No matter where you may be in the log home building process, from mildly curious to a serious buyer, there is nothing as enlightening or useful as attending a log home show. Having the opportunity to meet and talk with manufacturers, builders and dealers face-to-face lets you ask them all your questions and compare their answers.
As an example, companies that ‘kiln dry' their logs have a different story to tell than those that air-dry logs and each method has advantages you will want to consider. Discussing these sales points and conflicting viewpoints will help you draw your own conclusions as to what is best for your particular situation. Spend a day or two at an expo and you can learn more than you could through any other type of research.
Spring and fall of every year are the busy seasons for the log home industry shows. During these months you can find a show or exposition happening at various cities across the USA and Canada. Companies of every size attend these shows so you will have an excellent opportunity to compare log home floor plans & home designs, gather brochures, pricing estimates, financing information and speak one on one to qualified industry experts about all the question you have.
Possibly one of the best benefits is getting to see so many styles of log and timber frame homes close-up. Most exhibitors will have tons of pictures demonstrating their proficiency in creating the log home of your dreams and some will even have partial homes erected on the convention room floor.
Discussing your plans with local builders that are familiar with your weather and other regional conditions can save you weeks of phone calls and meetings. As you can imagine, building a log home in Arizona offers challenges not found in Vermont and may require different construction materials, methods or wood treatments and finishes.
There are a number of techniques used to build log home corners and believe it or not, they are not created equal. Some joints may look attractive but may not be the best choice if exposed to the elements - as opposed to being sheltered under a roof or porch overhang. Some joints may offer a place for water to pool, which is disastrous for virtually any type of wood. Corner joints must provide air tightness and stability and not allow the logs to move or separate.
At a log home show you can see what a Saddlenotch, Swedish Saddlenotch, Butt and Pass and a Dovetail corner actually looks like and learn the pros and cons of each. You will learn new words and building terms that may sound strange at first, but you will soon be using these phrases in your discussions with builders and manufacturers.
One of the best parts of owning a log home is decorating it. Log home living is different from "conventional" home styles and furnishings. One doesn't often see an antler chandelier in a seaside Cape Cod cottage. At these shows you will find much more than just log crafters. Many log and rustic furniture makers sell and take custom orders for everything from furnishings to custom carved fireplace mantles.
At a recent show I attended in Salt Lake City, vendors were showcasing everything from rustic copper sinks for the bath to custom wall air vent grilles. Other products ranged from maintenance and restoration products to wireless wall switches, which require no batteries. Truly, the best part about attending such shows is learning about products that will make your log home more enjoyable. From lighting and plumbing wares to design and maintenance products, you'll discover solutions to make your life easier.
Many people begin their search looking for log home manufacturers and somewhere along the way they realize that what they really want is a timber frame home. Discovering the nuances of log homes and heavy timber construction is a learning process and log home shows provide the perfect setting for learning everything you need to know to choose the right product for your needs.
Some manufacturers will actually build a small home on the convention hall floor to show their products close-up. Few things are as impressive as looking at the fine joinery of a timberframe roofline or a well-crafted log corner. The next time a show is scheduled in your area, drop what you are doing, put on a comfortable pair of shoes and go for a visit!
To see when a log home show is scheduled in your area, visit the Log Home & Timber Frame Directory at http://www.logcabindirectory.com/events/
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