The ideal application weather? 60-70 degrees, enough cloud cover so there is no direct sun, wall log temperature around 70-80 degrees, low humidity and a dew point not within 5 degrees of the current temperature. Excuse me? What was that again?

We all know the ideal situation happens when we are not ready. so what do we do for the rest of the year? Pay attention to the relationship of the dew point to the current air temp and you ...

There have been alot of questions and inquiries into which method of cleaning logs is the best method. Well, there are situations where one method is better than another and then there is the answer to the question "what finish do you want to end up with". I have compiled a list of the pros and cons of each popular method. You may choose one or a combination of the three. In the sanding/buffing column I am including the use of sandpa ...

Sometimes we all need a reminder why we have to put on a "good face" when we are trying to attract attention to our home sale. These photos have nothing to do with log homes, but everything to do with paying attention to what our customer needs.

This is definitely one of those "Don't take my word for it" articles. 155 pages of information on every major species of softwood in North America produced by the Forest Products Laboratory in Madison, WI. The question we are answering here is:

The log home manufacturer claims I don't need to seal (caulk or chink) my logs because they have some of the tightest milling standards in the industry.

T ...

Okay, here we go with the third installment on varnish. These three articles provide a good education on the basics of using varnish to coat your log home. My thanks to Paul Oman at Progressive Epoxy Polymers for including this in his most recent newsletter.

Nice article from Paul Oman at Progressive Epoxy Polymers on the the chemistry. I have printed the entire artilce as navigating to it may be cumbersome.

My thanks to Paul Oman at Progressive Epoxy Polymers for including this in his recent newsletter. Progressive Epoxy Polymers is one of our epoxy resources. This is the first of three posts I have on varnishes. For the uninitiated (probably just me) his site can be cumbersome to navigate. If you have trouble, contact me. And... if you buy something from him, let him know we are out there!

Are you in to feng shui? Log homes do have a certain positive energy that brings harmony to our lives. Well, here is a nice article on feng shui and design concepts from Stephanie Gauthier of Wisconsin Log Homes. An easy read to start the juices flowing and possibly point you in a direction to finding your balance.

Here is a another one from Sid Kirchheimer.

On December 31, Uncle Sam eliminated the federal energy tax credits-which provided a 30 percent tax credit, up to $1,500- for improvements on insulation, windows and more. (They continue through 2016 for major projects such as solar, wind, and geothermal systems.) But there's still money at the state level. "Almost every state has some kind of rebate or incentive program to help you make ...

This technology is based on infrared imaging science.  Infrared wavelengths exist all around us but are not seen by the naked eye.  The infrared wavelength is based on temperature or the radiation emitting from all objects.& ...

Are you looking to increase the value of your home while staying within your budget? Full remodels, even for one room, can cost many thousands of dollars, and while the cost may be worth it if you’re planning on staying put, most remodeling projects increase your home’s value by at most 80 or 90 cents for every dollar you invest. Thus, if you’re looking to sell your home right away, or if you’re buying and selling a hom ...

Effective water management involves understanding the
roles of siding, trim, fenestration units, flashing, and (where
appropriate) caulk seals and how these entities interface
with each other. Where caulk seals are used, their geometry
and dimensions are important to joint performance, as is the
care with which they are executed. In selection of caulking
material, consideration should be given to compa ...

High-mass building materials can offer significant energy benefits in exterior walls. The benefit may be primarily in the shifting of peak load conditions or in an actual reduction in overall heat gain or loss. These benefits are highly dependent upon where the building is located, how it is designed, and how it is operated.

This new code edition will require home builders to more tightly seal new homes and their heating and cooling ducts, install highly energy-efficient windows, greatly increase the insulation installed in the building envelope and perform expensive tests to verify compliance.