Designing an Energy Efficient Home

 

Designing an Energy Efficient Home Article is Courtesy of Honest Abe Log Homes   Honest Abe Log Homes designs its log cabins, timber frame homes and log homes with energy efficiency in mind. This saves our homeowners money on energy bills and reduces the carbon footprint.   Here are a few ideas:   Orient the home to maximize solar gain: Orienting the home to take advantage of the sun’s energy can help to naturally heat and light the home. South-facing windows can be used to allow sunlight to enter the home, while shading devices can be used to block the sun’s rays during the hottest part of the day.   Use energy-efficient windows:Energy-efficient windows can help to reduce heat loss in the winter and heat gain in the summer. They can also reduce the amount of UV light that enters the home, which can help to protect furnishings and reduce fading.   Insulate the home: Proper insulation can help to keep the home warm in the winter and cool in the summer. It can also reduce noise pollution from the outside. Fortunately, log home walls do not require insulation. Even traditional chinked log homes are very energy efficient. Find out more about how our timber frame homes that utilize structural insulated panels helped one customer save money.   Added thot. The usual places that need "energy loss" attention during construction are predictable. They are [1] around windows and doors, [2] roof peaks, [3] where the roof meets the walls, and [4] in the subfloor of crawl space or basement ceilings. Be sure that your contractor pays close attention to insulating these places.   Use energy-efficient appliances and lighting: Choosing energy-efficient appliances and lighting can help to reduce energy usage and lower energy bills.   Use passive solar design principles:Passive solar design involves using the sun’s energy to naturally heat and cool the home. Strategies can include using thermal mass materials to absorb and store heat, using windows and skylights to allow sunlight to enter the home, and using strategic landscaping to block the sun’s rays during the hottest part of the day.   Consider using renewable energy sources: Renewable energy sources, such as solar panels or a wind turbine, can help to reduce your reliance on fossil fuels and lower your carbon footprint. Honest Abe’s log homes are built with renewal materials.   It’s important to carefully consider the specific needs and characteristics of your home and location when designing an energy-efficient home. There are a range of other options for energy efficiency that can be incorporated into a log home. Articles like this are founding each eblast  I send off. To subscribe to News From Jack, just send me your name and email address. Jack@LogHomesByJack.com

Photo Gallery of Log Homes by Honest Abe Log Homes

Photo Gallery 

Westport Model

https://www.honestabe.com/honest-abe-log-homes-photo-collection/

Photo Gallery of Log Homes by Honest Abe Log Homes with LogHomesByJack

100+ photo files. Many options. Log or Eco-Panel. 

LogHomesByJack on Facebook

Serving VA NC plus any underserved area

Always available by appointment

HutslarJack@gmail.com. 336-407-2157 [m]

Floor Plan Catalog by Honest Abe Log Homes

 Honest Abe Log Home

Floor Plans Catalog 2021

+ + +

Click Here Below

https://www.honestabe.com/get-honest-abe-floor-plan-catalog

Floor Plans

Go to => LogHomesByJack.com

Upper Left Link to Floor Plans

Click on that

Our floor plans are suitable for all of our "very green" Log, Eco-Panel and Timber Frame homes.

Easily Modified ... Too big? We can usually make it smaller. Too small? We can always make it larger. Want to blend in two different models? Piece of cake for us. Not possible for some other companies!

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To set up a meeting, contact: 

HutslarJack@gmail.com at 336-407-2157 [m]

Authorized Log Home Dealer since 2001**

Notes that Matter

Our material package delivery schedule is now 5-6 weeks after the 50% deposit is received.

Tariffs could affect pricing on certain wood and stain products. They are a moving target right now.

Log Home builders I know are usually working so their availability could be 4 to 8 weeks out, or more.

The Honest Abe Floor Plan Catalog and extensive Photo Gallery can be found on my blog, News from Jack at LogHomesByJack.com

SHS Scholarships Fund is now at $128,000. 2 awards made in 2025. Total awards given is up to 19. All donations are sent directly to The Springfield Foundation.

We are now using a new email system platform. I used the previous one for years and it was simple and terrific. It was sold to another company and it became less user friendly, more complex and more costly.

Jack Hutslar, a former teacher and coach, started LogHomesByJack in 2001. He is an authorized dealer for Honest Abe Log Homes and Sansin Enviro Stains.

Honest Abe Living May 2025

Honest Abe Living

May 2025

This is our FREE Honest Abe Log Homes interactive magazine, Click on the link below to learn more about all of our log home products and services.

https://www.honestabe.com/honest-abe-living/honest-abe-living-may-2025/

In this issue ...

Selecting furniture

Creating your interior spaces

Beef stroganoff recipe

Aztec model floor rendering and floor plan

News From Jack ...

This is The Blog for LogHomesByJack. It can be found at LogHomesByJack.com by clicking on the upper left corner. News from Jack contains many posts related to log and timber frame homes, stains, suggestions and Q&As. Also posted are all of our monthly e-magazines from Honest Abe Living as well as photos, floor plans, stain info and more.

Contact Jack with your comments, questions or to set up a meeting.

Always Available by Appointment

HutslarJack@gmail.com or 336-407-2157

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

= = = = =

LogHomesByJack ... est 2001

P O Box 2424

Forest VA 24551

= = = = =

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

=====

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

Log Home Living . April 2025

Honest Abe Living is our FREE Honest Abe Log Homes interactive magazine, Click on the link below to learn more about all of our log home products and services.

https://www.honestabe.com/honest-abe-living/honest-abe-living-april-2025/

In this issue … 

Positioning your log home on the property

Curb appeal

Recipe

Darlington 2 floor plan with options

Link to see all floor plans

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News From Jack ...

This is The Blog for LogHomesByJack. It can be found at LogHomesByJack.com by clicking on the upper left corner. News from Jack contains many posts related to log and timber frame homes, stains, suggestions and Q&As. Also posted are all of our monthly e-magazines from Honest Abe Living as well as photos, floor plans, stain info and more.

Contact Jack with your comments, questions or to set up a meeting.

Always Available by Appointment

HutslarJack@gmail.com or 336-407-2157

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

Open Floor Plans for Dining Rooms Kitchens Great Rooms

Open Dining Areas and Kitchens ...

very nice gathering places in log homes. No one person is isolated back in a walled off kitchen while others congregate and enjoy the company.

Great rooms with large window systems [LR DR KI] are very popular options that enhance the large open area . Great Views add to their attractiveness. To meet, contact Jack at LogHomesByJack on Facebook. LogHomesByJack.com. Serving VA and NC plus any underserved area. 336-407-2157 [m].

Sansin.com Enviro Stains is what we offer

 Sansin.com Enviro Stains is what we offer

These water based wood stains allow the wood to breathe. Used for hundreds of years in old Northern Europe. Will not blister~peal~scratch. 100 colors. No fillers that turn dark. Safe. No dangerous or harsh odors. Water clean up. Nationwide service. Free shipping on large orders.

SDF for exteriors.

Purity for interiors.

SDF Floors.

DEC for porches and decks.

Firestop flame retardant.

*** See LogHomesByJack on Facebook and on line. 336-407-2157

Delivery times for material packages

 Material Package Delivery Note From Jack

 Revised 5 to 6 weeks now

This is to inform you that our material package delivery times have moved back closer to what we called normal.

In the last four years our package deliveries have taken as long as 6 or 7 months to get to the job site.

Prior to that time we were able get your material on the job site in 45 days or less.

Now we have been able to move that delivery schedule back down to six to ten weeks.

Visit LogHomesByJack.com and see my blog, floor plans and photo gallery there at News from Jack

For more information and to set up a meeting, contact jack at ...

336-407-2157

800 767-4916

HutslarJack@gmail.com

Jack@LogHomesByJack.com

Resources for Log Homes By Jack - Internet Links

 Resources for Log Homes By Jack

Internet Links

LogHomesByJack.com

https://LogHomesByJack.com

News from Jack – The Blog

https://loghomesbyjack.blogspot.com

Floor plan catalog by Honest Abe Log Homes

https://issuu.com/honestabeloghomes/docs/8_5x11_-_catalog_-_issuu?fr=sMGIyNzQzNjYxODM&inf_contact_key=08c26d4d79c8c7acc1c0d46d5d90d77f

Photo Gallery by Honest Abe Log Homes

https://www.honestabe.com/honest-abe-log-homes-photo-collection/

Timber Frame Home Photos by Honest Abe Log Homes – The Harbor Rest - 4000sf

https://www.honestabe.com/pictures/timber-frame-homes/sanders-harbor-rest-timber-sip/

Honest Abe Log Homes

https://HonestAbe.com

Sansin Enviro Stains

https://Sansin.com

Eco Panel Systems

https://Eco-Panels.com

Jack Hutslar

336-407-2157 [m[ or 800-767-4916

HutslarJack@gmail.com or

Jack@LogHomesByJack.com

P O Box 2424

Forest VA 24551

Clayton model log home at 1726sf

 The Clayton model Log Home 

by Honest Abe Log Homes

with LogHomesByJack.com

A colonial two story throw-back style log home of our early settlers at 1726sf with one bedroom down and two bedrooms up. 

The material package price varies depending on the many options that can selected: Log style. Roof. Windows. Basement or Crawl space. Garage or FROG. Breezeway. Porch-deck configuration. etc. It can be made larger or smaller.

Find more information Jack Hutslar or LogHomesByJack on Facebook, in our Photo Gallery here or call Jack at 336-407-2157 [m]