Fireplaces

Fireplaces ... very popular options in Log Homes

and our Eco-Panel Timber Frame Homes

The options include real wood burning fire places. Pricing for stone fireplaces can go well into five figures. They look fabulous. When great room views involve large window systems, fireplaces can be placed on the side or back walls. The drawback with open stone fireplaces is that they pull heat from your home right up the flue. Hard wood burns best. It does not line the flue with that highly flammable residue.

Wood stove and gas log inserts are much more efficient than traditional fireplaces. Free standing wood and pellet stoves are more economical to purchase. They are more efficient and come in many styles. Blowers are suggested or ceiling fans to disperse the heat. Choose wisely grasshopper.

Source: LogHomesByJack.com. 336-407-2157

DIY: Clearing land for your log home

What is the nature of your property where you build your log home?

Is the property heavily wooded?

You can find someone local to do the clearing. Depending on what you want, all cleared or just make a clearing for the driveway, home and septic drain field. 

Tell the guy with the big toys what you want. Where the home goes. Where the septic fields goes!

** It is Best for you to be there while the dozer work is being done. Otherwise, they might tend to knock down everything so you can plant grass everywhere. This would be common in the suburbs but not out in forested land.

Less grass = less mowing. Grass only over the septic field is a good work saving goal. Mulch everything else.

Clearing Trees. If there are trees that you want to save, put a yellow ribbon around them.

At our place, my wife and I went in first and sawed the tops off of trees where we wanted the driveway to be cut. We left 3 to 4 feet standing for the dozer to push over. A curved driveway is nice.

When done, we brought in a wood/tree chipper guy. They made three large piles of mulch from our trees. We used up in about 12 months or so. It cost the same to have all the trees hauled off. So we took that cost in free mulch.

** Note that you can take down trees while clearing the land. However, if you come back later and want to remove some trees, you may have to jump through the usual county environmental process hoops.

Your driveway can be curved or straight. Curved offers more character.

You are welcome . . . Jack

All Material Packages Are Not Created Equal

The Honest Abe log home material package 

Call Jack when you have questions about our material package. We present an itemized list of materials for our buyers when we send you our estimated pricing.

It is customary for log home companies to leave items out of their packages to make their prices lower and seemly more attractive. However, buyers and the builders still need to purchase those items that we include for the dry-in. It is for this reason that we offer an itemized price list that shows what is being purchased.

Items that are commonly NOT provided in other material packages are ...

• the subfloor

• stains for outside and inside

• internal framing and doors

• basement framing when needed

• matching windows and doors for basements 

These are some of the usual omissions by other manufacturers. That reduces their costs. This is exactly why buyers need to see what they are buying. 

By the way, I have also prepared a "NOT List" for my clients. It reveals what is not in our packages like the foundation, HVAC, shingles, flooring, fixtures, support posts for decks and porches and more.

Understand and compare what you are buying from us and our competitors. 

Thanks for caring enough to compare offerings ... Jack

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LogHomesByJack ... est 2001

P O Box 2424

Forest VA 24551

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Jack@LogHomesByJack.com

HutslarJack@gmail.com

336-407-2157 [m]

800 767-4916 [US only]

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Info Center

County Line Cafe & Mini Mall

Rt 460 Near Turkeyfoot Road

[1 mile East of Sheetz]

Forest VA 24551

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Authorized Dealer:

Honest Abe Log Homes

Southern TimberCraft Eco-Panel Homes

Sansin Enviro Stains

NEWS from Jack, my blog => Jack at LogHomesByJack Information Center

News From Jack . My Blog . On My Web Site

NEWS from Jack is my blog => Jack at LogHomesByJack Information Center [unmanned] located in the County Line Cafe & Mini Mall on Rt 460 near Turkey Foot Road not far from the Wards Road Rt 29 interchange in Lynchburg VA.

Log Homes . Timber Frame Homes . Eco-Panel Homes

Man Caves . She Sheds

We can meet there from 7am to 7pm by appointment [closed on Mondays] or anytime at any nearby restaurant, coffee shop or your property.

336-407-2157 [m] or Jack@LogHomesByJack.com

Sansin Enviro Stains

Jack Hutslar, Authorized Dealer

Ask Jack about Sansin Enviro Stains for your wood projects. 

Water based. Low VOCs. Breathable. Many colors. Nationwide service. 

SDF for exteriors. Purity for interiors. Floors. DEC for porches and decks. Firestop flame retardant. Sansin.com

LogHomesByJack on Facebook. 336-407-2157. Jack@LogHomesByJack.com

DeSocio II Log Home Custom Design at 3720sf

This luxury 3720sf Honest Abe log home, is an expanded version of a previous 2400sf model our clients had designed with Honest Abe. 

This model features 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms with one luxury bath and walk in closet, an open great room, loft, covered porches on all sides plus a 2 car garage with a room over [FROG]. The chinked 6x12 log is used throughout. 

Note the view from the great room. We always emphasize “Where Is The View” when a large window array is featured in the planning, usually in the great room, but sometimes on the gable end.

Note: Our Photo Gallery at LogHomesByJack.com shows more photos of the DeSocia model. 

The material package price varies depending on the numerous options that the client prefers: Log style. Roof system. Windows. Basement or Crawl space. Garage or FROG. Breezeway. Porch-deck configuration. etc. 

All of our models can usually be made larger or smaller.

More information is available with Jack Hutslar or LogHomesByJack on Facebook. To meet, call Jack at 336-407-2157 [m]

DIY: Gaps between Logs

 DIY: Fixing Gaps between Logs

Back in the day, and even today, we see photos of log cabins the have 2 to 3 inch gaps between each row of logs. Back then these gaps were filled with a mixture of mud and straw. This filler might have been dressed up with some form of white wash. If not, it would be the color of the mud

We have since learned how to build this chinked style log system in a more efficient manner. At Honest Abe, we “fit” thinner T&G log sections between each course of logs. We call them splines. Then we add foam and chinking [not caulk] to each side of these splines. [Photos] Some chinking comes in several colors or it can be stained. Some chinking cannot be stained. 

Back to the question we see periodically. How does one chink the exposed gaps that we see in these old style log homes? [Photo] How do you fill these gaps when there is no consistent distance between the gaps?

Here is one option: 

[1] Find 2 to 3 inch wide sheets of polyurethane like you see in those inexpensive white coolers and cups. Cut them into strips to fit each gap. Stuff them in snugly so they do not move. You can also do this with wood strips but uneven gaps between the logs make this a real chore. 

[2] Brace the foam so that does not move. Get creative. 

[3] Then paste chinking as directed on to the inside and outside of each foam strip. If you can do the inside and outside at the same time, that teamwork will help keep the foam in place. 

Warning: Do not fill the gaps between logs with cement. Wood does not like cement, even at the bottom porch posts, fences or mail box post holes.

Option 2: Mix mud and straw. Work it into the gaps. Then trowel it down to a smooth surface, inside and out.

Sansin.com, a company that I represent, has all of the chinking and chinking tools needed.

See Jack Hutslar and LogHomesByJack.com on Facebook

and on my Blog – News from Jack - 336-407-2157