Gravitas Blog

The Escalante

Gravitas is proud to announce being awarded Timber Home Living’s 4th Annual Top 5 Floor Plans Design Award. Our model, “The Escalante” is appearing in the March issue of Timber Home Living, which will be on newsstands February 10th.

The original home is to be built in Snowmass, Colorado, using the latest in Systems-Built technology. This construction method ensures quality control, and greatly reduces construction times. This hybrid home combines the natural beauty of timber accents, with the high performance of modern construction techniques.

We have teamed up with Roaring Fork Custom Homes, and Oracle Building Group to create this excellent example of Mountain Contemporary Architecture. The Escalante is going to make a solid contribution to the built environment in the area, as well as provide an amazing retreat for the future owners.

To download the .pdf, click on the link, above

This joins our 2007 Timber Home Living Floor Plan Design Award Winner, “The Sages”

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

I am very excited to be working with a young couple in Boise on the design of their home using the Not So Big tenants of Design. This will be an urban infill project in the North End of Boise (our original residential district just North of Downtown).

We have been touting Sarah Susanka’s books since her first one, The Not So Big House came out. Since then Sarah’s books continue to put her residential design ideas and theories in easy to understand language. We have given and loaned out many copies if the NSB books over the years and continue to do so. If you only have time for one book when you are beginning the design process of you home, NSBH should be it. I’m not a paid spokesman for Sarah, but when I recommend her books, I have clients that have a better understanding of how to express what they want in a home and how to communicate “feelings”. I have also found that the book puts into words what we have all experienced in a home that was too large, too small, or just right.

In the years since her first book, Sarah has continued to write and practice architecture. Now Susan is encompassing her ideas of home into a more holistic view of “Not so Big Life”. Her most recent lectures and online presentations are more focused in this direction than the architectural realm but her core message remains the same and the architectural lessons are timeless. Check out the Not So Big web site. There is good information there.

If you are in or near Boise, stop by and you can borrow the Not So Big House books from our design library. I’m looking forward to moving forward with the design of this Not So Big House in Boise.  I will keep you all posted and upload images of the design when we are complete. We have projects all across the country and most of our work is done remotely, so if your local designers look at you with a big question mark on their face when you say "Not so Big", or just think all you want is a small house, give us a call.

-Derek Hurd

The Oswego is a home we designed for a client in Loveland, Colorado. This gentleman gave the home to his wife as a surprise gift. It was our first covert design operation where we had to plan our meetings and our calls at select times to keep it all undercover. This is a basic getaway cabin plan for simple living. The Main Level is all open for entertaining and relaxed living. The only enclosed bedroom is on the Upper Floor that has easy access to a large morning coffee balcony overlooking the view. The lower level was unfinished in this home but could easily accommodate more bedrooms and a Family Room if the site allowed for day lighting as this one did.

Recently we created a gem of a home with Hand-Crafted Log Homes from Dublin, Virginia.  It holds 3,760 SF of traditional log home appeal, with 4 bedrooms, and 4 1/2 baths.

The Madison is the quintessential log home plan with a few features that you don’t always see. A large Grand Entry with a double fireplace and curved stairway greets guests. Outdoor living space is not in short supply with decks and covered porches wrapping the entire home. The main floor is the traditional log home layout with an expanded dining area for entertaining and an enlarged pantry storage area right off the entry on the way to the kitchen for convenient grocery drop off. The Upper Level has two bedrooms but in the Madison they both share one side and have their own bath. This leaves the other side open for a large Flex space for an exercise, room, hobby room, or bunk room. The upper level also shares the chimney from below and allows a cozy fire in the library & study area.

The Fraser was designed for a dramatic site outside of Breckenridge, Colorado for Atrium Log Homes.  This design utilizes logs milled in Finland by Honka.  It contains 2306 SF on three levels, with 3 bedrooms, 2 1/2 bathrooms, and a 2 car garage.

Honka’s unique milling capabilities, and Atrium Log Homes building expertise were leveraged to create a unique, livable design that meets the owners needs.

Don’t forget to view our other plans.

Since Gravitas started over 7 years ago, we have worked with many clients located throughout North America as you can see by the map below.  Being located a continent away from many of our clients, site visits are often out of the question.  Typically, we only get to walk the site on less than 10% of our projects.  That brings the question: How can we work without meeting face to face?

Typically, an Architect will sit down with a client across the table, and sketch out ideas, point to photographs and carry on a conversation face to face.  Following up the meetings, there might be phone calls and E-mails passed back and forth.  In the “old days”, you might have faxes going back and forth.  Times have changed.

We are always very conscious of our clients budgets, both regarding the construction of their home, but also in the design of it.  Not only do budget issues present themselves, but environmental concerns are becoming more and more important.  A phone call, video and photos can be more efficient than a car drive to the property.  A quick online meeting is more appropriate to answer standard questions, than getting on the plane and flying a thousand miles.  To address these items, we have developed a method of working remotely with our clients.  This leverages our talent, time, and puts our clients money to best use.

A site visit, and a face to face meeting are encouraged if the budget allows.  There is benefit in walking the land with the you, the future home owner, and discussing your needs over lunch.  This, however, is not always possible, or, at times, even necessary.  Also, the amount of resources used to carry the designer across country, and to the building location (or your home), is also not insignificant.  Whenever we can reduce our travels, we do.  This saves not only time and money, but also reduces our carbon footprint.

So the question is, how can we still provide the best service available, and not meet face to face throughout the project?  Thankfully, with all of the developments in virtual computer software and hardware, the distances between people are getting closer and closer every day.  We have been using GotoMeeting software (www.gotomeeting.com) for the last few years very successfully.  It allows you to see our computer screen on your screen at home and draw on it while we are talking on phone with each other.  This goes a long way in breaking down the communication barriers.  If you have some interesting web examples or pictures that you want to share, and talk about, then we can see your screen on ours as we discuss them.

The above image is a screen capture of an online meeting using the Goto software. This allows us to have virtual design and construction meetings with the contractor, you, the engineer, etc.  This has been a great resource.  the software also allows you to record the sessions, so if there is a presentation, you can capture it for future viewing.

As a small business, we are always looking for opportunities to provide you with better services, and not add costs.  There are many project coordination software suites out there, but as a simple collection point, we have found it hard to beat Google Sites.  It is a low cost alternative to software such as Basecamp, Active Collab, and many others out there. This tool allows us to post project information in one location that is accessible to the entire team as well as coordinating note and timelines.

Of course sometimes the quickest, and easiest solution is to pick up the telephone and call.  Sending emails back and forth is still a very useful tool, and here is the record of the conversation for reference and clarity.  Because of this, we find it very useful to follow up our phone calls with an email.  This makes certain that we heard what you said before we move forward with design work. Working remotely has taught us the value and benefit of close and frequent communication with our clients in many different formats.

One of the initial communication tools we use is an Idea Book that we ask that our clients put together.  This is simply a binder with cutouts from magazines, prints from the Internet, observations, sketches, or anything else that will help us understand who you are, how you live your life, and what you envision your home to be.  This is a great resource for both us, and you.  It helps to communicate your ideas to us, but it also helps you to crystallize what you are thinking.

This is just a brief summary of some of the tools we use in working with clients remotely. When you can’t meet face to face, these successfully address the problem. Our history and project portfolio from coast to coast has shown that our communication tools are proven and successful. Even if we have never met face to face, by the end of the project we have a close and connected relationship that has been built through all of our varied communication techniques.

This is an article our favorite engineer wrote about the importance of engineering your residential project. Professional engineering is recommended on all projects and more and more it is being required by many local jurisdictions or on the state level. All of our projects in California, Colorado, New Mexico, New York require the project be stamped by a professional engineer. We wanted to share with our readers why it is important on all projects from the engineer’s perspective, enjoy. -Derek

Structural Engineering: Assurance for Your Insurance

The common goal on any log cabin design and construction is to have an experience that is built on trust and understanding. From the beginning, there are a lot of decisions that need to be made with building a log cabin structure. Often referred to as the ‘process’, one must decide on several key items such as budgets, the style of log cabin, floor plan layouts and total square footages, what log cabin company to use and the general building contractor. One often overlooked decision in this process is the need for structural engineering design and review.

The structural engineering of your log cabin ensures that all elements of your final construction documents are:
• Well coordinated
• Have been properly sized for structural components such as roof beams, floor joists, girders, headers, decks, foundations and retaining walls
• Adequately designed connections and details using the correct loads and load paths
• Designed for the proper resistance of building lateral loads (out-of-plane wind or earthquake loads)

Often the question is asked, “When is structural engineering required for my log cabin structure?” Based upon where you are building your structure, some of the local building departments and/or local governing jurisdictions will require some form of professional structural engineering construction documents and calculations that are stamped and signed by a licensed professional engineer. These documents would include your foundation plan, floor framing plans, roof framing plan, building sections, structural details, general structural notes and structural engineering calculations.

Several factors that would require or cause recommendation for structural engineering include, but are not limited to:
1) You are building within a high snow load area,
2) You are located within a high wind or earthquake zone,
3) The complexity of your final floor plans and building elevations (i.e. how does each floor level stack up, is there a prow, are there a lot of exterior window or opening placements, what is the column/post spacing, what are the beam/girder spans, is there a basement, etc.),
4) Does the local governing building jurisdiction require it for issuance of building permits
5) What are the site requirements in which you are building your log cabin structure on (i.e. is the building pad site flat or sloped, are you building into a hillside and what are the native soil bearing types).

A structural engineer can work with your local jurisdiction to help streamline the ‘process’ and obtain your building permit in a timely fashion, then allowing you, your log cabin company and your general building contractor to begin work. A structural engineer can also be available through the construction process to answer or clarify any questions that can arise during construction.
Whether or not it is required, it is highly recommended to consult with a licensed professional structural engineer on any log cabin structure that you build. The common goal for any structural engineer is to safeguard life, health, property and public welfare through design and implementation. When put into perspective with what typical structural engineering fees are in relation to the overall cost of your project, you will find that these fees are typically less than 1% of your overall construction budget. For the quality assurance that you are given knowing your log cabin residence is designed and coordinated properly by a professional, it provides additional insurance in protecting your life long investment.

Brian J. Sielaff, P.E., Tamarack Grove Engineering, PLLC

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

Often when we think of materials suppliers for building our homes, or even working on a DIY home improvement project, we instinctively include the big box home improvement store or regional contractor oriented building supplier. I have found a few sources locally that I want to suggest and bring to your attention. Some are specific to Boise, but the concepts are not, and chances are they can be found in your city with a quick search.

• Green building supply stores. Many city’s have storefronts that contain sustainable building products under one roof where you can educate yourself on how a product’s choice may impact your health, or the energy used to create it, or replace it (lifecycle costs). Locally we have a store called Green Foundations that has many products for all areas of construction. I suggest you stop by if you are in the Treasure Valley or find a similar store in your area where you can make an informed decision about the products that are going into your home.
• Recycled Building Materials Supply. All buildings have a life cycle, and even more so the styles and functions of the interior of the home. Although I am a proponent of heirloom homes that last many, many generations and investing in timeless design for interior furnishing and fixtures, many things have their day. In addition to style considerations though, there are many functional materials that can be refashioned or reconditioned for new uses. I think there is more soul in materials that already have a history and stories. We are working with a client now on an extensive remodel and the pride of her new home will be the reuse of the front door from her existing home. Another client of ours makes sure to point out the structural beam in their new home that was worked in from the house that he grew up in. Whether your sources are from a major remodel or moving a home, if you look around, there are materials everywhere that are just waiting to be put to good use. We have a local architectural salvage, recycled building materials supply store in Boise called Second Chance. I just got a solid wood closet door for $25 that was quoted at $125 from the big box. Last summer I got wood shingles for a shed, real chunks of wood, not the see through wood shakes you see at retail stores. Browse your local store to see what they have and you can add some character to your project and save a sink, door, or light switch from being created. Finally on Second Chance, or your local equivalent, take your extra stuff down there. They take all useable building materials, it might be closer than the dump.
• Craigslist. Craigslist isn’t just for finding a used car or football tickets, it’s also a great place for renewable building materials. This source of materials is another two way street, its a great place to keep your unused things out of the garbage and a great place to pick up new and used materials for your new home or remodel. I recently purchased two bathroom sinks for a remodel we are working on. This had many advantages, the most obvious is financial, two flawless Kohler sinks and fixtures for 40% of the retail cost. Equally important to me though is knowing that the embodied energy of those sinks is not entirely my responsibility. I also enjoy the community aspect of Craigslist, through all of my buying and selling transactions comes interaction with my neighbors. In the sink example, I met a builder who I had seen her work all over town for the last few years but had never met and we talked about her work. Those kind of contacts don’t happen at the self checkout at Home Depot. Windows, flooring, granite for your countertops, trusses for a garden shed, its new every day under the materials category on Craigslist.

So I encourage you to think about different sources for the materials in your home whether they be new green, reconditioned or reused. There are sources out there to be found if you think outside the big box….get it?