Occasionally character logs appear in the log wall stack with some streaks of blue stain in the grain of the log.  This gorgeous "Denim Pine" (called the gem of the forest) is prized by wood craftsmen and is usually sent off to furniture manufacturers for cabinet work and country furniture.  This wood is unique and may well become a specialty wood/trend with a hefty price tag on them!  Log homes built with blue stain "Denim Pine" logs not only look solid and beautiful, but are incredibly unique to this century.  If you want a rustic look, look no further.  The prediction is...as quality house log fiber diminishes, the value of "Denim Pine" log walls in the log home will increase substantially.

We use Lodgepole Pine (once used by Native Americans to build lodges and teepee supports, the hard, stiff wood of the lodgepole pine is today used in construction lumber, fencing, railroad ties, and house logs), Ponderosa Pine, Englemann Spruce, Douglas Fir and Western Red Cedar.  These western woods are harvested, as needed, from high elevations in the mountains of northern Idaho.

The Idaho Panhandle National Forest website provides much information on the ecology of the area and is very informative.

CHECK OUT THE FOLLOWING WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION:

universityofloghomes.com

THE FACTS ABOUT THERMAL MASS

Lodge Log homes are very energy efficient: They keep you comfortably warm in the winter and they stay cool in the heat of the summer. Why? THERMAL MASS. It is important to understand that the "R" value is not the only method to quantify insulating qualities.  The fiberglass insulation industry and the Federal Government established "R" ratings in an attempt to set standards for energy efficiency. During the energy crisis in the early 1970's, testing was done to rate various products in an effort to save dwindling oil resources.  If the log home producers hadn't become involved in the process, we would have new log homes with batting insulation between our log walls.  Truth is, batt fiberglass insulation breaks down over time and looses some of its insulating value.  Compare that to logs. A log is a solid mass. It absorbs and stores heat  (or coolness) in its cellular structure and is able to release the stored energy back into the home maintaining a stable comfort level.  The "R" value of fiberglass insulation is determined by passing heat through the material when dry. There is no consideration given to radiation, solar input, storage capabilities or moisture such as when there is a humid environment.  Logs win hands down.  Studies found that much of the heat loss is primarily due to air leakage around doors, windows and outlets just as in conventional frame homes.  The log home industry has made major strides in improving joinery and sealants which substantially reduced air-infiltration rates. 

Today, our Lodge Log log homes rival and exceed any other mode of construction for energy efficiency.  They are not only beautiful, they provide economical, natural and healthful environments. We chose radiant heat for our Lodge Log home and found that the warm floor heats the furniture and the logs so that the overall effect is a consistent temperature, no fluctuation of warm to cool.  Especially with a high cathedral ceiling in the Great Room of a log home, the concern has always been that the heat rises to the peak making the loft and upper rooms hot leaving the main living area cooler.  No so with radiant heat. It keeps the warmth where you live.  The logs retain the heat at "living" level and allows the warmth to blend back into the main living space as the room cools, it is truly a comfortable and economical method of heating "where you spend most of your day" in your log home.

Lodge Logs is a member of the  Log Homes Council.  This organization reports on many log home related issues such as Thermal Mass, Log Home Appraisal and many more subjects related to log homes.  You may visit their website to learn much more.

For the report generated by the National bureau of Standards confirming the energy conservation thermal mass effect of log walls in residential construction go to the link: http://www.oldvaloghomes.com/EnergyEFficiency/energy_efficiencyof_log_homes.htm.

Product Specification

LOG WALL SYSTEM; as manufactured by Lodge Logs, Boise, ID

         MANUFACTURED LOG PRODUCT:   

              Logs to be manufactured from Lodgepole Pine, Engelman Spruce, Ponderosa           

              Pine, Douglas Fir and Western Red Cedar.  These logs shall be peeled (barked

              removed), stress relieved (single, saw kerf cut longitudinally to the depth of ½

              the diameter), or kiln dried to T.P.I. grade standards and tested by an electronic

              instrument such as the Delmhorst model G-30, Wood M.C. tester.

              Cured logs to be machine-lathed to a smooth, round finish and milled with a

              combination of Swedish Cope and tongue and groove.  Logs to be milled in

              finished diameters of 7,” 8,” 9,” 10,” or 12” plus or minus a tolerance of .030.”

              Log wall system to be pre-planned and pre-cut for all window and door

              openings, utilizing log lengths from 24” to 240” in 2” or 4” increments.  Logs to

              be pre-slotted for end joining and window and door jamb installation, pre-drilled

              to accommodate through-bolt fastening system, and machine-notched for full 

              saddle-notch corner joining system.

              Through-bolt fastening system shall be designed so as to provide a minimum of

              the following: one 5/8” diameter steel through-bolt 8” on either side of wall

              openings, three at each wall corner (within 30” of each other) and additional bolts

              at approximately 4’ to 6’ intervals in center along the wall.

              Through-bolt to be 5/8” in diameter, cadmium-plated, N.C. continuous threaded

              steel rod in 3’ lengths, rods to be joined by cadmium-plated, threaded couplers

              and anchored to the concrete foundation by a 5/8” diameter anchor bolt imbedded

              in the concrete as per U.B.C. (Uniform Building Code), Section 2907 (e).  Bolts

              shall terminate above log wall and top plate with a cadmium-plated flat washer,

              compression spring, cadmium-plated flat washer and end nut.

              Logs shall be identified by a standard code written on each log and displayed on a

              pre-printed scale drawing of each log wall showing the location of each log within

             the wall, each end joint, corner-notch and through-bolt.  These markings facilitate

             assembly.

      ASSEMBLY:

             Log wall manufacturer shall provide trained working supervision during the initial log

            wall assembly period.

             Logs to be continuously gasketed with closed-cell polyethylene foam sealer strip

            between each course, and a bead of caulking in each saddle notch.

            Logs to be assembled in accordance with pre-printed log wall drawing supplied

            by log manufacturer.  Through-bolt to be installed per manufacturer’s

            recommendation and torqued to approximately 65 F.P. at 3’ height intervals.

            End joints to be filled with polyethylene-foam-wrapped wooden key blocks

            inserted in pre-cut dado slots to mechanically lock end joints and provide a

            positive air seal.

            Through-bolt torquing at top of log wall to be repeated daily for minimum of three

            weeks following completion of assembly.

           Plywood T-jamb splines shall be wrapped in polyethylene foam per

           manufacturer’s recommendation, and installed in pre-cut dado slots at log ends to

           provide a positive air seal between logs and door/window components.

       LOG GRADING AND CODE AGENCY APPROVAL:

            Log manufacturer shall subscribe to either the North American Log Home Council

           or Timber Products Inspection Service log grading programs, and shall, on

           request, provide compliance certification of log grading.

           Log wall system shall be approved under one of the following:

                          HUD Structural Engineering Bulletin

                          ICBO Research Report

                          BOCA Research Report

                          SBC Research Report

  WARRANTY:

Log manufacturer shall honor a lifetime-limited warranty, pertaining to the structural integrity and serviceability of the log wall system, providing for either repair or replacement of any log wall component that should fail within the warranty period.

 MISCELLANEOUS LOG PRODUCTS; as manufactured by Lodge Logs, Boise, ID

   LOG ROOF TRUSSES:

           Trusses to be pre-engineered for required live and dead loads, specifying size of             

           members, types and sizes of steel plates and fasteners 

           Manufacturer shall provide detailed, engineered blueprints and calculations for all

           trusses by a licensed engineer or architect. 

           Trusses shall be pre-assembled, index-marked, dissembled and packaged for field

           assembly.

      JOISTS, RAFTERS AND HEADERS:

            To be pole-grade Lodgepole Pine, Spruce, Douglas Fir, lathed and sanded.  Joists

            and rafters to be slabbed one or more sides for decking/sheathing.

      STAIRS:

            Stringers to be air-dried, pole grade Lodgepole Pine, Spruce, Ponderosa Pine, or

            Douglas Fir lathed straight and sanded.

            Treads to be dry Lodgepole Pine, Spruce, Ponderosa Pine or Douglas Fir, Lathed

            to 12” diameter and split lengthwise with a bandsaw.

            Tread and stringer are to be field-fit and assembled.

  RAILINGS:

           Dry Lodgepole Pine or Douglas Fir turned and sanded posts, rails and spindles. 

           Posts shall be domed-top and pre-drilled for rails.  Rails shall be doweled or

           square-ends and pre-drilled for spindles.

           Stair rails and posts to be field-drilled.

    PACKAGING:

          All log products to be packaged and wrapped in such a manner as to provide

          stability and weather protection both in transit and at the job site, providing for

          ease of handling and protection of the product.

          Each package shall be clearly identified as to the manufacturer and contents, and

          shall be accompanied by an itemized packing list.