Round Log Full Scribe
This method originated in the northern European countries and goes back centuries with many fine examples still standing today. We carefully hand select each and every log utilizing premium white pine. Each logs is carefully hand peeled with drawknives, selected for location on the building, meticulously hand scribed and cut with chainsaws and finished with hand tools. This method is “chink-less” and our insulation between the logs is renewable, non-toxic sheep wool. This is the original method employed by the “Renaissance Man” B. Allan Mackie in his book “Building with Logs”.
Round Log Chink Style
Many fine examples of this style may be seen at the Adirondack Park in upper New York state. It was a very traditional method and utilized local materials of varying species although white or red pine was the most predominant. We use white pine for this method and the round notch for corner joinery as it is in keeping with tradition. Nowadays, synthetic chinking is used to avoid ongoing maintenance with mortar or concrete.
Round Log Timber Frame
This is not in any way the traditional style of framing as the logs are left in the round and hand peeled exhibiting their natural state without bark. The knots and flares are carefully chosen from the woods with burls and branches left exposed. “Art” might be a more appropriate description as no two posts or beams are alike, no curve is the same. Once the logs are carefully hand selected we utilize a laser beam for layout on the irregular surfaces for handcrafting. It is still handcrafted timber frame joinery with wooden dowels but each notch is different to accommodate the irregular surfaces and sizes. All domestic species are available with Incense-Red Cedar featured specie due to its wonderful features, aroma and durability as it is very rot resistant. These homes are unique and require sufficient lead-time to access materials.
Traditional Dovetail
This is perhaps the most commonly seen style of log home throughout the eastern USA and Canada. Sometime it is called an Appalachian Style Log Home. We use full-length giant white pine logs. We mill our logs to 8”, 10” or 12” thick with our “state of the art” band mill but maintain the live edge of the log which was commonly used by the early pioneers. Each and every log is hand selected for the location on the building, hand scribed and notched resulting in precisely fitted dovetail corners. The space between the logs is insulated with renewable, non-toxic sheep wool and chinked inside/out with modern synthetic chinking materials. The log surface finish can be rough sawn, planed smooth or hand hewn although our most popular choice is a planed smooth interior and hand-hewn exterior.
Traditional Timber Frames Style
This method of building goes back centuries with many fine examples throughout the world. We honor these ancient traditions although we utilize longer material and larger diameters eliminating many of the vertical posts for more open spaces. Hand pegged joinery with many species available: oak, walnut, pine, hemlock, and cherry just to name a few.