Now that the log walls are stacked out, it’s time to start on the roof system.  While setting the walls takes some skill, it is quickly learned, and repeated over, and over, and over again.  This cabin stacked out pretty quickly. With the roof system being set, comes an order of magnitude in complication.  In [...] Read More

This might be of interest to some of our log home and timber frame home friends. Good news/bad news, depending on which side of the tree you are on. This will have an impact on the whole housing industry though, not just the full timber homes. From The Idaho Business Review by Brad Carlson Published: [...] Read More

Some more valuable information about radiant heating. We often get questions about radiant heating, the advantages, the costs, the disadvantages. Warmboard is answering some of those questions in this newsletter. You can read the full newsletter here. Some highlights that I know our readers will find helpful are comments from the builder Bret Gripenstraw on [...] Read More

Radiant heat is great. It feels good, and paired with an efficient boiler it can be a very clean heat.   I was taken back when I got a newsletter from Warmboard this summer that talked about the Romans using radiant heat 2000 years ago, I had never thought of it in that context. I would take it a step [...] Read More

From our friends at Green Remodeling… I hope you’ll consider joining us for the next seminar… Regular home maintenance is just a part of what it means to be a homeowner. But what if you could protect natural resources and save money- all while maintaining your home in tip top condition? You can and you’ll [...] Read More

Last posting we saw the foundation going in, and the first course being stacked up.  Honka offers many different profile sizes and shapes, and utilizes an interlocking corner.  What’s unique about their profile system is the interlocking ball at the corner.  This maximizes the surface area on contact at the corners.  I recommend investigating any [...] Read More

A message below from Andrea Bogle of Green Remodeling followed by the scoop from Steve Howe of Renewable Energy Solutions. We heard a lot of good feedback about these seminars last year. I hope you can attend. Hello, Everyone, I’d like to invite you to a seminar series co-sponsored by Green Remodeling, and partially taught [...] Read More

The start of the log package’s journey to Colorado… These logs, grown in Finland, milled in Finland, and shipped to Colorado, have an interesting life story.  The Northern Pine that grows in Finland is denser than our version, because of the shorter growing season, and harsher climate, it creates a very strong log. The foundation [...] Read More

A week ago we were introduced to Velux solar hot water heaters by Tad Duby of On Point Advantage. You may have heard Velux’s name as they are the industry leader (in my opinion) in skylights, and have been for 50 years. Their flashing methods are of superior design and preferred by installers and end [...] Read More

Last year we had the opportunity to work with a wonderful client in Larimer county, north central Colorado, to build a small cabin retreat for the North Colorado rolling hills.  Our client chose to utilize Honka logs from Atrium Log Homes located in Evergreen, Colorado.  What I’d like to do in my next few posts, [...] Read More

RUBBiSH- Recycled rubber sinks Santa Monica, California.–based architecture firm Minarc, has developed a unique and timely solution to the waste-tire dilemma that our car culture has created.  No matter how small the impact, it’s always refreshing to see problems being solved in beautiful ways like this. Minarc has just won an award from Architect Magazine: “The rubber [...] Read More

SIP roofs and SIP walls in the building industry are short hand for Structurally Insulated Panels. Basically a layer rigid foam sandwiched between two layers of plywood (typically oriented strand board, or OSB) with integral structural members (2×6, 2×10, etc.). Some companies adhere the finished ceiling material like tongue and groove pine on the inside [...] Read More

We recently had the pleasure of visiting one of our smaller structures as it is going through its final steps before completion.  Derek Hurd of Gravitas worked with a couple from Texas that were permanently relocating to Boise, Idaho.  They asked Derek to design for them a small accessory dwelling unit (ADU), behind the home [...] Read More

The following is a great write up Houston Neal asked us to post to our readers in the sustainable building community. A comprehensive look at the proposed Cash for Caulkers proposal. We are all waiting on word if it will pass the Senate. Enjoy. By: Houston Neal Director of Marketing at Software Advice (512) 364-0117 [...] Read More

      The Clearwater will be built in Lenore, Idaho, overlooking the Clearwater River.  At three levels, with 2,681 SF, it can accommodate a growing family, or the empty nester.  The view of the river from the rear is accentuated with a full height gable, and two, wide porches.  The upper level has a [...] Read More

So we didn’t bring you this news as it broke, but better late than never. This year Gravitas was runner up for Best Log Home Plan Under 2500 SF. This home is adapted from a systems built home we did for a Colorado client. Thanks Log Home Living for the recognition of creative design in [...] Read More

In our relentless pursuit for the best (relative) green (relative) options for specifications in our home designs I was tracking down more info on soy based spray foam for a home we are designing for the North End in Boise, Idaho. There are as many “best” ways to super insulate a house as there are [...] Read More

I was in communication with John Wagner a couple months ago about an article he wrote that was published in Residential Design/Build Magazine on Foam Insulation.  I will get to that next week, but first lets talk about wood preservatives, something that comes up every time we design the deck. At Gravitas we have always discuss [...] Read More

A home we designed for a homeowner in Park City. The site was located in a equestrian development so the home was designed to fit in as if it were part of a larger barn complex. There is an indoor endless pool and a large guest suite over the garage. This home is within sight [...] Read More

I just returned from a pleasant trip to the east coast to attend the Log & Timber Home Show in Chantilly, Virginia. We were invited to the show by Chad Clark of Handcrafted Log Homes and met a lot of great log and timber frame suppliers as well as individual clients. There was a lot [...] Read More

The latest in the Gravitas Design Series: The Santee The Santee is a custom home we designed for a couple about to retire to the Owyhee Desert for some quiet and peaceful living. This home has a open floor plan with a Main Level Owner’s Suite. The Upper Level accomodates the guests and open area for a home office. Sunsets from the lookout will be [...] Read More

The latest in the Gravitas Design Series: The Carson The Carson is a hybrid log home that has a dovetail core with interior log walls and standard framed wings. The integration of multiple materials using the dovetail log, board & batten, and  shake shingle siding adds to the rustic charm of this home. This home has a [...] Read More