Archive for the ‘Log Home Restoration’ Category

Log home problems in “middle-aged” log homes

The following is an article written by Matt Edmunds. It first appeared in the magazine “Log Home Living” in their June 2012 issue.

Seal of excellence

We have restored log homes in the upper Midwest for over thirty years.  Our business started out of necessity back in 1978 when my father (former owner of Edmunds & Company) was looking to restore our family cabin in Northwestern Wisconsin.  Upon not finding anyone to do the work locally – he did the work himself.

After a decade or so of working on older places built between the 1880’s and 1950’s we started to see more “newer” homes that needed restoration. In the last 20 years, our work on log homes has shifted from almost exclusively working on homes built before 1950 to almost 60% of the homes we work on being built after 1950.

log home in WisconsinWhile the antique log home has its charm and many hold family memories and histories, this generation of log homes is not the focus of this article. Homes built since 1975 have their unique problems and I will go over some of these problems in detail to give the reader a road map for keeping them sound and livable for the next 40 years.  Many of these homes are used as year-round residences. This means that we want to be especially mindful about the necessity of maintaining them so that their owners may enjoy these beautiful structures for generations to come.

log ends are too long

This is a design flaw. The crowns stick out beyond the drip line, susceptible to rot.

Let me say that our fast-paced world has certainly affected the way log homes get built.  The statement that they “don’t build them like they used to” certainly holds true for many of these homes. Many were built with quickness in mind and constructed with cheap materials. If I could give one piece of advice going forward it is “do it right the first time”… it’s much easier than going back and fixing it later.  Investments in gutters and proper flashing, for example, can save thousands of dollars in repairs down the road.

Click here to view a PDF of  15 of the most common problems we see with middle-aged log homes and what can be done to remedy these issues.

If  you prefer to scroll down, here is the rest of the article.  (more…)

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Log home restoration projects come in all different shapes and sizes…

…and at one time or another most log homes need some sort of restoration.

In the course of our log restoration work in Minnesota and Wisconsin, we see many different types of log homes. I find it interesting to think about all the different types of homes and cabins that we call “log”:

From handcrafted and scribed massive white pine structures to those with 6″ log siding

log home repair

Large timbers

log home with log siding

Log home with log siding



 


 

 

From vertical log cabins at rural lake resorts to historic hand-hewn structures in the barren plains on Minnesota

vertical log home

Log home using vertical logs

Hand-hewn log home

Hand-hewn log home

 

 


 

 

 

From tiny log outhouses to 5000 sq. ft. log lodges

log home with large overhang

Notice the large overhang - a good thing

 


 

 

 

 

 

Log homes and the need for log home restoration can happen in all of these types of log homes. Click here for more photos of rot in log homes and cabins.

Contact us:  Log home restoration and repair is all we do, and all we have done for over 30 years!  Find us on the web at www.restorelogs.com or call us at 877-378-4403.

Let us take the worry out of restoring your log home or cabin.

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Log Homes Using Turned or Manufactured Logs

Every season starts with expectations of what style of log home will come first. The first home this year that needed our restoration experience happened to be a 1980’s turned log style resort lodge. The charm was evident, as it was located on Rice Lake in Northern Wisconsin. Every place that Edmunds and Company sets out to restore has a story worth telling but let’s focus on the actual construction of this building and why we were hired.

turned logs

Turned logs are uniform in size.

Turned log style (where every log is exactly the same in diameter) is a style of construction that took off in the United States about 30 years ago. Over the years, different companies have manufactured kits and marketed package deals. Typically there is a raw processing plant that can manufacture uniform logs – one after the other – in an assembly style. These logs can be made into several sizes specific to a customer’s specifications. The notching can vary widely depending on preference and budget. For manufacturers – the style has proven to be a good use of non-uniform wood sources and this has reduced the cost of these log homes as well. (more…)

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Classic Log Buildings – WPA and CCC buildings of the 1930′s

Here in Minnesota and Wisconsin, the discussion of restoration and repair of log structures would not be complete without talking about the log homes and buildings built during the era of the great depression. The WPA (Works Progress Administration) and the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) had many far-reaching effects on our landscape that we can still see today.

Bemidji State Park log building

An example of this style of construction -- a picnic shelter at the Bemidji State Park, MN

Roosevelt’s New Deal is responsible for producing some of the most interesting and well-crafted log structures in this country. Many state parks in Minnesota and Wisconsin had their beginnings because of the public investments of the 1930′s.

When these parks were created, the states hired the unemployed to build mostly log structures with the idea of making buildings that could stand the test of time. The St. Croix State Park  in Hinckley, MN was one of the first state parks and the buildings there were later used as models to build parks in other states.

ely boy scouts log building

Good example of log work with stone foundation.

These log buildings were meant to last, unlike many of the settlers’ cabins or logging camp structures of earlier times. The state hired lead builders (many coming from Scandinavia and Germany), who had skilled crews of laborers to build the log buildings in the new parks. Most were built in what we today call a “round log scribe A/V” style of log construction. Many also incorporated stone quarried locally into the structures, creating some quite impressive stonework that is still around today. (more…)

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Log building with historic significance gets a new lease on life… by Matt Edmunds

log sauna

Oldest Finnish sauna in the U.S.

We worked on an historic Finnish-style log structure back in 2004 located near Cokato, MN. The log “savu”or “smoke” sauna at Temperance Corners is a prime example of the Finnish- style of log construction. Known as the “Savu Sauna”, this is the oldest Finnish sauna in the United States at the ripe old age of 140.  This type of sauna had an open fire that was built right in the sauna building. After heating it up for hours, the fire was put out and then water was poured over the pile of rocks that was in the sauna creating a piping hot steam sauna. Since those days, some things have improved with time when it comes to taking a sauna.

Click here for more on the Cakato Finnish American Historical group.

log sauna

Notice the lack of a foundation.

One thing we have found to be true with these turn-of-the-century log buildings is that in almost every case, they have marginal foundations. It is always important to consider this when assessing the structural integrity of an historic log building. Everything starts with a solid foundation, which keeps logs free of moisture from the ground. The Savu Sauna was a classic example of a building that had everything going for it except one thing – it needed a new foundation. (more…)

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Log Home Construction Finnish-style by Blaise Sopiwnik

Here in Wisconsin and Minnesota, Finnish settlers have set the bar high for hewn log construction.  Finns are the ones who created the log cabin that we all envision. In this post I will discuss Finnish log homes, as well as how and why they were constructed. I will also give some examples of projects done on these original-style log homes illustrating some aspects of maintenance and repair of these structures. First I want to give you a description of what a hewn Finnish-style log home is.

Finnish dovetail hewn log structures are some of the most solid log buildings ever constructed. These buildings were all built with hand tools such as cross cut saws, broad-axes, mallets and different types of chisels. These were structures of necessity. Settlers needed shelter, often quickly, and they possessed the knowledge and the tools to build it. Logs were plentiful.

Finnish-style log home

The first consideration of any builder is its actual location and what species of mature trees could be harvested near by. The quality of mature trees was a main deciding factor in where to build. Trees were harvested on site in most cases. The desired species of trees included White Pine, Hemlock, Eastern White Cedar, and Oak.

After felling and limbing the trees, the builder would immediately set out to hew (flatten the log) and shape the logs to start drying out the timber. This included cross cutting the logs to a certain depth and then broad axing the extra material away from the log creating a top flat and a bottom flat with rounded edges on the sides. This process would expose heartwood, which is the hardest, most rot-resistant part of the tree. This also opened up the log to air dry the center, thus reducing the possibility for extreme shrinkage later in the building’s life.  Next it was time to lay out the corner dovetail joints. (more…)

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Log bridges for sale

Hot off the press… Edmunds and Company goes into the log bridge building business!

log bridge

Anna and Reed Edmunds at work on the bridge.

Due to the lack of snow this winter, the Edmunds family decided to complete a fun family project during the Christmas break. We built a log bridge on our property.

log bridge

Freshly groomed after 14'" of snow on March 2, 2012

We had so much fun we decided to market them. This one is 30 feet long and six feet wide. The bridge is made with sustainably harvested, rot-resistant Western cedar logs and struts, local Tamarack railings, and a pine deck.

In our business of restoring log homes, the materials to build these bridges is readily available to us. The beauty of the design and construction is that we can build one almost anywhere.

log bridge

Picture this bridge on your property. Would sell for $4,000, installed within 100 miles of Washburn WI.

Look for more in the coming months about options and pricing. If you, or someone you know, wants a walking, Nordic, or an ATV bridge, contact us at 877-378-4403 or email us at info@restorelogs.com.

If you would like to learn more about our company and the work we do, see us on www.restorelogs.com.

Interested in a log bridge? Call us at 877-378-4403 or email us at info@restorelogs.com.

 

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Edmunds & Company Welcomes Blaise Back

blaise is back!

Welcome back Blaise!

Edmunds and Company is excited to welcome back our old friend, Blaise Sopiwnik. Blaise started working with Edmunds and Company long ago as a teenager, alongside his father, Jesse.

Jesse is now a foreman and one of the company’s longest standing crew members. For the last three years, Blaise has been an admissions counselor at Northland College in Ashland, WI, where he oversaw a three-year increase in enrollment.

blaise and John sopiwnik

Blaise with his brother, John. A fish caught off-hours on a restoration job in Wisconsin.

Blaise brings to the table his project management and marketing skills as well as a fresh outlook. This spring, Blaise and I will be working together to write a series of articles about our experience restoring and repairing log homes, so stay tuned. Welcome back, Blaise!

 

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Oily Soap (Or How to Win Friends and Influence Bosses)

The “road” is more than a straight line between departure and destination.  It is a place in itself, especially to those who practice their craft for Edmunds and Company Log Home Restorations.  Each place on the road has its unique characteristic, whether it is the house we are working on, or its location.  Life can be difficult on the road, but it also holds an attraction for us.  It is a world of its own.  Hence our tongue-in-cheek-dictum, “What happens on the Road, stays on the Road.”  Our crew really doesn’t have any lurid events to hide from those at home, but if it did, who would understand?  I believe the statute of limitations has run out on the story I am about to tell.

Back in 1993, the Jurassic Period of Edmunds and Company, Matt Edmunds’ father Peter, then owner of the company, announced a major project east of Burlington, Vermont near Underhill.  We would be restoring a family owned log home situated at the end of a dirt road and the trail head leading to Mt. Mansfield in the state park of that name.  It would be a working vacation and we were invited to bring the family.  Food and transportation were provided.  We log workers were thrilled to take the family on a long journey to the beautiful mountains of Vermont and get paid for it to boot.

We camped on the sight (most of us are experienced campers and canoeists) of the historic cabin built just after the Civil War.  It was almost beyond redemption but still worth saving.  We demolished the crumbling stone chimney and rotten floors, letting them fall into the dank cellar of the building.  We jacked up and supported walls, rebuilt the floor, then proceeded to replace rotten logs, imitating the joinery in vogue here during Abe Lincoln’s presidency.

Current and former crew members. Jesse and Peter are on the far right of the photo.

The camping went well despite a spell of rain that made the mud at Woodstock look like a day at the beach. The children explored the trails which followed crystal clear streams into the highlands.  Some families took side journeys to concert events, visits to nearby relatives or other attractions in the area.  Our sojourns to exotic pizza joints, or restaurants in Burlington on the weekends were enjoyed by all.  Mostly though, we cooked and ate wonderful meals right in camp. (more…)

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Log restoration – Replacing crowns

rotten crown

Someone else had previously repaired this corner. Notice there the exposed remaining rot and the lack of a scribed fit.

Log restoration and replacing rotten logs is what we specialize in.

Sometimes we get calls from people who have hired other contractors do work on their log homes. We inspected this home this summer, where another contractor had replaced a crown a few years previously. As you can see, there are a few problems with this installation.

First of all – the log was not properly fit into the space. Sections of rot were not removed and the log chosen for the replacement was not as big as its predecessor.  Also pine was used as the replacement log.

rotten crown

Notice carpenter ants already working on this pine log. A dried cedar log is best used here.

In the short time since the log was installed, the wood boring insects have taken up residence. The rot has begun here and the efforts made to remove and install the new log were in vane.

The work needed to be done right the first time. Replacing rotten crowns is a time consuming process and the right size and species of replacement log needs to be used.

crowns replaced

Here is an example of a stack of crowns we replaced.

We use cedar kiln-dried logs because they will not rot or shrink.  We can also match the stain on our replacement logs to the surrounding logs, unlike this example.

RELATED LINKS AND TIPS FOR LOG RESTORATION SERVICES:

Replacing vertical logs

Replacing crowns

Why do logs rot?

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