Green Tip: Community Solar
Community Solar (also called Shared Renewables) offers a new option for many homeowners who would like to add solar power to their energy options, but are not able to do so. It’s one of the fastest growing sectors in renewables, and fully 25 states currently have a community solar program online, according to the Solar…
Steam Showers Offer Luxury Upgrade
Adding a steam shower upgrade to your master bath is becoming easier and more cost-effective. No doubt this is a luxury bath item, but mainstream manufacturers are now offering steam options in just a few easy steps. We’ll take a look at two options now available. ThermaSol Steamshower Systems First let’s take a look at…
Hobby Rooms Have a Home
Many folks benefit greatly from having a hobby. Adding hobby rooms to your new log home can be as simple or as elaborate as you desire. Hobbies can help relieve stress, improve social skills and may even improve cognitive ability as we age. The most important thing about hobbies is that they’re fun! So it…
Green Tip: Apps and Podcasts for Landscaping and Gardening
Now that you’ve combed through seed catalogues all winter long, it’s time to get planning and planting. Of course, gardeners and landscapers have also been hard at work making tools and guides more accessible via your smart phone and tablet. You’ll want to check out options based on your specific needs, but here are some…
Logapalooza Log Home Seminar: Katahdin’s Biggest Event Ever!
Please join us Saturday, April 30, for Katahdin’s Logapalooza Seminar event at the Killington Grand Resort and Hotel in Killington, Vermont. The seminar includes a full day, including an informative presentation covering all the ins and outs of designing and building a Katahdin Cedar Log Home. After a delicious complimentary lunch and individual breakout sessions,…
Log Home Design for Long-term Value and Resale
So many of our customers tell us, “This will be our last home.” In fact, many log home owners do dream of their log home for many years. However, even the best laid plans change, and eventually your log home may be marketed. Even though it seems like the prenuptial agreement of home building, it’s…
New Options for Hanging Pictures in Log Homes
One interesting challenge in log homes, especially those with interior round log profiles, is hanging pictures. Because they are moveable, and tastes change, committing to hanging a framed painting or print can be intimidating when facing that newly stained, curved surface. Here are some options for displaying artwork in log homes. Picture Rails— Once common…
Fitting in Fido’s Food
Any pet owner knows that the food and water dishes are sometimes tucked in a relatively out-of-the-way place in the kitchen or mud room. But if you’re designing your home for good flow and utility for all occupants, you might want to include your furry friends in the mix. We culled the internet for some…
Green Tip: New Automatic Bathroom Fans
Like many technological products meant to improve day-to-day life, bathroom fans suffer from the oldest problem: they aren’t turned on. Ventilator manufacturers have developed bath ventilation systems that take the guesswork out of reducing humidity and keeping bathrooms properly ventilated. Since moisture reduction is the goal of bathroom ventilation, a fan with a built-in moisture…
Power Outages: Generators & Batteries
It’s no secret that many log homes are built in areas that are more prone to power outages than your average suburban neighborhood. Whether your log home is situated in the country or in a more suburban setting, losing power can evolve from a short-term nuisance to a costly problem quickly. That is why many…
Sloped Site Landscaping
Working with a sloped site has a lot of advantages for situating a log home, including walk out basements and scenic view potential. But a little attention to the area around the home in the early planning stages can make for a truly dramatic finish to your home. Terraces— One of the most common treatments…
Over the River and Through the Woods—Septic Systems
As part of this ongoing series looking at infrastructure surrounding rural undeveloped sites, we examine septic systems. In most instances, rural building sites require private sewage disposal in the form of a septic disposal system. When reviewing property, one question to ask is whether a percolation or “perk test” has been conducted on the site.…