Gravitas Blog

Recently we were approached by a realtor in the South about putting together an animation for one of his builders.  We see this sometimes where a builder has a paper spec¹, and would like to increase their marketing potential, highlight the uniqueness of their home, or just get more eyeballs on their project then then can achieve with a traditional rendering.  Nothing against a pretty picture, mind you, but when the adds are flooded with the typical painting of a home in the hills, your home may get lost in the clutter.  This realtor wanted to make his clients product really stand out.

Animation of an as-yet-unbuilt home is one thing.  We’ve also seen animations created for existing homes/structures, to help enhance a presentation.  By combining real-world stills, with quality animations, a unique experience can be created that goes beyond what you can get with a camera in your hands.

For our potential client, we put together a demonstration video based upon an existing plan we put together for Snowmass, Colorado, and feature as one of our plans of the month, the Escalante.

Cortier’s Luxury Realty sees the value in this approach, and as someone that recently went through the process of buying/building a home, I appreciate seeing more then just the typical flat image in the flyers.  If you have any needs such as this, please do not hesitate to contact Gravitas.  We do a whole lot more then just design homes.  We can help you to visualize the built, and the unbuilt.

1. a speculative home design that is not built, and therefore, is only on paper [↩]

One of the many benefits of working with a 3D modeling program such as ArchiCAD, is the ability to see what the final product is going to look like.

All too often, the owner/contractor/Architect, doesn’t know exactly how something will look, until it is built in the field.  By that time, any modifications become expensive, or impossible.  Not only is the ability to communicate heightened through the use of 3D modeling, but the design is often better.  The computer is a wonderful tool for the designer.  The ease with which you can experiment, spin around the building or attachment, and explore the environment is worlds above what you can do on a flat piece of paper.

Since our founding in 2001, Gravitas has made it a commitment to use as many aspects of 3D computer aided design as possible.  Our clients not only see what they will be moving into, not only can the builder better understand the scope of the work ahead, and the log/timber supplier completely outline their materials that they will be providing, but everyone can point to the same image, and be on the same page throughout the entire process.  When all parts of the machine are working together, and have a common vision, it can only increase the quality of the end product, the enjoyment (if I can use that word) of the process, decrease the timelines and the costs, and result in a successful heirloom home.

The example below shows a timber frame that was supplied by Arrow-Wood Homes.  This residence was located outside of Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and is based upon our “Sages” plan. We’ve previously highlighted this particular home in our Blog. Visualization like this is one of the many services that we offer at Gravitas.

Enjoy,

>Mark

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This is a continuation of the previous post on Copyrights & Design.  To see the beginning of this, please click here.

For willful copyright infringement, the infringer must have access to the original information.  Willful infringement carries much larger penalties.  Crying “fair use” is a defense in case you are being sued.  It is not a get out of jail free card, and if you are invoking it, that means you have already been sued.  Not a good thing.

Currently, applications for a copyright cost $45 for the filing.  Typically, if there are many items to be protected, such as photographs, or in our case, plans, they can be submitted in one application.  These are then called a collection.  The caveat is that they all have to be published on the same day.

Trademarks

A trademark is an indicator of source.  It shows where a product, design, image was created.  The Nike swoosh connotes who made the apparel.  Words, logos, sounds, colors, scents can all be trademarked.  For instance;

• Sounds such as Intel’s 4 tone jingle identifies it as coming from Intel
• UPS’s brown is highly identifiable on the road
• There is scented embroidery thread that ties back to where the product is from

A trademark has to be distinctive.  A person knows something came from somewhere.  If it represents a description of a product, and is not distinctive, it can not be trademarked.  Here is a “continuum of strength” regarding the ability to trademark something, from least enforceable to greatly enforceable:

1. Generic Descriptive – “Orange Juice”
2. Merely Descriptive – “Sweet”
3. Suggestive Trademark – “Circuit City”
4. Arbitrary Use – “Apple”
5. Coined Terms – “Unisys”

Phrases can also be trademarked.  “You’re Fired” indicates the source, in this case, Donald Trump.  If you can directly tie it back to where it came from, there is a possibility to trademark the material.  Your rights come from use of the item in question, not by registering it.  If it isn’t out there, you don’t have a case.  Senior users are presumed by the Trade Mark Office to be the first ones to file it.  They are considered the original user.  When you register a Trademark, the Trademark office then becomes the policeman.  That office will deny registration if there is a previous occurrence of it in their files.  Registration is usually geographic in scope.  You can register it with your local government, or if you go through the Federal office, it covers the entire nation.

When the Trademark office is reviewing a new submittal, they look at likeliness of confusion.  Would a consumer be confused?

1. How similar are the 2 trademarks, sights, sounds, meanings
2. Is there a similarity in goods and services?

Incorporation of a trademark with the secretary of state provides no protection.  It all comes down to how it is used.

This is a Federal Trademark.  It is registered with the Federal Government, and you have senior user rights.

You consider this to be a Trademark.  This is simply stated by the individual, or company.  No other action is necessary.  It’s a viewer beware notification not to use this without proper credit.

This is a quick summation of what we learned at Stephen Nipper’s presentation last month.  This is by no means a legal representation of what Copyright, and Trademark is, or can do for you.  We find it necessary in our industry to have a basic understanding of what our rights are, and what we need to be watchful of.  I encourage you to contact a lawyer in your area if you have any further questions on this matter.

>Mark

One issue that we constantly run into while designing custom homes, is copyright.  We go to great lengths to respect the hard work individuals, and companies have invested in the creation of their designs.  We often have clients come to us with plans ripped from magazines and they say they want this kitchen, or this exterior.  This is where we have to inform them that we can’t just rip an idea off, or just change it 17%, and we’re okay.  It is our responsibility to educate the client on the law, and create an artistically, and intellectually unique design, that does not rely on some else’s work.

I recently had the pleasure to attend a presentation by Boise based attorney Stephen Nipper presented by the local chapter of AIGA American Institute of Graphic Arts¹.  While the specifics of the presentation had to do with Graphic Design and the like, the underlying law for it, and for architectural design is the same.  I will split this post into two.  Being a lawyer, we covered a lot of ground in the hour long presentation.  In summation, here is what I learned:

When a client hires our company to design their home, what is purchased is basically the paper that the design is printed on, with the lines on the page.  That is, unless the “artistic content” is sold as defined in the contract with that client.  I will run down with you my understanding from Stephen Nipper.  In his preamble, he was quick to point out that this was not legal advice, and your particular circumstance may vary, but by and large, it is good information.

Copyrights are created at the instance it is fixed in a tangible medium.  A mark or registration is not necessary.  If you do register the plan, you need to do it before it is published, or within 90 days after it appears in “print” (publishing electronically is considered the same as the printed page).  If the plan is registered, it enables you to seek higher statutory penalties, if an infringement occurs.  Damages range from $750-$30,000 (and $100,000 if it is a willful infringement).  You can also collect the attorneys fees associated with protecting the copyright.  If the plan is not registered, then you have to show what the loss/gain is.  This can be much more difficult to prove.  A registration creates a public record, and puts everyone on notice that you consider this to be proprietary information.  A registration also must occur before a suit is filed.

The designer of a plan is by default the owner of it (except if the designer is an employee, then the company owns the copyright), unless it is changed by the contract, or is a “work for hire” situation.

Copyright is referred to as a “bundle of sticks” situation, where each of the following rights exist independently, and need to be addressed separately.  Copyright includes:

1. Derivative rights: manipulating the design in such a way as to create something new.
2. Distribution rights: rights to print, sell, or otherwise distribute the plan
3. Performance rights: right to perform the copyrighted material in public (on hold music)
4. Display rights: right to display the copyrighted material in public (in a lobby, for instance)
5. Right to Reproduce: duplication of the plan either singularly, or in multiple copies

Ignorance of the fact there is a copyright in place is not insulation from lawsuit for infringement.  The largest thing to change though, is the magnitude of the penalties.  If it can be proven that there is ignorance to the existence of the the previous plan, then of course willful infringement is not on the table.  Also, there is a maximum of $200.00 per infringement, versus the $750-$30,000 penalty.  Also, just because you don’t make a profit on stealing someone else’s design, does not mean you can’t be sued for the damages that the copyright holder experiences.

The idea that if a plan is changed X%, it no longer is copyrighten by the original designer, is a myth.  We often hear that if you change some designers plan by 17%, it’s okay to use.  I don’t know where that number came up, but I’ve heard it more than once.  The definition that is used by the court is if the two designs are “Strikingly Similar.”  That injects a degree of subjectiveness to the interpretation.  So care must be taken, if you use a plan as inspiration, that it is not only noticeably different, but that it is not strikingly similar.

Typically, a copyright lasts for the length of the authors life, plus 70 years.  I am not sure how this works in regards to a company, or 25 years from publication, or 125 years from creation.

I’ll finish up what I learned on the next post.  All in all, an educational experience.

>Mark

A couple years ago we designed and provided the Construction Drawings for a home for a client of Beaver Creek Log Homes . We worked directly with the owner of Beaver Creek Log Homes,  Robbin Obomsawin. Robbin combines twenty years of log-joinery experience with her knowledge of conventional construction which made for a smooth process and abbreviated timelines.   We touched base with Robbin Obomsawin recently and she gave us permission to put an excerpt from one of her many books on our blog. This is valuable information for everyone in the log industry from experienced log home builders to log home owner builders. Enjoy.

Top Ten Biggest Mistakes Made in Log Building

1. Designing too much home for the budget — When custom building, it is very easy for things to spin out of control for the owner before he/she even has a clue that it is happening. “Live now and pay later” and “Well, I didn’t know”, doesn’t exempt you from the choices made. Overspending or insisting on having it all does not support your dream when you are suffocated by the stress of repaying the debt. Be prepared and informed of your project’s cost. Building a home is a big investment and it takes time to learn and absorb all the information.
2. Not enough thought and planning before building starts — Any of you that have actually been through the process of building know that planning takes a lot of self evaluation, research and a focus. Detailed thought and planning about each phase of construction, including good construction plans, are critical to a successful project and the realization of your dream home.
3. Installing the log shell or other natural framing members too close to the ground even when there is no snowfall — You must also consider the splash-back area created by the rain’s run-off from the roofline as it hits the ground and splashes back onto the house’s siding materials or log work. An exception can be made for a covered porch which has no walls, and therefore can be ground level. Just remember to have proper porch post installations.
4. Building too short of a roof overhang — Oversized roof systems are more than ornamentation; they are a very important design feature of quality home construction. If your contractor does not have this information clearly marked on the construction plans or tries to build shorter roof overhangs to save cost, you will pay many times over in the long run. Log homes can withstand getting wet and actually thrive with humidity, but constant and repeated water saturation shortens the life of any home.
5. The use of cheap quality materials – Low grade materials can stand out like a sore thumb in a quality log home, and devalues the appearance of the home overall.
6. Choosing an inexperienced general contractor or log builder – Look for a contractor that appreciates or understands log homes with a solid background and experienced in general construction as well as loves his job.
7. Purchasing the log shell or overall home’s bid solely based on price — Take time to understand the different quality and styles of log joinery. The least expensive bid is not always the best choice, whether in log work or general construction. It is often hard to know how to evaluate an overall bid, but with a good contractor, experience becomes very important. Many homeowners base their decisions solely on the bid amount and not on the content and supporting documents of the bid. I also often see homeowners who turn down well prepared, professional contracts because they are very long (and intimidating), often not understanding much of the content or do not agree with just a small part of the contract, opting for the inexperienced contractor with the one or two page contract that seems less threatening. In reality the short, loose ended contracts leaves the homeowner with an open translation of materials, content, construction methods, and builder vs. homeowners’ responsibilities. Also note that a one-sided contract or a contract you do not fully understand is also a hazard. Be sure to go over the contract with the builder in detail as well as having your attorney review the contract proposal before signing.
8. Not allowing enough room for shrinkage in the wall systems — Never underestimate the power of shrinkage! Shrinkage and settlement is a natural process that occurs with time and is created as the content of the moisture in the logs drop. The design detail of shrinkage is not hard or complicated for an experienced carpenter to understand with proper detailed drawings. It only becomes difficult when ignored!
9. Taking on a building project beyond your experience in construction — Without a good understanding of or experience in construction, the project can end in disaster and often cost much more than hiring out to a professional builder. Construction is much more complicated than it may appear. I understand the urge to build without practical experience, and with great embarrassment I can tell you that with our first log home built for ourselves over twenty years ago, we made every “green-horn” mistake that could be made. Even though I was dedicated to watching each and every Bob Vila’s program and read every book I could get my hands on about construction, it simply does not compare to hands-on, practical experience learned over time. I am not saying that you cannot take on a portion of the project, but unless you have a lot of time on hand in combination with experience, your home could end up like a circus in a blender.
10. Drinking too much coffee and overworking on job sites. Stuff happens.

Some valuable advice from Robbin Obomsawin of Beaver Creek Log Homes.

Thanks for reading.

I wanted to post a quick belated note about the Timber frame presence at Greenbuild in Boston last year. It’s old news with Greenbuild Phoenix now on the horizon but still relevant. It’s easy to forget with the loud and much publicized arguments against logging and deforestization that wood is indeed a very sustainable option for a building material. With sustainable harvesting practices and sensitive control measures our forests can provide us with a valuable resource generation after generation. Being ingrained in the log and timber industry I’ll admit that I was surprised to see both Riverbend Timber Framing and Hugh Lofting Timber Frame at Greenbuild 2008. The surprise was not that it was inappropriate, there are obvious reasons for their exposure there, it just caught me off guard to see something so familiar amidst the endless booths of porous asphalt and green roofs. I hope both of these companies had some beneficial exposure and leads from the conference. It looks like Riverbend Timber Framing will be at this Greenbuild 2009  in Phoenix and a quick look doesn’t show any log or timber frame competition. I would imagine some migration of these vendors to the West Coast Green expo which is in San Francisco this year. This expo, in my opinion is more geared to the residential market.

A lot of people don’t know this but videos of some of the speakers at both expos are archived, a great way to catch up on some inspiring people.

Greenbuild speakers 

West Coast Green Speakers

Check them out, try to attend, you are sure to learn a lot.

For this Behind the Log Home Scenes post we will share a bit of advice from Rick Friesen of Caribou Creek Log Homes. This is part of a lengthy interview that you can read in its entirety on Log Cabin Directory. With permission, I have extracted some information that will be appropriate for many of our blog readers. Here is what Rick had to say as advice for new log home buyers and some straight talk on marketing and the endless battle of Handcrafted Vs. Milled.

Everyone seems to love lists!  Here are my top 8 bits of advice:

1. Fully understand the differences between a handcrafted log home and a milled log home. Both are still log homes and one is not better than the other. They’re just different.
2. Don’t get caught up in the “hype” (marketing or otherwise). Many of the great systems and solutions and terms in the milled log home market don’t apply to a handcrafted home.  Either we don’t have the same issues or the “solution” is very different for a handcrafted home.
3. Compare apples to apples! If you really want a quote, get an official one with full specifications!  Don’t go by “guesstimates.”  Get the company to give more than a “We’re confident we can give you walls and a roof for under $xxx…”  You wouldn’t believe how many times we’ve have seen clients hang their hat on something that is mere marketing fluff – not a specific, detailed quote.
4. Realize that the company with the least expensive log home shell may not mean you end up with a less expensive finished home! Ask questions about and understand the level of finish (or “completeness”) you will be receiving when the home is shipped.  Many log home manufacturers differ drastically in what labor they complete in their yard before shipping or what they expect a homeowner to do once the home has been reassembled. We’ve seen our quotes turned down because we were $1000 more expensive than Brand X’s log shell.  But we knew the client was going to have to pay for a lot more work to his home once he got Brand X’s shell delivered, much more than that original $1000.  It just went to a contractor instead of the log home manufacturer.
5. Start a relationship, with whatever log home company you choose, with a view toward the long term. Having that open relationship and talking about the issues addressed here will save you money and hassle in the long run and you will feel better and more confident about the whole process.  You will know someone’s got your back.  Who knows, you might make a great friend in the process.  We often do. If you don’t make that connection right away, ask if someone else can help you.  You might even decide it’s not the company you want to end up working with.
6. Work on the plan design, work on the plan design, work on the plan design… We cannot underscore enough how important this is!  Once construction is started on a log home – especially a handcrafted one, it is very difficult to change that window, or to move that dining room wall “a little”.  There are other important considerations too, such as maximizing the design for protection of the logs from rain and sun and other hash elements of nature.  Take your time on the front end.
7. Set a realistic budget – understand that handcrafted homes are usually more expensive than a milled log home of similar size and design.  However, if you love that handcrafted look, dream of artisans lovingly sculpting you your dream home – maybe it’s just what you were looking for.  Again, see the comments above about levels of completeness, and getting detailed quotes.  Ask your representative what ways they suggest to control the costs over the course of the whole project.
8. Have fun! Remember, it’s your dream.  You get to control it, direct it.  Enjoy the process!  Learn everything you can.  The prize at the bottom is worth it!

Thanks for sharing Rick, and Tom for your time on the original interview. Images below used with permission from Caribou Creek

There are quite a few myths about log homes that are circulating among folks who are already having enough problems with sorting log facts from fiction.  Here’s my take on one of the biggest myths in the log home industry – How to get the “final“  total price of a log home from a manufacturer.  Time and time again, when I was selling log homes, customers would ask me to verify how to come to the final price on their new log home – to take the log package price and multiply it by 4, to take the advertised SF of a plan and multiply that by $150 a square foot, to see what the maximum they qualified for and add 10-25%.  The short answer to that question is – it depends.  Not very reassuring.  Here’s why.  Using multiplier won’t work because every log home manufacturer’s components package is different.  Company A’s product may be pre-cut, contain fastening hardware, with doors and windows.  Company B’s product may contain only the raw, random length wall logs and other log components.  If you use a static multiplier for either package, you’re going to get some fictional number that won’t do your budget any good.  There are just too many factors involved in getting an accurate job cost to just throw out “just multiply the log package price by “x” and you’ll have your budget.”  That won’t even get you in the ball park.  If someone gives you that advice, politely thank them and run the other direction.

When someone gives you an estimate of “x”  dollars per sqaure foot – take a few more mintues to ask this person some follow up questions.  If you are talking to a local builder, and your project is going into his territory, you might have a starting point to begin working out the details on your budget.  As you get close to selecting a builder/supplier, be sure to talk to some of their recent references, and be candid about your budget concerns – how close was this person to the original budget proposed (barring change orders).  Talk to the banks that they worked with.  Check them out with the Better Business Bureau or the State’s Attorney Generals office.  This is most likely the biggest financial investment you’ll make in your life – take the time to make sure the people you involve are capable and trustworthy.

If you are at a Log Home Show, and you get a quote of “x” dollars per square foot – I’d take that information with a grain of salt, unless they are truly a local builder.  Quite of a few of the log home companies travel across the country to the log and timber home trade shows, and they just don’t have the local contacts to give out accurate building costs.  For example – If you were to attend a Denver, CO show, depending on where your were building in the state of Colorado, your square foot building costs could range from $150 a SF to $300 a SF and up, for the EXACT SAME LOG HOME PLAN!  To get accurate figures, your best bet would be to work with some of the local businesses and trades from your building area.

In order to get any accurate budget information, you’ll need to start with a good and detailed set of plans.  If you’ve already decided on a manufacturer, and you’d like to proceed with their designs, be sure to take a look at a set of their final construction documents.  Make sure everything is spelled out.  Get your builder’s opinion on them – can he build from them.  Any information that’s left out is time and money on the job spent figuring it out.

The best way to take charge of your budget is to come into things fully prepared.  If you use an independent design firm, like Gravitas, you are calling the shots from the beginning.  You can go through the design process – including and many or as few of the log and timber components you like.  I say this because, the log and timber frame companies are in the business of selling wood.  It’s only natural for them to try to include as many components into your log package as they can – sacrificing elements of your design and budget to pad their sales figures.  With an independent design firm, you get the elements you want, where you want them.  Some people want to see log and timber everywhere – others only want log walls, with drywall and plaster to break up the exposed woodwork. Either way, you get the design elements you want.  The biggest advantage is that when you shop around, you have the power.  The log home companies are all bidding on the same set of plans, and they know you’re out there shopping around.  It’s in their best interest to give you the best price possible in order to stay competitive.  An independent set of plans forces them to sit down and dissect your house in order to get accurate figures.  When the preliminary bids come in – you’ll have the ability to compare the apples to apples.  Only when you decide on a manufacturer, should you begin the Final Construction Document phase of your plans.  By waiting until you choose a manufacturer, the designer can then incorporate the specific details pertinent to their particular construction system (thru-bolt, lags, mechanical settling devices, etc) into your plans set, giving more than enough details for the builder to generate an accurate budget for your new log house.

Bottom line is, if you don’t have a detailed set of plans – specific to not only your building site, but to your tastes and budget, how can you expect to get anyone to give you any sense of how much things will cost.  A good set of plans may run several thousand dollars, and if they’re done right and they are thorough, they can end up saving you thousands in the end.  Like it or not, you’re paying the same $$ when a builder and his crew are standing around trying to “figure out” a detail as you are when they are hard at work, building your dream home.  Doesn’t it make sense to arm them with the best information and plans?

Hope this was helpful.  Let me know if you have any questions.

Happy stacking!

Paul

With my last post, I wanted to give you some background on myself and my experience in the Log Home Industry.  I hope that if you have any questions at any time during this series, you’ll either leave comment or contact me.

First things first – one of the most important things during the whole process of building your log home is going to be the architectural design of it.  This home will most likely be the most expensive thing that you’ve ever financed, and you want to make sure that everything fits your lifestyle perfectly, and I believe that using an independent design firm is the best way to achieve this.  I’m obviously a strong advocate for independent designers (this is what I do for a living).  Here are my reasons for encouraging you to think outside the box.

Nearly every log home manufacturer has some sort of catalog of their “signature” floor plans.  Don’t get me wrong, these are a great starting point.  These generic plans give you a basic sense of space and aesthetics, and can also give you a starting point on pricing out one of their packages.  Sometimes a company will even claim that if you purchase your log package from them, the plans are free!  Here’s the problem with that – someone had to get paid for the plans, one way or the other.  If they promise that the plans are free, then they’ve just buried the cost somewhere in your log package price.  Be sure to check and see what it would cost to modify one of the stock plans.  I sold log homes for nearly three years, and I can’t think of one instance where someone came in off the street and said that they wanted our “model A” plan, with absolutely no changes.  This also goes with people I worked with who’d been in the industry since the early 70’s.

Here’s what I think is the biggest problem with working with a company’s stock plan.  It’s extremely difficult to take that plan and shop it around (copyright issues aside).  Every manufacturer packages their product differently.  Some of the differences are:  pre-cut logs vs. random length, grade of logs and poles, is the fastening hardware included, milled vs. handcrafted logs, on-site technical support, shipping costs, sales tax, various degrees of building materials – doors, windows, floor decks, roofing material, log siding, stains and finishes, just to name a few.  This is where having your house designed by an independent design firm has it’s advantages.  Not only is the house uniquely designed to fit your lifestyle, but its also designed to include (or exclude) as many of the log components you want.  Manufactures make the bulk of their money on the logs, so it’s only natural that they might push as much product on you as possible (to help offset the costs of their “Free” design department).  When you come through the door with your design work done independently (not your final construction documents – those should wait until you settle on a manufacturer), every log home producer is bidding on “the exact same set of plans”.  This allows you to get a closer apples to apples comparison, and you can see why one company may be $15K less than another (no hardware, random length vs. pre-cut and hardware included).

One thing most folks don’t think about when shopping stock log home plans is will this home work in my jurisdiction.  A stock plan may work perfectly fine off the shelf if it’s build in mid-western Kansas where the snow load can be 20PSF.  Now take that same stock plan and drop it it in Aspen, Colorado where it’s not unheard of to have a 150PSF snow load.  We’re talking about completely different structural components necessary for either homes.  Different roof systems, foundations – structurally speaking, different houses.  A 10 inch diameter spruce/pine ridge beam in Kansas could turn into a 22 inch diameter douglas fir ridge beam in Colorado.  By using an independent design firm like Gravitas, you’ll have your house specifically designed for your jurisdiction, conforming to the local codes and building department’s requirements, the first time around.  It will also be much easier to track and manage your building budget with a set of plans specifically designed for you, opposed to something that’s generically detailed out and vague.

These are just a few ideas to think about when designing your log home.  When you figure that your home may cost $300K and up to build, it’s well worth spending a relatively small amount to prepare a set of quality construction documents, specifically designed to your needs, and your location, and they communicate how to construct your dream log home?  This will reduce the number of surprises that tend to come up during the construction process, and often save you more than the cost of drawings because everything is thought out, and it doesn’t conform to a generic client.  If you have any thoughts or comments for me, please feel free to do so.

Happy stacking!

Paul

I thought I’d take a few minutes and give you some idea as to how the log home industry works, from a couple of different “inside” industry positions.  First, a little background on myself.  I’ve got a B.S. in Forest Products – Wood Construction & Design from the University of Idaho (Go Vandals!).  After graduation, I went to work for one of the leading national log home manufacturers in the country.  While employed there, I had a couple of different jobs (at the same time).  At first, I was working in the design department as a production drafter.  Basically, I was breaking down each house package to their individual logs and poles, preparing the shop order for manufacturing.  With all the growth the company was experiencing, they needed another traveling Technical Adviser, and I was called in.  With this position, I travelled all around the country and worked with different builders and their crews, and basically trained them how to correctly assemble the log packages.  I was typically on site for the first 2 days of log stacking (usually if something is wrong, you’ll find it at this time), hands on, working to get as much of the house stacked as we could in that time.  I’d also get sent to “problem” job sites, where the builder either needed some help, or the company needed to remedy an issue (log shortage, miscut logs, etc.).  I did this for almost 3 years before I burned out on all the travel (stacking is fun, it’s the traveling that’s a chore).  When I wasn’t on the road, I was in the office, working in the production drafting department.

From there, I moved to a different National Log Home manufacturer, initially as a technical consultant and sales backup.  That lasted about 3 months, before I was named their National Sales & Marketing Director.  It was here that I was really able to get behind the industry curtain and see how things work.  From an initial client meeting to watching them move in to their new log home, I was able to participate in just about every facet of this industry.

It’s with these 6 years of direct Log Home Industry involvement, and the last 3 years of designing custom log and timber homes for Gravitas, that I hope to be of some assistance to you.  I’ve been on site, hand stacked logs (milled and handcrafted), set rafters, notched corners, and many other tasks.  From the sales office I’ve created customer estimates, shop orders, cut lists, log home contracts, design revisions, helped to find qualified builders, find log home mortgages, created & maintained local and national marketing campaigns, worked trade shows nation wide, and answered lots of questions from people looking to build their perfect log home.

In the following weeks, I’ll try to break down what I know about the industry in order to help you with your log home journey.  I’ll cover topics from design, budget, builders, log components, how to best shop the different manufacturers, myths in the industry, and any other questions that may come up from  comments I receive.  I hope this helps, and I’m looking forward to hearing back from you.  Good luck and happy stacking!

Paul