Hand crafted homes are usually made from dead standing white wood, fir, and cedar logs. This means the tree has died and has been standing in the forest for some time.  Most trees are 21% to 25% moisture content when harvested.

The logs are then all hand hewn, hand coped and hand fitted. Most hand fitted homes require chinking.

The logs are irregular in diameter from end to end and are all different sizes. This is a very rustic and beautiful way to build a log home. Expect settling and maintenance.

Our white wood milled logs are made from dead standing logs also. We check the moisture content, and if it is not below 18%, we rough mill them and kiln dry them prior to finish turning. This helps reduce checking and shrinking after the log is installed.

Our fir logs are harvested when they are green. We rough mill them to within and inch of the desired diameter and bore out the center. The logs are then kiln dried down to about 14%. The center bore allows even drying from inside and outside the log to reduce checking and cracking. After they are dried down, we fill the core with a high density polyurethane foam. This is allowed to dry and cure.  We then send them through the lathe to be turned down to the finished diameter. Our Swedish Cope machine and precision saddle notch machine allow for a tight fit so there is no need for chinking unless you want it for cosmetic appearance. Our logs have minimal shrinkage and when installed properly, minimal settling.