Answers to Your Questions on Log Homes

The following is taken directly from questions we have received from our customers over the years.

What species of wood do you build your log home packages from?

Species available are:

• Lodge-Pole Pine
• Engleman Spruce
• Douglas Fir
• Western Red Cedar

Engleman Spruce is the preferred species due to its tight grain, light colour, and minimal taper.

What are the characteristics of each of the log species available?

We have added a section to our web-site that deals specifically with information pertaining to the logs used in building your home. This section deals with:

• Choosing the right wood species for your home
  
• Wood shrinkage and moisture content
  
• The energy efficiency of log homes
  
• The fire performance of log homes
  

The link to this page : All About Logs

Where is the log cabin home package built?

All log packages are built in our construction yard located in 100 Mile House B.C.

Do you "farm" out your log packages to other companies to build?

Most definately not, as it would be impossible to maintain high quality standards. All buildings are built in one construction yard.

Are your logs kiln dried or air-dried?

Handcrafted log homes are built from very large hand-peeled, winter harvested, high altitude, old growth timber. House logs average a 12"-14" mean diameter. Due to this size, kiln drying is not feasable.

What type of log joinery do you use?

We typically use the Saddle Notch on our corners, but can also provide any variation of notch including Dovetail.

How do I receive a price list for the log home designs shown on your web-site?

Please feel free to e-mail us and we will send our complete price list including cost of the log package built from each of the wood species listed above. Please specify whether you are located in the U.S., Canada or Overseas.

Can I make changes to one of your existing designs?

Yes, all of our designs can be modified or changed. We can refer you to the draftsman that our company uses. He provides a password to his web-site, where you can view all work in progress and make changes. He first does a preliminary drawing, and once accepted by you, completes the construction drawings that we build from. He can send floor plans/elevations by e-mail or fax as well.

Do you build custom designed log cabin homes?

Yes, we can also build from your construction drawings. Our draftsman can provide you with a full set of construction drawings for you own custom design if you prefer.

What is supplied by Falcon Log Homes Ltd.?

We supply the log portion of your home, such as the log walls, log ridge beams and purlins, support posts, log stairs and railing. Materials such as windows, doors, dimensional lumber can generally be purchased at a lower cost from your local suppliers, as well as cut down on the expense of shipping these items. For a complete list of what is included in our package price click here.

Where can you deliver your log packages to?

The majority of our log packages are delivered throughout the U. S. and Canada. We deliver overseas as well. For further information please refer to the section of our web-site dedicated to shipping overseas.

How do I receive a trucking quote?

By sending us an e-mail, requesting that this information be sent to you. We would need to know the exact location the home would be shipped to, such as both city and state/province. Please also provide the size of home you are looking for, in order for us to calculate the number of loads that would be required.

For overseas customers, we need to know your nearest Port. Our closest port is Vancouver B.C. Canada. We would also need to know the size of home you are looking for, in order to calculate the number of shipping containers required. Log homes are generally shipped in 40' open top containers. Please feel free to contact carriers yourself in order to obtain a more efficient rate than what we can provide.

What types of interior walls are used in your log homes?

Interior walls are generally frame construction, unless the design specifies interior log walls.

Can a Falcon Log Home be built on a basement?

Our homes can be built on a full or partial a basement.

Can I erect the walls of my own log package?

We do not recommend that our customers erect their own log package, due to the large logs used in handcrafted construction. Included in our package price, is one man to assist in the re-assembley of the log package on your foundation. Depending upon the size of home, you would need 4-5 people to assist as well. They do not have to have prior experience in log home construction, and are most often family and friends.

How long does it take to build the log package in your construction yard?

An average sized home takes approx. 6-8 weeks to build in our log yard, and 2-3 days for the re-assembly on your foundation.

Is there any way of viewing the construction of my log package in your yard, once we have ordered a home from you?

Yes, you are most welcome to visit our log yard at your convenience. We can also post the progress of the construction of your log package on a page on our web-site, at no additional charge.

Are you interested in dealers or representatives for Falcon Log Homes Ltd.?

Yes, please let us know if this is of interest to you.

How do we get started building a log home?

It is important to have a full understanding of all the costs associated with building your home, as well as a knowledge of the complete construction schedule.

We have provided a complete schedule on the building of a log home, from start to finish. Please click here for this information.

How much should we budget for the building of our log home?

There are many variables in the building of your log home to consider, such as the construction drawings, log shell costs, freight, crane time required for the re-assembly, and the finishing of the log package. We can provide you with a price list for the designs shown on our web-site. Generally with a custom designed home, customers will send us a rough drawing of their home by e-mail or fax. It is most difficult to provide an exact price for the log package until the construction drawings are finalized. With most of our designs, the majority of our customers prefer to make some modifications or changes.

Most log homes cost approx. $100.00-120.00 per sq.ft. (main floor) to completely finish, including the price of the log package, depending upon the size of home. The loft area runs at approx. $40 - $50.00 per sq.ft.

You can calculate some of the costs associated with building your home by either contacting our draftsman directly on the price of the construction drawings, or consulting your own draftsman. We can provide you with an estimate on the log package, as well as shipping costs. A crane generally runs at approx. $120.00 per hour for the re-assembly. Estimates can be obtained through local contractors on the costs of finishing your log package.

Are log homes energy efficient?

We have provided information on the energy efficiency of log homes on our site, please click here to go directly to this page.

What is your payment schedule?

Our payment schedule is as follows:

• 40% down payment
• 35% when log package is half completed in our construction yard
• 25% remaining when log package is completely built in our yard

When should the down payment be made?

It is important to reserve space as soon as possible. In the event of a backlog we work on a first-come-first-served basis, with the deposit being the lock in for the price and time slot. You get your home when you want it.

Do you offer financing?

No, we do not offer financing on our log packages. This is generally provided by your own bank or lending institution.

Are there custom duties or export fees on log cabin homes?

There is a brokerage fee with homes being delivered to the U.S. Falcon Log Homes Ltd. covers this expense.

What size of homes do you build?

From small cabins to large homes and commercial buildings.

How long have you been in business and approx. how many homes have you built?

We have been in business since 1989 and have built approx. 200 handcrafted log homes.

Is it more expensive to insure a log home?

Log homes are generally no more expensive to insure than brick or wood frame homes built in the same area.

I am interested in log furniture, do you know of a good supplier?

Yes, although we do not build log furniture ourselves, we do recommend specific companies that produce log furniture. Please click here to be directed to the log furniture page on our website.

Can you recommend any good books for further information on handcrafted log homes?

Although there are not many books pertaining to handcrafted log homes, there is one book that we do recommend reading:

Log Construction Manual: The Ultimate Guide to Building Handcrafted Log Homes (Paperback) which is highly recommended by
Log Home Living Magazine

If you have any further questions that we have not addressed in our information guide, please feel free to send us an e-mail and we will be pleased to respond.

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