Green Tip: Low Mass Radiant Heat
Radiant heat is a great heating option for log homes because it avoids the ductwork required for forced air systems. We tend to prefer heating systems that are designed for maximum efficiency. With radiant heat, the key to efficiency lies in three areas: conductivity, lower water temperatures and quick response time. One company, Warmboard has…
We’ve Added Another Log Home Show in March!
The Augusta, Maine, Log Home & Timber Frame Show happens right in our backyard March 18-20. This is always a lively and intimate show, providing plenty of opportunity for one-on-one discussions and plan review. See below for more information. Log home shows offer a wealth of information and the chance to meet with experts who…
The Evolved Garage: Designing a Truly Functional Space
Garages can be so much more than just a parking space for your vehicles. Many homeowners are designing garages to be an extension of living space, bonus activity rooms and efficient and effective storage for everything from sports equipment, to holiday decorations, to power for the home. A little extra planning can allow your garage…
New Katahdin Website Feature: My Account
If you’ve been researching log home designs, you understand just how many features and styles are available. Many folks who plan to build develop their own scrapbooks with clips, photos and floor plans from many sources. On our newly designed website, we’ve added a great feature j that will keep track of your favorite plans,…
How a HERS Index Score Can Add Value to Log Homes
Wouldn’t it be great if you could get a miles-per-gallon reading on a log home? It sure helps when deciding on a vehicle, but often folks focus on the look and features of their new log home without examining the energy that home will consume over its lifetime. Fortunately, some very smart people have developed…
Green Tip: Solar Tax Credits Extended!
In the end of year shuffle to negotiate the Bipartisan Budget in December, you may have missed this particularly bright spot: the extension of Federal Solar Tax Credits. The credits were scheduled to expire in 2016, but lawmakers extended them well into the future. What are the benefits of solar tax credits? The new extension…
Over the River and Through the Woods: Road and Site Clearing
When preparing raw land for your log home building site, proper attention to the forested areas can maintain beautiful surroundings, foster wildlife and even provide some materials to incorporate into your home. The first step to take with a wooded parcel is to have a professional forester assess your tree population. To maintain healthy and…
Plenty of Shows Left this Spring!
This has been an especially busy log home show season and we’re making ourselves available to you in lots of locations this spring. Treat yourself to a day of learning all about log homes and how you can realize your dream! Log home shows are a good starting point to get answers to all your…
Top Trend: No-Threshold Showers
Universal design is a buzzword in home construction that translates into homes that can accommodate an aging homeowner and enable them to stay in their homes longer. One of the spotlighted areas in a universal design home is the bathroom. No-threshold showers can make access easy and showcase a clean and beautiful design. When speaking…
Spring Log Home Shows Begin – 2016 Log Home Shows List
It’s a new year and our 2016 Spring Log Home Show schedule is off to a great start! Next up this month is Columbus, Ohio, with Oklahoma City not far behind. With as many exhibitions planned for this year, there’s a good chance we’ll be visiting a city near you! Log home shows are a…
Katahdin Form +Function: Vestibules – Katahdin Cedar Log
It’s a common feature on some older homes in Maine: the entryway vestibule or storm hallway. It consists of a smaller area that keeps the outside air from infiltrating into the main part of the house by closing it off with doors. Typically, they were relatively small sized and featured a place to hang a…
Green Tip: Big Load, Small Load—Washing Machine Options
LG has put on its thinking cap and developed another ingenious upgrade to its already innovative TWIN Wash washing machines. Called the SideKick™ the unit allows two loads of wash— one large and one small— to wash at the same time. The SideKick pedestal replaces a basic, empty pedestal that elevates the TWIN Wash front…