans or plans from another company for us to build your Log Connection home. Send us a sketch, floor plan, or your blueprints and we will provide you a detailed quote.

Our in house designers will work with you to begin the preliminary design of your home. Starting from the information you provide we will prepare the floor plans and elevations to send to you via email for your feedback. This will continue until you are satisfied and have the design you want. Our drafters will then continue to develop the plan and produce large size construction drawings. These will be used by your contractor to start the foundation and by our log builders to start hand crafting your log shell. These drawings will also be used to obtain your building permit and to finish your home after the log shell has been erected on your site.

You are going to want to have your property first. The layout and size of the property will have a huge impact on the design of your home. Potential views, sun exposure, and the slope of the building site will all have importance in the design that will work for you.

Most people have a finite budget to complete their home. Usually the total size of the home will have developed an initial budget. To achieve a higher level of finish for the same budget you may want to look at a few things. Reducing your footprint, the foundation. Simplifying the design by removing extra corners or angles. Utilize space that is already going to be there, the basement or the attic. These spaces do not have to be finished right away. Their potential can be realized at a later time

They are certainly not. While there are limits imposed by the transporting of the logs, the design is not limited by the log. Our designers can work with you to realize a home that will meet your desires, not the length of a log.

Log homes generally fall outside the typical residential building codes. Most areas that issue building permits will require that a structural engineer licensed for that area stamp the construction drawings. We will work with your engineer to provide feedback based on our log building expertise. We will also provide the drafting time to update the drawings to minimize your cost.

It is not cost effective to send turnkey construction crews the great distances, so we only offer the log shell portion of your home. We do work very closely with your chosen general contractor to ensure a smooth building experience.

No he does not. Your general contractor needs to be a good builder with a solid reputation for bringing projects in on time and on budget. Previous experience can be an added bonus. We will work very closely with your chosen contractor to ensure a smooth building experience.

A stacked log shell will use the same foundation as a similar stick framed home. The only thing we add is slightly bigger rebar. The minimum foundation that your stacked log shell will need is a crawl space. This is to allow you to get at the through bolts and screw jacks as necessary.

In a stacked log home, the wiring is generally run up from your sub-floor and through a pre-drilled vertical hole in the log wall. We also pre-cut all locations for electrical boxes, faceplates and specialty electronics as needed. The plumbing is always installed through interior frame walls, just as it is in conventional homes. For a stacked log shell package, in the final blueprints we provide the plumbing slip joint, and sully expansion loop details for your contractor.

Our log homes are some of the most thermally and energy efficient log homes being built today. There are two factors that determine the energy efficiency of logs that we use: the diameter, and the thermal mass. The greater the diameter of the logs used to construct your home the higher the R-value. The cellular structure of logs themselves provide the thermal mass, and serves as a very good natural insulator and radiates back into your home warm air in the winter and cool air in the summer. The accepted calculation is R = 1.25 ~ 1.75 per square inch. Our 13" to 15" logs provide an R-value of 18.75 ~ 26.25 PLUS the thermal Mass. As a rule, our log homes are far more energy efficient to heat and cool than a conventional stick frame home built with 2x6 studs and R20 insulation.