Highlander log home at 1320sf by Honest Abe Log Homes

Log & Timber Frame Homes

LogHomesByJack.com

Jack & Sally Hutslar
Sales and Project Management
Showroom at ...

13699 BTW Hwy, Suite 201  •  MonetaVA 24121

800 767-4916  •  Jack@LogHomesByJack.com

Highlander log home at 1320sf
by Honest Abe Log Homes

** Under $112,000.00 Delivered
with Shell Const Estimate **

24 x 38 footprint plus Loft.
Deck and Basement options.
Gable window wall on view side.
Great room to deck. Kitchen. 
Master BR down with WIC. 
1 BR up with BA.

Material Package, Sales tax, Delivery 
plus Dry-In construction estimate.

** Delivery fee varies depending on location. 

Material Package may be customized.

Not included:

Land. Permits. Site Prep. 
Foundation. Well. Septic. 
Finishing Materials. Labor.
Garage. Breezeway.

LHBJ Notes:

• Pricing above is an estimate. You may customize your package.

• Photo above shows a shed porch.

• Estimate here is for an 8x8 gabled porch.

• See Highland floor plans at www.LogHomesByJack.com.  

• To see other photos of the Highlander,  please go to the Photo Gallery at  www.LogHomesByJack.com. See photo files numbered 86, 76, 47 and 03.

For more information and to see photos of similar log homes, contact Jack.

LHBJ Showroom at Smith Mountain Lake

The Forum at Westlake on Route 122

13699 Booker T Washington Highway
Moneta VA 24121

Always Open By Appointment. Please Call First.

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This message is brought to you by LogHomesByJack.com. Serving Virginia, North Carolina, West Virginia, and under-served areas from Smith Mountain Lake in Virginia and in North Carolina from the Piedmont Triad. Offering a very good combination of Price, Quality of Materials and Service. Any size. Any style. Any where. To satisfy your doubts, give Jack a shout. 800 767-4916.

Roof systems 101

What's up with roofs and ceilings

When deciding about the roof system and ceiling for your log home or timber frame home, there are several factors to take into consideration.

To begin, we offer five basic types of roof systems. They are:
• Purlins [shown in first photo]
• Heavy timber
• Conventional 2x10s or 2x12s [shown below]
• Truss, scissors
• Truss, flat

What about exposed beams?

• Purlin [see first photo] and heavy timber systems [see photo below] include what are commonly referred to as exposed beams.

• For the other three systems, the ceiling material like sheet rock and tongue and groove, is applied to the interior side of the roof system rafters. This yields a smooth interior surface shown below.

The cost of each of these systems:

• Purlin systems are the most expensive
• Truss systems are the least expensive

Insulation included or not

• Insulation is included in our purlin and heavy timber systems
• Insulation is provided by the owner or builder for the other systems

Lights for ceilings

• Can lights are commonly installed in log home and timber frame home ceilings, particularly in large great rooms.
• Large great rooms require more lights than other types of ceilings.
• Double the number of can lights that you think you might want.

Typically, material packages do not include shingles.

• There are far too many varieties to include them in material packages.
• Your builder can provide what ever kind of roofing shingles or metal roof that you want.
• Be sure that this roofing material is included in your dry-in or turnkey price quote.

The Bottom Line is ... It is important to understand what type of roof system or systems are included in your material package. Some companies may provide two or three types of roofing systems in your package. Know what you are buying. It makes a "bottom line" price difference in the cost of your material package.

Related to the roof system is the ceiling system. The ceiling system is the 2nd floor system which is also your first floor ceiling.

There are two types of ceiling systems in many log and timber frame homes. They are

• Heavy timber or exposed beams
• Conventional 2nd floor system built with 2x8s or 2x10s
• The conventional 2nd floor ceiling system may include sheet rock or tongue and groove, and/or
• Hardwood floors, carpet with pads or linoleum with underlayment.

This information is not complicated. It just needs to be spelled out so there are no surprises during the construction stage.

For more information, when discussing your floor plan and material package, please contact:
Jack Hutslar
800 767-4916
Jack@LogHomesByJack.com
www.LogHomesByJack.com

_ _ _
This information is brought to you by LogHomesByJack.com. Serving Virginia and the Southeast from Smith Mountain Lake and North Carolina from the Piedmont Triad. Offering a very good combination of price, quality of materials and service. When in doubt, give Jack a shout. 800 767-4916.

NBS 30 Additive for bugs by CTA Outlast

CTA Outlast NBS 30 Additive

"Green" Insect Repellent

NBS 30 is designed for use in exterior coatings. 

It will deter and inhibit insects from burrowing through or crawling on exterior coatings and is appropriate for use in residential applications as well as dairy facilities, drive-in restaurants, golf courses, parks, playgrounds, poultry houses, recreational areas, schools, landscape areas, zoos, etc. NBS 30 Additive is effective in controlling crawling and nesting activity on painted or stained surfaces to which it has been added. Ants, cockroaches, beetles, mites, spiders, fleas, ticks, silverfish, dirt daubers, bees and wasps will not crawl on, nest on or burrow through coatings treated with NBS 30 Additive.

NBS 30 Additive is soluble or dispersible in commercial oil and water based exterior paints and stains And it is also dispersible in plain water for a gentle, botanical approach to nuisance insect control. NBS 30 is NOT an insect killer and is not intended for control of termites or other wood ingesting insects.

US Patent #7,514,102 B1 and other patents pending

Key Benefits:

• Mixes easily with both oil and water-based paints and stains

• Mixes with water!

• Add one pint [16 oz] to 5 gallons of water.

• Seal tightly when not in use.

• Available in doses suitable for five gallons and one gallon of paint or stain for "time-release insect repellency

• Repels nuisance, nesting insects and discourages Carpenter Ants and Bees from drilling

• Reduces Ladybug Infestations

• All Natural Ingredients - 100% Derived from EPA Exempt Plant Oils

• Safe for Pets and People

• Caution: Please do not drink it or bathe in it.**

** If you are really frustrated by insects when you are out and about, try attaching dryer anti-cling sheets to your belt or shirt collar. We have heard that it really works great. I do it as insects have always loved me. Poison Ivy - that is another matter.

• Will Not harm Plants

• Extremely Low Toxicity

Please Note: The effective life of this additive varies depending upon a variety of conditions including the type of coating used, surface prep procedures, and climatic conditions. Many users report continued results several seasons after application. Two or more coats may be necessary for carpenter bee control. In the event of an active carpenter bee infestation, ALWAYS ream-out the tunnels, powder with poison and caulk thoroughly prior to coating.

CTA Outlast NBS 30 Additive

Summary

NBS 30 Green Insect Repellent
Add to paints, stains, water.
$42.00 per pint, 12 per case - in stock
$312.00 per gallon, 4 per case
Add shipping and applicable sales tax.

In stock at the ...

Showroom at Smith Mountain Lake.
The Forum at Westlake on Rt 122
13699 Booker T Washington Highway, Suite 201
Moneta, Virginia 24121
800 767-4916 or Jack@LogHomesByJack.com

Showroom Hours: 
11:00 to 5:00pm T-W-Th-F-S and 
By Appointment, for your convenience

Payment: Check or money order in advance

Order from:

LogHomesByJack.com
P O Box 140
Huddleston, Virginia 24104
800 767-4916 or Jack@LogHomesByJack.com

_ _ _

This information is brought to you by LogHomesByJack.com. Serving Virginia, North Carolina, West Virginia, Florida and the Southeast from Smith Mountain Lake and North Carolina from the Piedmont Triad. Offering a very good combination of price, quality of materials and service. To ease your doubt, give Jack a shout. 800 767-4916.

Sansin Enviro Wood Stain - Characteristics

Sansin Enviro Wood Stain

Specific formulations for decks, docks, fences, wood siding, porches, log homes plus interior walls and ceilings. PTL for pressure treated lumber. ENS for furniture. Unlike many stains, Sansin Enviro-Stains penetrate to the cell walls and allow the wood to breathe.

Sansin Enviro-Stain characteristics include:

Very Low VOCs.
No toxins.
High depth of penetration to the cellular level.

Allows the wood grain to show.
Lets the wood breathe.

No surface egg shell film build up
= no moisture captured 
= little or no decay

- Does not show scratches like film building products.
- No blistering or peeling.
- Water clean up.

- Green rating - very friendly for the environment.
- Many color selections – with matching options.
- Legal in every state.

See photos of Honest Abe Recreational Cabin with Sansin SDF Natural Pine. Coverage about 200 sf per gallon. Retail price varies with the amount of pigment needed to produce the color you want. Worldwide shipping.

See the Stain button at www.LogHomesByJack.com for color selections and product descriptions. 

For more information, contact Jack Hutslar at 
800 767-4916 or Jack@LogHomesByJack.com.
_____
This information is brought to you by LogHomesByJack.com. Serving Virginia and the Southeast from Smith Mountain Lake and North Carolina from the Piedmont Triad. Offering a very good combination of price, quality of materials and service. When in doubt, give Jack a shout. 800 767-4916.

Sansin Enviro Stain techology

WELCOME TO SANSIN

The idea of protecting wood with nature's own ingredients is almost as old as wood itself. More than a thousand years ago, the ancient peoples of Norway took resin and gums from the heartwood of trees, warmed it and applied it to their Stave Churches with a broom. Those buildings are still standing. Sansin Enviro Stains are created using the same principle.

With Sansin Enviro Stains, not only can you protect your wood naturally - you can also invite the beauty of nature into your life. Our collection of 79 unique colors is inspired by the stunning beauty of our world - the deep blue of a summer's sky, the rich yellows of the ripe harvest, the pure tones of the Southern desert.

Sansin doesn't just stain your wood; it actually becomes an integral part of your wood's cell structure, protecting it naturally from within. Because Sansin stains are water-borne, they can be applied even to wood with a high moisture content. And they're not harmful to the environment.

The Science behind healthy wood.

Wood is a tremendously versatile material - and as long as it's protected, a very strong and durable one. Water, ultraviolet (UV) rays and fungi can all seriously damage your wood. Traditional petroleum and acrylic-based coatings protect wood by forming a surface film which repels water and UV rays. Unfortunately, this tends to prevent evaporation, trapping moisture in the wood and making it prone to decay. Sansin lets wood "breathe" more freely - dramatically improving dimensional stability and allowing wood to adjust naturally to moisture levels in the environment. Once it bonds with your wood, Sansin forms a long-lasting shield that aggressively repels condensed water while allowing water vapor to escape.

As well, the paraffin waxes used to protect against water in many water and solvent-based coatings are easily damaged by exposure to UV radiation - just 5 hours of direct sunlight can reduce water repellency by over 60%. Like your own skin, your home needs dependable UV protection. Sansin's modified natural oils and resins are impregnated with special UV protectants so every exposed cell of your wood is protected. Because of their unique formulation, Sansin Enviro Stains also protect naturally against wood decay.

Sansin Enviro Stains are designed to keep your wood healthy - just as Mother Nature intended. Whether it's your home, your deck or your furniture, Sansin provides the long-lasting, beautiful protection your home deserves.

Jack Hutslar is the owner of LogHomesByJack.com and a dealer for Sansin Enviro Stains.

800 767-4916
Jack@LogHomesByJack.com
www.LogHomesByJack.com
_____
This information is brought to you by LogHomesByJack.com. Serving Virginia, North Carolina, West Virginia, Florida and the Southeast from Smith Mountain Lake and North Carolina from the Piedmont Triad. Offering a very good combination of price, quality of materials and service. To ease your doubt, give Jack a shout. 800 767-4916.

CTA Outlast Q8 Log Oil Stain

CTA Outlast Q8 Log Oil

Exterior Stain. Water Repellent. Wood Preservative.

Alert: Price Change March 15, 2013

Excellent for use on Logs, Decks and End-Cuts of pressure treated lumber!

Coverage is 125 to 175 sf per gallon
• 1 coat now
• 2nd coat in 24 months
• Then 1 coat every 4-7 years

Colors: Natural base. Light gold. Medium gold. Medium reddish brown. Dark brown. Barn gray.

Outlast Q8 Log Oil is an EPA registered wood preservative specifically designed to control decay causing organisms (and mold, termites, powder post beetles) in log homes and on wood siding. It provides unsurpassed water repellency and sheer trans-oxide color with one coat coverage.

Outlast Q8 Log Oil is a totally non-film forming EXTERIOR treatment that will never crack or peel. The solution soaks into the wood to provide protection, not just on the surface, but also deep into the wood cell structure.

• Rot control
• Stops decay fungi and mold
• Toxic to termites and powder post beetles

• Superior water repellency
• Beautiful translucent colors
• EPA registered Wood Preservative

• Controls cracking and splitting
• Meets all Federal, State and Local VOC restrictions
• Pre-tinted colors (shown above) may be used on decks!

• Available in quarts for End-Cut treatment which validates the warranty on Wolmanized, Thompsonized and Outdoor wood products.

• Siding and non-contact applications are tintable with oil dispersible pigments and many universal type pigments - call for instructions or consult your dealer

• Guaranteed - to never require costly corn-cob removal.
• No sanding or sandblasting ever needed for re-coats
• Guaranteed - no lap marks or brush marks.

• Low-pressure spray application to refusal. That means flood the surface to refusal with Q8.
• Guaranteed - easiest product to apply
• One coat coverage - low pressure spray, brush or roll

• Detergent and water clean-up
• Simple re-coat: no stripping required
• Freeze/Thaw Stable - extended shelf life

• Guaranteed - most complete exterior stain and finish product in a single coat application

Exterior Stain. Water Repellent. Wood Preservative.

Excellent for use on Logs, Decks and End-Cuts of pressure treated lumber!

Summary

$265.00 per 5 gallon pail
Add shipping and applicable sales tax.
Coverage is 125 to 175 sf per gallon

Payment: Check or money order in advance

Order from:

LogHomesByJack.com
P O Box 140
Huddleston, Virginia 24104
800 767-4916 or Jack@LogHomesByJack.com
_____
I do not mean to bug you but this information is brought to you by LogHomesByJack.com. Serving Virginia and the Southeast from Smith Mountain Lake and North Carolina from the Piedmont Triad. Offering a very good combination of price, quality of materials and service. When in doubt, give Jack a shout. 800 767-4916.

Tip: How to reduce log home costs

30 Secrets of Affordable Design
By Charles Bevier

OVERALL DESIGN

1 Stock Up. Instead of a custom design, opt for a stock plan from your log producer's catalog. Stock designs have been built many times before, so construction errors have been eliminated.

2 Shape of Things. Whether stock or custom, a rectangular design is the most economical shape to build. Add more than four corners and you'll add more costs. For example, it takes 18 feet of logs to create a single butt-and-pass corner with an 8-foot wall height.

3 Open House. Keep square footage down with an open floorplan that eliminates unnecessary hallways. Also look for innovative ways to use traditionally wasted space.

4 Going Up. To expand your living space, build upward not outward. Adding a dormer within the roof or attic will give you a loft, which is far less expensive than a complete second story. [Jack: Add those extra bedrooms that you need, in a walkout basement.]

5 Trim Your Waistline. Keep your home's width under 32 feet. Once you go wider than 32 feet, you usually need longer rafters.

CONSTRUCTION & LABOR

6 Stage Coach. Start by building the house the first year, followed by the wraparound porch in Year Two and the garage in Year Three. Add outbuildings, such as a guesthouse or barn, in subsequent years.

7 Clearing Up. As much as 35 percent of your budget will go to clearing your home site, excavating a foundation, creating a driveway and installing utilities. But you can earn a little sweat equity by clearing trees and foraging for found materials (rock and wood) for use in landscaping.

8 Solid Footing. Slab on grade is the least expensive foundation, but this option is only available in frost-free regions. Everywhere else you will need some form of basement or crawl space.

9 Underground Movement. A full basement with roughed-in plumbing and electrical lines is one of the most affordable ways to add extra living space to your log home.

EXTERIOR

10 Stacked Baths. Putting two bathrooms back to back or stacked above and below in a two-story design. This will reduce your plumbing contractor's work, which can save money.

11 Combo Platter. To save money on logs, incorporate a variety of exterior materials such as stone, board and batten, cedar shake, and even stucco.

12 Grand Entrance. For sheer "wow" factor, many pros recommend investing in a substantial "timber frame style" entrance. You can achieve this economically and still make it impressive.

13 Decked Out. Wrap-a-round porches are popular but can cost as much as $25,000 for 150 feet of porch. To cut costs, design a smaller covered porch at the front door.

14 Drive Time. Locating your home far off the main road will give you privacy. But you could save thousands in grading and compacting costs if you keep the driveway short.

15 Walk this Way. Crushed stone, flagstone or concrete pavers (stones that are usually placed on top of sand) make attractive and affordable alternatives to poured concrete for walkways, patios, pool decks and more.

ROOF & CEILINGS

16 Top Heavy. Keep your roof simple with a single ridgeline instead of "hips and valleys" or multiple roof planes. Extreme angles, such as turrets or an angled prow under an A-frame, cost more in materials and labor.

17 Looking Up. If you worship cathedral ceilings, use them in the great room but keep the ceiling height in other rooms lower (in the 8-foot realm).

18 Sky's the Limit. If you can afford dramatic skylights, go for it. But also consider solar tubes. They bring in natural light and cut down on installation and materials costs.

19 Timbers! To save money, use a conventional truss or rafter roof system in the attic, with smaller, decorative timbers and non-structural tongue-and-groove decking.

WALLS & FLOORS

20 Size Matters. Using smaller logs will reduce costs substantially. Six-by-eight-inch logs offer the same stability and energy performance as eight-by-eight-inch logs. And you will save roughly $2,500 on your log package for a 2,000-square-foot home. [Note: 8 inch wide logs are best for the northern climates.]

21 White Stuff. Drywall is roughly half the cost of pine tongue-and-groove paneling (cedar is another step up in price). So it is an excellent choice for framing interior walls and ceilings.

22 Halfway there. To maintain the look of full logs without the cost, consider log siding for your home's walls, dormers and garages.

23 Floor Show. The most economical flooring is carpet and pad, which can be a comfortable option for the bedroom or basement. For the main living space, laminates and vinyl will usually save you money over hardwood floors, though wood tends to wear better.

24 One Step. To reduce flooring costs, pick one product and use it in as much of the home as possible.

25 Underfoot Fetish. Squeak-free, engineered trusses like I-joists can span long distances (great for open floorplans) and are easy to install. Dimensional lumber (2-by-6s or 2-by-10s) is more affordable and hardier in the event of a plumbing accident. But it can also twist over time, making for a house that creaks.

FINISHING TOUCHES

26 Door Jam. A pre-hung steel unit (around $600) will work well and is easy to install. For more dent protection, upgrade to fiberglass, which offers a wood-like texture with less maintenance.

27 Light Bright. Specify low-cost lighting fixtures and upgrade them in the future. Use inexpensive fluorescent lights above and below cabinetry as task lighting for cooking.

28 Hearths. Instead of a traditional masonry fireplace (which can cost from $50k to $100k) choose a factory-made, direct-vent, zero-clearance fireplace, which can be accented with decorative rock (around $15,000 installed).

29 Counter Intuition. For a solid work surface, install granite on your kitchen island and then use granite tile on the remaining countertops to save money.

30 Straight Shooter. A simple, straight stair design will save you money. For the ultimate budget buy, a plain set of stairs (for a few hundred bucks) can be concealed under pad and carpet.

Charles Bevier is editor of Building Systems, a magazine that profiles innovative construction technologies. Read more about affordable design in the August 2005 issue of Log Home Design Ideas.

For more information, contact Jack Hutslar:
800 767-4916
Jack@LogHomesByJack.com
www.LogHomesByJack.com

_____

This information is brought to you by LogHomesByJack.com. Serving Virginia, North Carolina, West Virginia, Florida and the Southeast from Smith Mountain Lake and North Carolina from the Piedmont Triad. Offering a very good combination of price, quality of materials and service. To ease your doubt, give Jack a shout. 800 767-4916.