Week Ending 5/8/08

Please excuse the absence here for March and April, and I thank each of you who take time to read these thoughts and encourage them; I am amazed at the interest.  Rather than continuing at the moment with the Wood, People and Health paper, I would like to reflect on this past weekend’s activity, a “Log Raising” in Trussville, Alabama.  At least one of the readers of this B “LOG” (BLOG) was there and, once again, for the third time made a significant contribution, and I thank you, and I know the Galloway’s feel the same gratitude.

If you are reading this, I surmise that you either already have your log home or your log home is still looming large on your screen.  That is a wonderful thing to hold on to and it takes a lot of nurturing sometimes to give it birth.  Such was the celebration we had last Saturday with Bob and Eunice Galloway.  Fireside has actively been working with this much determined couple for over five years, but as the memento that Bob and Eunice passed out to their friends and the workers stated, “this dream has been 30 years in the making.”  If you really desire it, the key is holding on to the dream and nurturing it in every way you can find, until that day when you find yourself saying your own “New Home Blessing” and drinking your toast for persevering!

Not only will Bob and Eunice look back on Saturday, May 3, 2008 as a special day, but I believe everyone who came on to the home site that day will, and I can assure you that all of the folks from Fireside will.  And, this had not just a little bit to do with faith, faith got it to this point, and this was the only practical day that this log raising could take place as Eunice was leaving on a mission trip to India the following Monday.  She had said, “we are going for it, rain or shine!”

The weather forecast was actually scary, thunderstorms with possible tornado activity, and there was nothing positive about the weather clearing up anytime during the day.  Our customer was exercising their faith and we could do nothing less.  Our last log raising was done in early April near Rosman, North Carolina with a similar and an equally motivated and enthusiastic customer, and the results were that we all got wet but had an exhilarating day and stacked the last log at 6:00 pm, one of the longest log raisings in our recorded history, but one of the best because of all the circumstances.

Now back to the Galloway’s event, at 8:00 am, central standard time, the rain was coming down good and not just rain, there was an ample amount of electrical activity in the sky with some looming thunder to go with it.  The friends and workers were huddled in the basement speculating on the weather.  Another hour rolled by and the weather had not changed and the crowd began to get a little agitated by it all, but we hung together.  A neighbor and friend brought over a container of freshly baked muffins that were still really warm and really tasty.  We needed this lift to hang in there. 

About 9:20 am, the rain began to slow down and kept slowing down until it stopped about ten minutes later which was just before some workers and friends were in their cars and preparing to vacate the premises.  Bob got on his computer and printed out the local radar report which showed that we were likely on the back side of the storm and it should begin clearing soon!  With this encouragement, we rounded up “the gang” to roll out the tools and drop cords, and to start laying the logs with this small, but faithful, bunch!  We got busy and as the morning went along, more people showed up, friends helping and being friendly, folks seeking to learn, and still others desiring to participate in a hands-on building/learning project.

Lunch was delayed so we could make some progress on this construction project and it suited everybody to get on with our mission.  And as we all released our pent up frustrations from the late start, there was joy and gratitude in the air as we were actually able to get on with it.  When lunch time did arrive, about 1:30 pm, it was a much anticipated time, both for Galloway’s and myself.  They were very much tuned in to having something of a short ceremony when we “bless the new home”, and the homeowners and the food.  Eunice had some scripture that she wanted read and a meaningful song sang by all who cared to join in, and then a sound system was used to play another song that fit this momentous occasion.  You can be sure that we thanked God for this turn in the weather, as we had now gone from pouring rain and ominous clouds to a clear blue sky.

The crowd was treated by the homeowners to a wonderful barbecue, both pork and chicken, and all the trimmings, including, I believe, the best baked beans yours truly has ever tasted and it was prepared lovingly by Bob’s Mother, Virginia.  There was an assortment of desserts, cakes, cookies and pies that encouraged the work to come to a dead halt.  But, somehow, after enjoying this feast and the fellowship, we were able to make our way back to the floor system and get on with it.  At this point the sun was really shinning brightly and it began to drain our energy, especially those of us who overindulged in the buffet, but our goal was set and we were determined to make as much headway as our strength would allow.  Thanks to the friends of both the Galloway’s and Fireside’s, we got most of the eight foot wall complete.

And then came a first from the Galloway’s, they wanted the Fireside crew that had been there for a week, preparing for the log raising, to sign the last log that was to be placed that day.  They did and we did!  And the pictures below just capture a fraction of the spirit of the day, as the Galloway family celebrates one of the last steps in realizing their log home dream!

Enjoy this group shot and take note of the signatures on the log!  We invite you to join us for our next “Log Raising” to truly grasp this wonderful experience.  Keep watching our web site for the location and date of our next “Log Raising” which we are anticipating will be in early June.  Sometimes “Log Raisings” are short notice, so check our web site often!

Don

Week Ending 2/29/08

We get even deeper this week with the consideration of how building materials affect natural electrical fields.  I personally would like to fully understand the significance of all this, but I think the scientists who have devoted much time and energy to it are still mystified about this phenomenon.

I think what this really involves is right on target with the whole concept of “GREEN”.  To simplify it in my mind, I think that the further that you get from the natural state, of any material in which it was created, the greater the chance for electrical fields and magnetism to be disturbed and to cause conditions that upset the natural order.  If this is truly the case, then wood in its natural state is probably the least disturbing of the materials we can build our homes out of and, if credit is to be given to what these scientists say, then the wood itself contributes to the natural order.  What could be less disturbing than solid timber walls or logs?  Is that my prejudice or is that reality? I choose to believe it is reality.

By the way, I was in a “Fireside” log home this week for the first time since it was finished about two years ago.  The customer, who has always been most appreciative of his home and who was a mechanical contractor during his years of labor, is amazed at how easy it is to heat and cool his log home.  I wished it was some special ingredient that Fireside was able to add, and the way we construct our roofs does help, but it is primarily the nature of the wood itself and its ability to store energy that really make it work.  Enjoy the photos of this lovely log home.

Thanks for tuning in!

Don

Week Ending 2/22/08

If you are one of those who have been on the edge of your seat waiting for this discussion to continue on the Wood, People and Health paper, I apologize for the intermittent creation of these reviews.  Last week I allowed other items to hinder me from continuing this commentary but, on the other hand, I have been studying and trying to better understand what Professor Schneider was attempting to enlighten us about.  Let me say that I have always considered most of these points to be more intriguing to the scientific among us rather than to the average bear, like myself, but I have wanted to try and understand each point from the inside out, which means thoroughly, and my desire would be to be able to explain each point in layman’s terms to those of you who have an interest.  Reluctantly, I admit that I am not there yet, but I am not retiring from the effort either.

The next item (# 5. Ionization of the Air) on our list deals with the nature of ions and what happens to them when they are in a state of change that is prompted by radiation, and the most of this is ultraviolet light, causing either a gain or loss in the electrons of an atom or group of atoms.  As the article expresses, a characteristic of wood is that it enriches the air with small ions that react with the larger, aggressive (and more harmful) ions that have a negative impact on our bodies, and the net result is that the wood actually purifies the air.  Beyond this you just have to accept this as the nature of wood and it just does its thing without prompting of any sort.  However, as I have mentioned many times before, applying a finish to the interior walls and ceilings will tend to reduce the benefit of this characteristic and I believe this to be true for most of the points made in this article.  Once again, I believe that this benefit is a subtle reason that log home enthusiasts say that their log home is just so comfortable!  You are not conscious of this activity, but it goes on and it’s to your substantial benefit.

Thanks for tuning in!

Don

Week Ending 2/8/08

This week we return to our discussion on the points made in the Wood, People and Health paper.  The next item (# 4. Scent) on our list is about the odor of the wood itself.  If you have lived in a log home for a while, this feature will not register that well with you unless you go away from your log home for extended periods of time, and if this is the case, you will definitely notice the scent upon returning.  But, if this is not the case, you will wonder if your olfactory nerve, or sense of smell, is functioning well when new guests in your log home remark about the freshness of the natural aroma.  Case in point, the office of Fireside Log Homes in Ellijay, Georgia was constructed in 1984 and our guests today remark about how good it smells when they enter, although the employees who arrive daily don’t necessarily notice the scent, but it is real and it is ongoing, this freshness that the logs, and a lot of other wood used in the finishing of your log home, will add to your interior environment.  If you doubt this, visit the log home of a friend, or even a model log home, and see how your nose responds.  You will be pleasantly pleased.

Once you have lived in a log home for a while, the fresh odor of the wood will not be near as apparent as the first six months, or a year, but it is always there and becomes part of the overall ambiance of the home that encourages you to say, “I just know I love it and it feels good!”

If you are already in your log home, I trust I hear a chorus of “Amen’s!”  If you are moving in that direction, I say it is worth all the energy and investment that is required to get there, so “Keep on Trucking!”

Yours truly,

Don Mahaffey

Week Ending 2/1/08

We interrupt this discussion with another that I consider an imperative.  Have you purchased your land yet?  If you have and you are really happy with your investment, then you might tune out the balance of this unless you are intrigued.  If you have your land, or lot, and have not read the article that we distribute about Siting a Home, then I encourage you to read it.  This is one of the essentials to getting off to a good start and a key also to finishing strong.

Why do I sound so emotional about this subject?  Well, I have freshly seen another investment in property that was based more on minimizing initial cost rather than the many other considerations that in all honesty should outweigh the lowest possible entry cost.  Even though you may not be a grader, builder, or developer, you still have the ability to listen and let the property talk to you about what the possibilities are.  For instance, if you are looking for a lot in, let’s say, a mountain community and you are excited about a particular site, excuse yourself from the salesperson and just by yourself, or with an experienced person round about, stand in the road and walk the road in front of the property and try to imagine how the drive will leave the road and enter the site.  If it seems that it would be a difficult proposition, that is your first clue that you had better think twice.  The people who execute the work are skilled and imaginative, but they are not magicians.  You could spend most of your savings on the difference in lot price on just getting the road cut into the site.  Going further, if there are other obstacles that are obvious to you, they will be even more obvious to the experienced advisor, so get a grip on yourself because this view, or whatever the attraction (low cost too), may be rapidly disappearing with the increased cost to develop and build.

The driveway is just as all the other points.  You do not want to create a driveway that will forever be a challenge to enter and to exit, and to keep maintained.  There is such a driveway near a home we are presently constructing and I know the difficulties are only beginning with this driveway.  It is a major challenge just to get up and down it.  If you desire no one to visit you, then this might just be your ticket, but most log home owners feel just the opposite.

The last element for this discussion is the siting of the home itself.  In the mountains it is more a question of the grade of the property and having a spot that captures all you wish it to. Disregard all of the other considerations when you are sorting this one out.  Yes you can do a lot with foundations, but you can also spend a fortune trying to overcome natural barriers.  I have seen some things in the last two or three years that have absolutely dumbfounded me such as foundation walls 40’ tall, or more.  As I once told a developer, there are some parcels of land that should never be developed or platted for a home site.  He did not like it or me, I think, but I surely emphasize that even more strongly now because I have seen too many people let emotions overrule logic and just good, plain sense.  Additionally, the best investment just might be a higher priced property that allows for things to flow much easier as in, once again, entry, the drive to the home, and the construction process itself.

Be kind to yourself and be smart for the long term.  If you are salivating, but uneasy, respond to your subconscious and stop, breathe deeply and think logically.  If all else fails and you are still in doubt, call Fireside.  We will be happy to give you our opinion at no charge to you.  One of my favorite activities is walking land, considering all of the above, and choosing a home site.

At your service,

Don Mahaffey

Week Ending 1/11/08

It is time to talk about humidity as we work our way through the Wood, People and Health paper.  This is a more important subject than you might think. It really does affect your health and it really does work.  I will likely be more emphatic about this than any of the other points that we consider.

First of all, by observation, all of nature seems to be striving for a state of equilibrium, and there is always movement to allow this state to be achieved.  This happens on both the inside and outside with moisture, and happens on the inside to a greater extent because the moisture is not impeded by a sealer.  Moisture in the form of vapor is continually moving into and out of the logs, and other wood, striving to stay in balance with the moisture in the surrounding air. When this is working well, the logs are really healthy and the other things (people, or occupants, being one) are healthier too because the moisture is not too great or too dry, or we hope and pray that it is not too dry.

An unhealthy condition can happen when the atmosphere on the inside of a log home gets too dry. It’s bad for the logs, wood furniture and the occupants, and their pets. A reasonable visual picture of this would be for you to imagine a household sponge on the sink in the kitchen. When you are using it, it is full and healthy looking, but if it is allowed to sit for several days without use, it dries out and shrivels up and can really look bad, like it belongs in the trash can. But, you hold it under the faucet for a minute and there it is, full and healthy and ready for a cleaning job.  Guess what?  The same is true for the human.  Adult bodies are composed of about 55% to 65% moisture. When the environment is too dry, the body is affected in many ways, but most directly and immediately in our respiratory systems.  So what’s the big deal?  In the heating season, it is imperative to create the optimum condition in a log home and that moisture be put back into the air to replace the moisture that is being removed by the heat generated.  Wood heat and gas heat that have combustion in the area being heated tend to remove the greatest amount of moisture. So, regardless of the type of heat you are using, with the tightness of homes today, you need to put moisture back in the air and, if it is wood or gas heat, you should put more moisture back into the air.

So why are logs so great in a home situation?  Because they help promote this state of equilibrium by absorbing the moisture when there is a lot and by releasing it when the atmosphere is becoming dry.  Your body appreciates it even if you are not conscious of it.

Yes, I believe in what we do and the great value of log home living!

Thanks for joining in.

Don

Week Ending 1/4/08

As stated in the last Blog, the next few weeks will be spent focusing on the article (paper) Wood, People and Health written some time in the 1800’s (or so I am told)  by a German Professor, Dr. Anton Schneider. We will take one or more of his points each week and relate what my personal experience and education have done to enlighten me about the benefit of using wood, specifically for log homes. You can view the article here or you can dowload a PDF version of it here.

His first point is “A Capacity for Diffusion”.  To begin with, I resorted to Webster’s to be clear about the word “diffusion”. The meaning that best fits this use, I think, is “the mingling of molecules of two or more substances.”  First of all, let me admit that I am not a scientist and do not really understand how all of this works, but this characteristic of wood seems almost miraculous in its ability to absorb particulate matter right out of the air and this phenomenon seems not to affect the wood itself as in a lingering odor or even changing the color of the wood.  Before Fireside appreciated this characteristic of a solid log wall, we put a polyurethane finish on the interior wall of part of our model/office in Ellijay, Georgia when it was finished in 1985, so we diminished the benefit in the areas that we applied this finish. It looked great and still does, but we did have some problems on the outside of this wall and it was some abnormal deterioration of the logs themselves. This resulted primarily, I believe, from the failure of an exterior stain, but now I believe that applying this sealant on the inside was just as detrimental.  The lesson learned is this, wood is alive in some matter and it needs to breathe and when it can breathe, it remains healthy and it produces a healthy environment. You do benefit from a sealant or high quality, permeable finish on the exterior because you want the water to shed as fast as possible and you want the harmful ultraviolet rays to be repelled as much as possible. So it is a fine line for maintaining breatheability and protecting the wood.  Once again, I would suggest that you become familiar with The Sansin Corporation’s line of exterior finishes, but use your own judgment as well.

One experience sticks in my mind that maybe highlights this feature better than any other experience and that was with a family that actually built two “Fireside” log homes, the second because of their good fortune of being able to turn a significant profit on the first. Mr. Burton was a smoker and poker player, and regularly had his friends over for “poker night”.  He related that he was always amazed that the low smoke cloud that accumulated while the game was in process, was not only gone within 30 minutes of his friends departure, but there was no lingering odor from all the smoking that took place.  I can personally state that I was in the Burton’s log home several times and there was no cigarette odor present, something that I am very sensitive to.  How does all of this work?  Maybe Professor Schneider’s “capacity for diffusion” in some way relates to the wonderful ability of wood.

I would also say that item # 3, “Filtration”, is very close to this so we will consider that these two points are covered by this discussion. Let me also relate that over the years we have had a number of customers that suffered with significant allergies and they came to us to help them create a solid timber home, chemical free as much as possible, because of the urging of their healthcare physician. I would imagine that if it is good for them, it likely is very good for the rest of us.

If you have any stories or experiences that might amplify this, I would love to hear from you. Next week we will discuss “Humidity” which is much easier for me to understand and appreciate.

Thanks for tuning in.

Don

Week Ending 12/28/07

Greetings for the last time in ’07, unless you choose to call Fireside in these closing hours, and should that happen, you will have made our year complete. Thanks for tuning in and whether it is a first time visit or one of many, the welcome is sincere and, I hope, to your benefit.

If you have been to Fireside, I trust you have received a copy of the article attached. Without really getting into a discussion about the different points made by this German Scientist, Professor Anton Schneider, many years ago, I will simply state that I have benefited from each of these by living in a log home, full time, for over a decade. They are real and with good foundation. I was made aware of this article in the early 90’s and sought to really understand each of these, but did not scratch the surface enough on the more involved ones to advance my understanding. If you have an interest, please tune in for the next several weeks as I will undertake this study, and, as best as I can, will share my revelations and enlightenment. For the moment, just accept these points as the truth.

And here’s an interesting note, years ago, at the same time Professor Schneider was penning his article, I came across a Chinese wood scientist that was writing the same thoughts, half way around the world!  I trust you will enjoy the article and I look forward to the study and the discussion.

You can dowload a PDF of the article here.

Happy New Year!

Don

Week Ending 12/14/07

You might get the impression from last week and this week that we are steadily engaged in repairing logs that have developed defects. The truth is that it is a really rare thing, but I suspect that a question resides with prospective log home owners on how you deal with one of these defects and pictures, as the old axiom suggests, show that the degree of difficulty to carry out these repairs is much simpler than most might imagine. Let me be quick to add however that if reasonable maintenance is not practiced and problems are ignored, the degree of difficulty can increase substantially.

Now, a little background on the situation this week, this log home is about two years old and Fireside Home Builders did the “dry-in” on the home. The defect that developed was certainly not evident at the time of manufacturing or at the time of installation, which occurred only a week or two after manufacturing. There are two logs involved in this repair and we did the second log because of some severe checking that had developed, and doing this repair now would eliminate years of attention. Since both logs were on the bottom course on the south elevation of the home, we chose to do this project and it would result in what you are now reading.

The log profile is what we refer to as our stacked chink log. It has a groove cut in the top to simulate a chink joint. The log is flat on the face excepting for the chink groove. The repair process is to remove ¾” of material off the face of the log and replace it with a siding product that is identical in look and ¾” in thickness. Now back for a moment to the defect. There is no rot involved in this repair, just separating growth rings right on the face (see Photo I).  Removing the surface and eliminating the exposure of this defected area is all that is required to resolve this potentially negative circumstance. Photo II shows a check that extends from the defected area and what you cannot see is some additional checking (cracking) in the second log.

Photo III shows the removal process underway. The face is being removed using a 3 horsepower router with a straight 1½” bit.  Since the face of the log is flat, setting the limit guide blocks and carrying out the routing is a reasonably simple matter. If the face was round, the jigging to get started and to carry out the removal would be a bit more complicated. Photo’s IV and V show that the initial phase of the removal is complete. The final photo (Photo VI) shows the installation of the siding to the right and the balance on the left waiting to receive the siding. A benefit to this repair is that we were able to cover the end butt joint of the logs. This means that the original base course logs, where the checking and defects existed, are now permanently protected. The original stain was then applied to match and protect the siding. The job was started and completed within a matter of a few hours, and was done mostly by one person (although two men were on the job.)

If you look closely at the initial photos, you can see some premature failure of the finish applied less than two years earlier. The finish was actually flaking off in numerous places. This should never be the case with a quality stain. This product was produced by a prominent finish manufacturer who, I learned from this experience, has removed this product from their product line. It was obvious that this material sealed the wood too much and what happened was likely bound to happen in time. As for a finish recommendation, including the additive NBS30 to the top coat of the finish, you can refer to some past BLOGS: 9/7/2007, 9/14/2007, 9/21/2007, 9/28/2007.

Again, I trust this weeks BLOG has been educational. If it raises any questions or comments, just fire away and you will get a response!  Thanks for joining me!

Don

Week Ending 12/7/07

Yes, I took a little break from creating this weekly, or “whenever the spirit moves”, news and educational note. I do hope there is value in you returning to this site and increasing your knowledge and your chances for a great log home experience.

As promised, I believe in our last note I said I would show you photos of the repair on a corner log on a customers home that, in my opinion, did not go bad but managed to get through our grading process undetected. We therefore sent our most talented technical man, Doug Beck, to make the repair. Doug, by the way, has been with Fireside for almost 20 years and is the man that supplies technical assistance on all of our start-up’s and all along the way with folks that need help. He is one of our greatest assets.

I will show you the repair by the numbers. First of all, when the customer sent the photos, the log was intact. But, before Doug arrived, the bottom quarter of the log fell off because of the depth of the check and the saddlenotch cut. Photo I shows the condition of the log before the repair started. Photo II also shows the end grain of the log which told me initially that there was a deterioration problem with this log. Photo III shows the bad log removed and the remainder piece with the sawsall cut that will next be chiseled out at least one inch beyond the point of intersection with the passing log above it. Photo IV is again another shot of the log removed with the balance that will be hand chiseled out. Photo V shows the replacement piece inserted back into its spot. Doug had this piece with him already prepared to go back in its slot. Photo VI shows the exterior caulking applied before the customer applies the finish.

One comment I will make, there are two adjacent logs that need maintenance attention and I will make the homeowner aware of these, but you can see from the photos that two logs have significant checks on the upper side of their rounded faces. A product I would recommend for this maintenance is “Checkmate”, manufactured by Perma-Chink Systems, Inc. with offices and distribution in Knoxville, Tennessee. You basically fill these checks with the Checkmate, not a caulk, that will keep the water out and allow the movement of the log while stretching and contracting with its movement. Checking is a defect that develops when the logs lose moisture and cells collapse causing stress to develop within the timber that is relieved with the checking. We had hoped that our Process 2000 would eliminate checking and it helps reduce it, but it does not eliminate it.

A commentary on this repair job, Doug drove over 400 miles in one day, made the repair, and was back home before 5:00 pm. Two things:  1) Doug got up early and hit the road, and 2) Doug is very skilled and was well prepared when he arrived at the job. The point is, yes, on rare occasions logs can develop defects that need to be dealt with, but the repairs can be made without great difficulty. I will retract this last statement if bad product or bad construction practices are the root of the problem and I have observed both. As a general rule, in this day and time, I do not believe that would be the case, and if a problem does develop, call an expert who is believable in his assessment and have him estimate the cost of the repair. If you think the cost is too great, call another expert and a third expert if you feel like it is necessary. And if you still feel less than comfortable, call me and I will do all I can to help. By the way, we made this repair at Fireside’s expense because it was a defect that we should have caught in our grading.

Now, not to wear this repair thing out, but to further demonstrate the possibilities, we will make another repair on a customers home that I am choosing to do because of circumstances, but also to relieve fears of those of you who are teetering on a decision of whether to build with logs or not. All I can say is the benefits to log home living are so significant that the rare chance of having to make a repair is such a minimal thing that the decision should not even be a horse race. See how my prejudice just rises to the surface!

And finally, I have to report our activity from last weekend. We had a “log raising” on a Fireside log home near Robbinsville, North Carolina. It was a beautiful day and just perfect for doing this. And, we had people there who were from even 600 to 700 miles away to learn about this construction process. But the highlight for me resulted in more pictures and they are attached. We have done hundreds of log raisings over the years, but never have we had a three year old boy participate and participate with great enthusiasm!  The pictures are of Joey Muehlhausen, the son of Glenn and Lisa, and the grandson of Joe and Karen Russo. The pictures say it all!  If I fast forward my imagination, I can see Joey and his family building their own or even directing his construction company that specializes in log and timber frame construction throughout the US!  Nonetheless, Joey made my day!  And if you are reading this note and you were there, thank you for coming and I trust it was beneficial. And in closing, Jerrell, if you are out there in cyberspace, we appreciate the help on Saturday and I trust all of your body parts are still working well!

Have a good one!

Don

Week Ending 11/16/07

Last week I promised that with permission I would publish a letter written by Don Brown who is a friend, supplier and customer (having since sold his business), but writing the attached letter after being inspired by his own desire to know about the flame and fire retardant properties of Fireside’s treating process, which contains the maximum amount of borate (an insecticide) that can be held in solution. Don’s test was most enlightening and encouraging to me, and he approved the use of his letter in this week’s B “LOG” (BLOG). Click here to download a PDF of his letter.

If you recall last week, I talked about the general resistance of logs to catch fire and burn in a log home. Fireside’s treating process tends to enhance this characteristic. Now I’m certainly not saying that our logs won’t burn. What I am saying is that Fireside’s logs are more resistant to catching fire and flames spreading than materials that are not similarly treated. It should also be noted that our pressure treating process pushes the borate all the way to the center of our logs.

In a closing note, a rare thing happened this week. I received a picture of a defective log from a Fireside customer. The customer was concerned about some checking that had occurred on a corner log. Observing the picture, it was obvious to me that there had been some deterioration of the tree, probably before it was cut, and the defect did not show up until the log was exposed to the weather. Since a lot of folks have questions about how you repair a log that develops a defect, I will run pictures of the log before, during and after the repair process is completed (which will be within a couple of weeks). So if this interests you, stay tuned!

And finally, we received a question through our web site about the use of antifreeze in treating Fireside’s logs. We do not use antifreeze and never will!!! If anyone doubts the environmental and human friendly nature of PEG (Polyethylene Glycol), please know that it is used in over 1,000 consumer products including foods, cosmetics, medicines and medicinal products. If it were otherwise, Fireside would not even consider its use! The ingredient in antifreeze is Ethylene Glycol, not Polyethylene Glycol.

Thanks for tuning in this week!

Don

Week Ending 11/9/07

Current events tend to dominate our thoughts and so it is with the discussion today. We are preparing at this moment to help a courageous lady and her handicapped daughter rebuild their log home that was lost, totally consumed by fire, on October 15th.  The fire was started and fed by a small propane tank that was on her back porch. The tank provided the fuel for a gas grill that I understand she used that evening. I am told the explosion was heard and felt for miles. For this Mother and her disabled daughter to have gotten out of the home is a miracle, so Fireside is excited about being the lead dog in a community effort to create a log home that will be far superior to what was lost, and we want to create a most positive miracle for the two of them.

Their situation prompts the discussion of fire, but the focus here is on the fire safety of log homes, which is contrary to what most people might think. Yes, we have had one or two customers who have lost their log homes by fire, but each will tell you that had it not been a log home, their loss would have been much greater. In fact, last year we did fire damage repairs on one of our log homes that we constructed in 1992, and this customer states, point blank, that had their home been a conventional home and not logs, the home would have been a total loss. This customer took hundreds of pictures to underscore his point and passed a copy on to me. By the way, the fire was started, they believe, in a chimney chase that was added after the original home was built and was caused by an electrical short after mice had eaten through the insulated wire.  So beware of mice!

At our last Workshop, this subject came up and a beautiful thing unfolded. We had a career fireman and his family attending, who currently live in a log home, and he graciously spoke up and gave his educated view of things. He stated that it is the contents that burn and fuel the fire, not the logs and timbers themselves. This family is looking to build another log home to basically upgrade from a home they built themselves years ago.

You are probably not concerned about fire or you would not be on our web site and reading these words of, I hope, encouragement. But, the truth is, you are safer in a solid timber frame home than in almost any other type of construction basically because of the nature of the wood itself. As the wood is heated by an interior fire, it is charred and the charring tends to insulate the wood, allowing it to maintain its strength for a longer period of time, giving you more time to get out of the home and possibly get the things out you treasure most.

The fact that Fireside adds the maximum amount of borate as an insecticide to our treating solution tends to add to this natural benefit of the wood. Borate is commonly used as a flame retardant so we create a double benefit when we use it as we do.

There are many stories that I have heard and/or witnessed that help build my personal enthusiasm for this additional benefit of log home living. In fact one of these is a backyard experiment that one of our business friends did with some of Fireside’s treated wood. I asked him to write a letter to me explaining what he did and I think we will carry this discussion forward to next week and publish his letter in full with his permission.

Thank you for joining us this week, and we trust we can help you, and will help you, in any and every way possible along your journey.

Don

Week Ending 11/2/07

Let’s discuss one of the critical problems of the day for a large segment of the folks considering the purchase of their log home. I choose to discuss this in hopes of heading off a delay or a flat out disappointment in your experience, and this all has to do with appraisals. If you are seeking to finance a large portion of the cost of your project and you are using your improved property for security, you will need a reasonable appraisal to make it all work.

With all the present turmoil in the real estate and lending business, construction lenders, as well as mortgage lenders, are taking a more conservative approach in valuing their security. The appraisers are taking the brunt of the blame for this, but it is the lenders themselves and their restrictive policies that are creating this situation. So, if you will soon be at this point, you need to know how you can have the best affect on a positive outcome.

Number one:  be positively expectant yourself.  It is going to be a challenge so enter in the fray prepared to do whatever it takes to win. Tell your construction mortgage lender that you only want an appraiser who is experienced with log homes and who has had recent experiences in the last year. Tell your loan officer that you would like to interview the prospective appraiser to get a feel for their attitude and their most recent experiences with log homes. Unless you can finance the project out of pocket, insist on this interview. Here is a list of questions you might ask to make your determination:

After this last question, be quiet and listen, and let the responses be your guide. You are paying the bill, so you have every right to have a thumbs up or thumbs down on the choice of the appraiser. If you still have not gotten satisfaction, there are national lenders who are specializing in log and timber frame homes and who have relationships with appraisers in every state. Draw on them or their resources in solving your need.

Are you still short of your goal?  Please call me, without being embarrassed, because every project and every locale is different, and remember, we started this process with a firm commitment to win. Fireside stands ready to help you make it successfully through this step, but we can only contribute if there is communication.

Good for you for making it this far!  Let us celebrate your move-in date with you!

Thank you for tuning in this week.

Don

Week Ending 10/26/07

This will be brief and maybe a bit surprising. The most basic of the basics is the wood itself or the specie that is used to create the log home. There are a great variety of woods used in this country and around the world. The woods that have proven not to work well for whatever the reason have lost favor and are not used in what we call the “log home” industry. So, the most common species, as long as good design and good construction practices are followed (that take into consideration the characteristics of that specie), you can count on being able to create a good, basically trouble free, log home.

All the companies in this industry are trying with all their might to satisfy their customers and create a pleasant, long term experience. Unfortunately, through lack of understanding or lack of caring, this has not always been the case, but that is history and this industry is moving on to become a substantial part of the total offering of the housing industry in North America.

The specie that a particular manufacturer works with is one that is available in their locale and that exhibits the best characteristics of stability, lowest coefficient of shrinkage, and the greatest resistance to insect attack. Basically all woods look great in their natural raw form and all give off a little different aroma. Most aromas are pleasant and not pungent, but all tend to fade into the background over time.

The positive benefits of log homes are created by all the most common species used. Some are high density and some are low density, and this affects the insulating qualities, but all solid logs have mass and the ability to store energy. And all are comprised of a similar cellular structure that combines the qualities that make a log home work, and enables them to be one of the most energy efficient structures that you can build. And, we all know from observing the survivability of log homes through major natural disaster that you cannot invest in anything that will protect you any better unless we resort to a caveman life style and then there is radon gas to be concerned about.

The bottom line is that we are all prejudiced about the way we do things and believe that the wood we work and the processes we put our wood through, and the milling and profiles that we use, are all the best. It is true for Fireside, but in all honesty you can get a good log home with almost any specie, but do be concerned about regional differences. We believe that our product will work well in most climates because of Process 2000. Without it, I would not want to send it to the arid states in the West as we have just shipped our first log home to Utah. I might add, if you want to save a lot of time, you might contact Donna Yaun, a customer in the design phase with Fireside right now, who did extensive research, very methodically, and guess who arrived on top!  Donna, Fireside thanks you for your diligence and your confidence!

Thank you for tuning in this week.

Don

Week Ending 10/19/07

As I mentioned, last week’s B “LOG” was really the outline for a discussion at the Asheville log home show. There were only a handful of attendees, but one was a gentleman from middle Tennessee who indicated that he had been reading this weekly creation. He seemed grateful and interested, so I am greatly encouraged to stay with this. Actually this is all stimulating me to reflect on my years of learning in this business and relate my experiences in such a way that your journey will be improved beyond what it might have been.

One of the items I mentioned at the Asheville show, and I know it caught folks off guard, is my strong recommendation of “do not attach an open deck to a log wall without a porch or extended roof over it”.  Why do I say that, because the splashing to the log wall from a driving rain over and over will cause the finish to break down and break down rapidly. A place that you might be able to observe this is on the side walls of roof dormers. In this situation you can observe that the finish is bright and pretty up under the roof overhang, but at the sloped roof line, it is often faded and the wood is not in good shape. What this means is that you have to pay special attention to these areas by cleaning them and restaining every one to two years. With this attention, you will stay ahead of the game, but if you desire a more relaxed maintenance schedule, extend a roof over this area, at least partially, or build the open deck off a porch deck where splash-back impacts only the post and handrail system. In the log home my wife and I occupy at the moment, we do have an open deck attached to a log wall that is interspersed with clad windows and doors. There are also two planters sitting in front of these walls to offer protection from the problem, but in our new log home, this situation does not exist because all decks have a porch roof over them, and also, there are no dormers on either log home.

Since I’ve called attention to the dormer situation, I want to address it with possible solutions. On a gable or “dog house” dormer you have both the water pouring off its roof and the water being blown onto the sloped roof, so you have a double whammy so-to-speak. I recommend that you hold the wood several inches off the roof, up to 12” would be good, and also, this area could be filled with a metal flashing with a baked on finish with a color that is complimentary to both the stain color and the roofing material. This will help minimize maintenance and eliminate potential problems in an area that is not easily reached. Next time you are looking at log homes, or even conventional homes, with dormers, see what you observe and see if anything was done to protect this area.

This discussion is not meant to discourage building decks or creating dormers, but to help you head off problems before they develop. We want your experience to be the best it can be long term, and some thoughtful planning can help achieve that.

Thank you for spending time with us and we hope to be a part of your creation.

Don

Week Ending 10/12/07

This weekend there will be yet another log home show, this time in Asheville, North Carolina. Fireside Log Homes is participating and I have committed to doing a presentation at the show entitled, “Assuring the Best Log Home Experience.”  If you will allow me, I am going to practice with you right now!

You might find it strange to start with property, but I contend that you need to have your property and the site pretty well determined, or be so determined about how you want your log home to be on a site that you don’t quit searching until you find it. After that, you start investing time in the perfect design, because it’s my thinking that your log home should harmonize so well with the land that it will appear that it grew right out of the soil, as all other vegetation!

Regarding your plan, do not think that this is a fast process, especially if it is to be the last home you ever build.  It can be perfect, but perfection, like most things in nature, takes time to achieve and you need to think about all the conveniences and that includes the use of space, and a multitude of other things.  If you are like most people, while you are trying to speed things up, you will get a lot of blanks, but when you relax, it will come to you and you need to allow enough time to get perfection!  I have come up with a sentence that sums up what I recommend which is to start early, well before you expect construction to begin and a year or more is best. Here is the thought: “start early; allow time; finish confidently” and you will be in harmony with it all!

The next big item is to find a company that you believe satisfies your greatest concerns. The company needs to be the best in design, products offered, and questions answered, and be able to construct the home in a manner you are comfortable with.  And if they don’t construct, do they associate with companies that can make you comfortable as this is the most intense element of the process and where the rubber truly hits the road!

Without being too elementary, I will review the most critical questions below.

This list is short and not exhaustive, but if you ask these basic questions and you have a good feeling in your gut about the responses, you are in all probability in for a great experience in what can be a very stretching experience.  In other words, you need to feel so confident and so comfortable that you can hardly wait another day to get this ball rolling!

Thank you again for tuning in this week.  I trust it was beneficial in some way to you and your success.

Don

Week Ending 10/05/07

If you have followed this writing since it’s inception about four weeks ago, you know I have been hung up on “finishes”. I’ve given the pros and cons, and made some recommendations, on both the exterior and interior finishes of your log home, but particularly I’ve discussed whether to finish the interior wood or not. As a follow up to that, you can download an excellent article from our log home library on this subject entiltled Wood, People and Health. This article contains valuable information that gets well beyond just the romance or coziness of a log home as the primary consideration in creating your own. We are happy to provide you with this very interesting information. Even if you own a log home now and have not read this educational piece, I urge you to do so.

You must have both a love for wood and log homes, especially, or you would not be reading these lines and trying to understand the author!  I think that you can sense the love for both that resides in me, and this love extends to trees and wood in all of its forms. Maybe this whole love affair was capped this very week because I, in the process of building a new log home, cut a heart out of a piece of walnut that had almost the outline of a heart in the grain and this piece was inlaid into a piece of 1 x 12 walnut flooring with the heart going perpendicular to the grain of the board. It captures the love and the beauty in this one little spot. Years ago a person that I loved very much and understood this affair I have with wood gave me a little book entitled A Reverence for Wood.  This title captures my feeling precisely and inspired me onward.

At our Workshop this past weekend, we had two attendees that stimulated my thinking about the nature of wood, its strength and character, and what some possible uses might be of some of the wood that gets into our scrap barrel.  The defect cutting that we do and the defects that naturally occur in timbers and beams mean that we generate an ample supply of material that we greatly desire to better utilize. We have small chunks to long timbers that all have defects that have to be cut around to recover the good. One of our attendees mentioned some flooring that he had seen at a wood science laboratory on the Georgia Tech campus. It just so happens that I had been there about three weeks ago myself and was so excited that I did not look down at the floor!  Anyway, what he related was blocks with the end grain exposed and he remarked that it was just beautiful.  Now I know this was a decorative application, but years ago in the textile mills and other heavy wear operations, this type of flooring was used because you could hardly wear it out with all of the winter wood (hard, denser grain) exposed. Quarter sawn flooring is the only wood that would approach it as a “wear” surface, but for residential purposes, both of these would be well beyond what would be practical.  However, for decorative use, it might be very practical in a foyer or kitchen.

The other gentleman in the discussion about the strength likened the structure of wood to a honeycomb and this nails it precisely. It is the honeycomb effect plus other things that give wood its strength, its insulating qualities and even its reasonable stability. One product or really an industry that will help you appreciate this strength is the corrugated board and carton industry. This is a use of wood fiber reconstituted into corrugations, or a form of the honeycomb effect, to create light weight and high strength. And, in conclusion, you have it in its most original form in your log home. You have the strength, the insulating qualities and, if properly protected on the exterior (roof and finish), the durability that will last for centuries. I congratulate you once again for your consideration and your investment in one of the most rewarding housing options you could choose.

If so stimulated, I encourage your feedback or comments. You can send them to me via our blog feedback form. I would love to hear your thoughts!

Don

Week Ending 9/28/07

It seems that I just cannot get away from the “finishing” issue. Much of that has to do with the visit of Sjoerd Bos and Suzanne White with the Sansin Corporation, but also with my interaction with customers at this past weekend’s log home show in Atlanta.

First, the time with the Sansin folks was very stimulating and got deeply into the technical and scientific side of the manufacturing of quality finishes. Sansin started with the concept and formula for an environmentally friendly finish to protect wood exposed to the elements. The formula, which is still somewhat secret, involves the use of water to carry the protective ingredients on to and in to the wood. Since this beginning, the knowledge and discoveries have continued to evolve and the original concept has expanded into a new world.

I mentioned in my last writing that the small particle size of the pigments is one of the primary contributors to ultraviolet protection, which rivals moisture shedding qualities in protecting the wood.  Well I learned last week that this development has gotten so good and so fine for iron oxide (rust) that it can be as much as 10% by volume in a clear finish without you being able to detect any color at all. This means that if a customer does desire a clear finish on his home on the exterior, there is a greater possibility of getting a reasonable extended life for the finish (protection), still not as good as a visible pigmented stain, but much improved from the past. Sansin produces a line of what they term Nano stains which are all the finest ground pigments available and this should equal the longest life possible.

My report from the log home show in Atlanta this past weekend is that there are many, many people with conventional homes interested in log homes who are having problems with carpenter bees in their present homes. If that includes you, I highly recommend that you invest in several cans of NBS30.  It is only $30 per can and each can be added to five gallons of paint or stain and the next time you put a finish on your home, make sure that additive is in there. Fireside stocks this product and wants you to experience this protection. If you already have an infestation, the latest remedy I have is squirting a little WD40 into the holes and stuffing a ball of tin foil in afterwards!

Good luck and thank you for tuning in!

Don

Week Ending 9/21/07

If you have just discovered this weekly note, I welcome you to this corner of our web site, and I trust you will come back often as I will strive to pen something worth clicking on every week!  The first week was an introduction followed by a two week discussion about the pros and cons of applying an interior finish on the wood portion of your log home. My recommendations are totally my own opinions that have evolved over twenty three (23) years of observation, study and feedback from customers.  These B “LOG’s” (BLOG’s) are short so if you have an interest, you can quickly digest the first ones.  And since I am being paid a visit by a friend this week who just happens to be a finish manufacturer, I would like to continue on with the consideration of exterior finishes. I will provide him with a copy of this note to see if there is accord in our thinking and beliefs.

Since the mid-80’s, there have been great strides made in the quality of exterior finishes. The longevity of quality finishes is also improving and, I believe, will continue to do so, as competition to have the most effective product is great and this will push product development. One of the most often heard remarks from our customers who first see their home rise before their eyes is, “I want the home to stay just like this. What can we apply to the logs and maintain this forever?”  The answer is, “there is nothing you can apply that will maintain that fresh look of new wood.”  The moment it is exposed to sunlight, changes in coloration begin to take place. It is no different than you or me sun burning or tanning with our exposure to this ultraviolet light. And, as true with sunscreen, the wood and wood fiber can be protected from the harmful effects if you apply a finish that has significant ultraviolet inhibitors, but, almost as important, are the pigments. For years it was the pigments that gave the bulk of the protection from the ultraviolet rays, but now the advances in the development of finishes in general, and ultraviolet inhibitors specifically, has changed the nature of stains to some degree, even to the extent that some manufacturers produce clear finishes for exterior use that will hold up for a reasonable length of time. However, the manufacturer will be quick to tell you that the clear finishes will not have near the life or protection as the pigmented stains, especially those with the really finely ground pigments.

Fireside’s recommendation is and has been to invest in the best stain you can buy and I think it’s almost a “crime” to put anything other than a semi-transparent stain on a log home.  The beauty of the wood is in its character and grain, so let it shine through, and enhance it some, with a beautiful stain.

What should you expect to pay for a quality stain?  Nowadays, a really good stain will cost between $40 and $60 a gallon even in a five gallon pail.  If you are looking at a product that costs much less, you are applying a product that will likely not protect your investment as well and certainly not as long.  Since the labor of applying is about 2/3’s or more of the cost, longevity should interest you. Let me say that there are many, many finish manufacturers and I am not familiar even with a fraction of them so there are likely some sleepers out there that might just be a great investment. Satisfy yourself with your own research before you invest.

Now, whatever stain you use, we highly recommend that you put an insecticide additive in the top coat to drive the critters away, with the primary one being carpenter bees. The product Fireside recommends is NBS 30 and it is an all natural citronella based plant oil additive. We believe in this product.

Without sounding like a paid advertisement, I will now tell you that the friend referenced in the first paragraph is with Sansin Corporation, a Canadian company that is technically advanced with their products and they are coming to take pictures of a new application of their SDF product on a new log home/model log home that is a splendid example, in our minds, of the quality of their products.

Thank you once again for tuning in to this column and I would like to hear from you, either pros or cons, on the thoughts expressed.

Happy log home living to you all, and if you’re in the Atlanta area this weekend (Friday, Saturday and Sunday), Fireside will be represented at The Log & Timber Frame Home Show at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Marietta, Georgia (just 10 minutes North of downtown Atlanta @ I-75 / I-285).

Don

Week Ending 9/14/07

With the exception of my last, but exciting, paragraph here, this week’s note basically confirms my thoughts expressed in last week’s discussion on interior finishes, as I just received a monthly newsletter from one of our suppliers who is a finish manufacturer and a very good one. They have specialized in serving the log home industry for a number of years and have created numerous products that serve this industry very well. This is all to say that I truly respect them and what they have to say about “why finish interior walls?”

First, they mention that most people want an interior finish because they cover plaster and sheet rock walls and they expect their wood walls to be finished as well. To this I respond with, “yes there is no better way to bring out the grain and natural color, but a log home is different and there is lots of wood and lots of benefit for leaving it unfinished” (see last weeks BLOG). Second, this manufacturer says that bare wood is an absorber of odors, and this is true.  Bare wood does absorb odors, but what happens after that is truly amazing. The wood absorbs it and basically refreshes the air. I don’t know how; I just know it does. This comes from personal experience and from the experience of our customers, such as Mr. Burton who built his second log home with Fireside after selling his first one at a substantial profit. He said, “I have my buddy’s over for poker playing every week and we all smoke and by 9:30 pm, there is a low hanging smoke cloud in the great room, but within an hour of the time we break up, the smoke is gone and the odor is too.”  So again, I cannot tell you why; I just know it works.

This company also mentions water base finishes, which I totally agree with, if you choose to apply a finish. And they go on to talk about a finish enabling the homeowner to keep the wood clean, and I’m not opposed to having a finish applied on high impact surfaces which are very few, relatively speaking, such as doors, windows, trim and steps, but I would encourage you to consider this, “is it really difficult to keep the wood clean” and “do the benefits of keeping it clean outweigh the benefits of a healthy environment?”

And now for some excitement!  Last Friday was a most entertaining day for me that I will relish for some time. Due to some research we are undertaking to see if there is any way we can improve on our unique treating process, Process 2000, I journeyed to Atlanta to the campus of Georgia Tech and visited the Advanced Wood Products Laboratory and the Institute of Paper Science and Technology!  Wow!  This really gets my clock running and I know the time was valuable for many reasons, however to keep it within the context of a log home web site, all of this proves what an amazing resource wood fiber is and that with all of our advances, man has not created a fiber that equals wood fiber in strength (by weight) and several other characteristics.  And I trust you have built or are considering building your home using this wonderful resource.  Congratulations!

Don

Week Ending 9/7/07

Before jumping into a discussion about interior finishes, allow me to reflect on the event of this past Saturday. Yes, we had a Log Raising near Hayesville, North Carolina and for all of the attendees, at least the ones who were hands-on, involved in the construction, it was a wonderful, satisfying happening that accomplished its goal. The goal was to complete the stacking of fifteen courses of logs, and to help all who had an interest, to understand our wall construction system and to appreciate how precise our logs are cut at the mill. Please see the attached photo and know that the satisfied smiles tell most of the story, but not all. The customer had nineteen friends helping and Fireside’s prospects were numerous, including two dealers and one young man who will be having his own Log Raising near Rosman, North Carolina in October. Thanks to all who contributed!

Now for a discussion of interior finishes and the pros and cons of applying a finish to interior log walls and to the variety of wood products used to finish most log homes. This could be a long wandering discussion, but due to the moment's time constraints, I will keep it brief and rely on my assimilated experiences. Contrary to what I first believed when I first entered this business, and love affair, I no longer believe that a finish should be applied to the interior of a wood in a log home, excepting possibly doors, windows and the surrounding trim. By this statement, you can surely determine that Fireside is not a finish manufacturer. But my belief is that the log walls and all of the other wood products remain the healthiest that they can be without a finish and, likewise, they contribute more to a healthy environment if they are not sealed in any way. There are many reasons for this, but the short of it is that the unsealed wood allows for the free flow of everything, i.e., moisture, air, sound, energy of all sorts, and more, beyond my understanding. So, do not impede all of this movement unless you just have to have some color on the wall, or wherever.

If you do need color, then I would encourage you to choose a water base product that would allow this transporter of the pigments to evaporate harmlessly. There are now some more technically advanced water based products that should accomplish this without negatively affecting the interior environment. I would encourage your personal research if a finish is what you want to do.

There are some who believe that you need to put a protective coat on wood around a high moisture area such as a sink, tub, shower, etc., but from years of really testing this to see if it is necessary, it is concluded that it is not. You cannot be crazy and let the wood sit in water or soak it up continually, but to get splashed regularly and be exposed to steam regularly presents no problem to the wood and does not negatively affect the appearance. Now if you had an unfinished wood vanity top that got a regular dose of toothpaste, mouth wash and all the other toiletries that we use, this would not be good, but just water itself would present no problem.

If you have not read an article written by a German wood scientist over a century ago, contact us and we will email it to you. The interesting thing about this wonderful piece, at least I have been told, is that at about the same time the German scientist created the results of his study, a wood scientist in China was writing a paper that was almost identical to the German paper. So many, many years ago both were encouraging us to “go green” for many wonderful reasons.

We invite discussion and feedback on each week’s topic, so if you have had an experience that conflicts with my thoughts, I would like to know about the situation. Your can send your thoughts and comments by clicking here.   Thank you for investing your time here.

Don

Week Ending 8/31/07

Thank you for taking the time to read this short message, which is the beginning of a new feature for our web site. This B “LOG” (BLOG) will be a weekly communication that I trust will be of value and interest to those of you who commonly visit our web site. It will prompt me to dig deeper into newsworthy subject matter to give you the latest of whatever I am reporting on, but bear in mind that it will be a blended commentary that will most assuredly be colored with my thoughts and opinions that have developed from over 24 years of active interest and involvement in the log home industry. In addition to the latest news in the industry, there will be more than a few thoughts expressed about current events at Fireside, and I will do that now.

Our monthly workshop this past Saturday produced its share of excitement and furthering of many relationships. All were of interest but one in particular is a lady with the first name of Faith, “a real lady”, who journeyed with her Mother to Fireside in Ellijay, Georgia from Arizona. Until she discovered Fireside, Faith was giving up on her desire to build a log home, but once she learned about what our treatment process accomplishes, her hope revived, and we are now focused on helping her design and construct her log home at an 8,000 foot elevation near Tucson. Thank you Faith for the “faith” expressed!

Tuesday of this week included about 19 hours of activity stuffed, actually overflowing, with log homes. One of the highlights was spending the afternoon with Brad Powell of The Powell Group with whom we have a Dealer/Builder relationship in Morganton, North Carolina.  This is a relationship that we are most delighted to have, as Brad’s focus is on quality and going all out to please his customers. Thank you Brad for “teaming” with Fireside in the creation of so many beautiful log homes, and our highest compliments are paid to you on your model, The Ridgeline, in your new community “The Pisgah Preserve” overlooking Lake James between Morganton and Marion, North Carolina. Congratulations are certainly due you!

Now, if a “hands on” log home learning experience has some appeal to you, we will be stacking courses this Saturday, September 1st, near Hayesville, North Carolina for the Brad Ensell “Log Raising”.  The Ensell’s have contributed to four “log raising” events themselves and have thereby earned some payback from the Fireside family, which we intend to clearly express on Saturday.  From our pre-registration, we should have a whopper of a crowd, but not so many that we cannot accommodate you and your family, so please join us as a participant (have your work gloves handy) or an observer, and bring your lawn chairs and sunscreen, as we will stack some logs and you can set your sails for your own log raising adventure!

And this winds up the first Fireside B “LOG” (BLOG), but we will be back next week with a discussion on interior finishes, and their pro’s and con’s.  Join us then, and thank you for tuning in to this note.

Don Mahaffey
President/Owner
Fireside Log Homes &
Fireside Home Builders

Don would love to hear any comments or questions you may have.