This might be of interest to some of our log home and timber frame home friends. Good news/bad news, depending on which side of the tree you are on. This will have an impact on the whole housing industry though, not just the full timber homes. From The Idaho Business Review by Brad Carlson Published: March 31,2011 A Russian-Chinese tax spat has driven up log prices on the Pacific Northwest coast, which means Idaho mills soon will be squeezed with higher prices that may force … [Read more...]
5 GREEN MYTHS DEBUNKED – SOLAR HOT WATER – GROUND SOURCE GEOTHERMAL
Looking to add energy-efficiency features to your cabin? Make sure you know the facts. This is courtesy of our friends at Country’s Best Cabins www.countrysbestcabins.com by Whitney Richardson Myth: Solar hot-water heaters can only produce so much hot water per day; it won’t fulfill my needs. Capturing enough solar energy to meet your hot-water demands is less an issue with the concept as it is with the design — namely what calculations were taken into account to determine the solar … [Read more...]
Sustainable and Sensible – Green Homes
Sustainable construction is nothing mysterious. Its most important aspects are some of the same things that define a quality builder. Green homes, also called sustainable homes, are more affordable than ever. Last year, for instance, a nationwide McGraw Hill study of builders and remodelers found that going green adds an average of just 7% in cost to a project, compared to 11% six years previously. Part of the reason for this growing affordability is that there’s more widespread agreement … [Read more...]
2012 IRC Code Change Update for Log Homes and More
Below is information from an engineer that we work with on many of our log home projects. This was posted in his newsletter recently and I thought it would be appropriate to share with our blog audience. Brian Sielaff is the owner of Tamarack Grove Engineering. As we begin to wind down the year and begin a new one so do we with building codes also. The new 2012 International Residential Code (IRC) and the 2012 International Building Code (IBC) are now finished and will begin adoption January … [Read more...]
Writer’s Studio; Revisited
A few years ago we had the pleasure to work with a local writer, and her husband. That little collaboration resulted in the Laramie (animation,plans purchase, rendering . It was recently written up in Seattle Magazine. We’re glad to see that we’re not the only ones that enjoy the littleprojects. <markwagner> original post: Architectural Gems That Are Vacation Rentals- Seattle Magazine Architectural Gems That Are Vacation Rentals Find four Northwest getaways with … [Read more...]
How To: Estimate Log Home Construction Costs
Below is an article that caught my eye. It’s the most common question that we get; “How much will my home cost?” This is an article written by Jim Cooper and posted here with his permission. Enjoy and use the contact form above if you want to get a hold of us and discuss the specifics of your home design. Enjoy Jim’s article. Derek – ———————— It’s always nice to know how much something costs before you commit to paying for it. For most purchases, determining the cost is as simple as glancing … [Read more...]
Homebuilding Myths: The Three-Bid Rule
Below is an excerpt from a regular newsletter that Zac Koenig delivers to clients and industry contacts. He brings up very valid points about the tendency to select a provider based solely on the bottom of the estimate, the price, and not the compatibility, talents, and experience of the providers. With the complexities of a home, and in design, the huge array of talent, experience, level of detail in drawings, and interaction in the design phase you have to look at more, much more than the … [Read more...]
This month’s Sustainable Energy Sustainable Homes Seminar is:
From our friends at Renewable Energy Solutions and Green Remodeling in Boise: This month’s Sustainable Energy Sustainable Homes Seminar is: Introduction to Photovoltaics Thursday, March 8th, 7pm to 9pm U of I’s Integrated Design Lab 306 S. 6th – (6th & Broad) $10 at the door or $50 for the series Seminar topics: what is residential photovoltaics? PV characteristics and houses simple residential design rules-of-thumb residential PV systems and … [Read more...]
Ecologically Friendly Timber Frame Homes
Below is a guest post with some information about the sustainability benefits of a timber frame home. There are some valid green arguments that can be made, and with most products, a lot of shades of green. Enjoy. Photos by Gravitas. Timber frame homes combine beauty and function into one very green package. Although their appearance resembles that of their medieval European cousins, modern timber frame homes have little else in common with those venerable buildings. These are some of … [Read more...]