Denver Log and Timber Home Show

Come out and see us in Denver, Colorado at The Log and Timber Home Show! Sitka Log Homes founder, John Johnson, would love to meet you and discuss your log or timber frame home plans with you. Log home shows are a great opportunity to get to know the people behind the companies vying for your business and to learn all about the differences in building techniques and what type of home fits with your vision. Bring your questions, bring your plans, bring your family and enjoy the show!

Dates/Hours
Friday, September 28
11 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Saturday, September 29
10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Sunday, September 30
10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Location
Denver Merchandise Mart
The Pavilion
451 East 58th Ave
Denver, CO 80216
Phone: (303) 292-6278 

 
           

Renovating Log Cabins At The Jasper Park Lodge

Located in the heart of Jasper National Park nestled on the shores of Lac Beauvert, The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge is deeply embedded within western Canada’s history.

It began as a tent city in 1915 in association with the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway but was taken over in 1921 by Canadian National Railways at which time 8 log cabins were built and it was officially opened as The Jasper Park Lodge.

Expansion continued with the addition of more log cabins, a main lodge that at the time was touted as the largest single-storey log structure in the world, and a world class golf course.

During the 40’s and 50’s most of the original log cabins were replaced and tragically in July of 1952 the original lodge was lost to fire but re-built by the following year. Through the 60’s and 70’s new suites were added to the resort as well as tennis courts, an outdoor heated swimming pool and a golf club house.

Fast forward to 2012 and the log cabins at the resort are in need of a little TLC. Enter Sitka Log Homes. It has been our pleasure to work on updating and replacing some of the log work on these historic cabins after all these years. Great care has been taken to match the original log work thereby allowing the rustic charm of the cabins and resort to continue…and if we have to endure staying in a 4 star resort surrounded by breath-taking scenery and incredible nature, well, so be it. We do what we have to do! :)

A BC Log Home at Sun Peaks Resort

Sitka Log Homes built the Sun Peaks project for Brent Ellingson and his family in the summer of 2005 and set it up that fall. It has huge 36-40" diameter cedar flares throughout. The house was designed by Brent and his firm Oakvale Developments
This project was two semi-truck loads of log work, all in cedar.
The main floor plan includes a two story ceiling over the great room, den/guest room, kitchen with pantry, dining and master bedroom with ensuite. The great room and master suite open out onto a covered deck where the view is spectacular. There are another two bedrooms upstairs, plus bathrrom and laundry room and the lower level has a rec room, living room another bedroom and two piece bathroom.
Total square footage of this home is 2525 with the main floor being 1733 sq.ft.

 To view more pictures of this project and the floor plan go to our Sun Peaks resort log home page.
_____

Log Homes and So Much More

Log Homes and So Much More!

It is true that at Sitka Log Homes we build custom log homes and timber frame homes but that is not all we do. We also enjoy the opportunity to get creative with our clients, helping  them to design and then build all kinds of unique log and timber products.

We are often asked to build log or timber mantles, staircases, picnic tables, gazebo's, gate entrances etc. These small projects are often done when our house building schedule is slower allowing our crews more time to fully use their creativity while enjoying a calmer pace.

Here are a few smaller projects we have created over the years:

ranch entry

timber carport

log and timber bench

town sign (giant ax)

log and timber table under pergola

log gazebo

picnic table

custom log mantle

log and timber pergola display

entry post cluster

Picnic table

timber gazebo

steel banded timber truss and posts

 log spiral staircase

unique log stair feature

 

town of Valemount entry

___________________________

The Log House at Roaring River Ranch - Feature Home

Atop a hill overlooking the acreage and river below, this impressive log home offers numerous top quality features and breathtaking panoramic views ringed by snow capped mountains. Built in 2008, this beautiful custom log home features Sitka Log Home's design and construction. With three levels, the floor plan offers plenty of room with over 3750 square feet. The most striking features are the massive handcrafted pine log beams and framing found throughout the home with incredible views out every window. The spacious open living area offers knotty hickory flooring, a cozy three-sided natural rock fireplace, floor to cathedral ceiling windows and a log railed staircases. The kitchen features custom stunning concrete counters, knotty alder cabinets, a large island with a six-burner range and of course, windows with magnificent views. The Master bedroom, with its own cozy wood stove and well-designed master bath, is also found on the main level. The upper level offers two very large bedrooms, each with a bath and a loft area. One of the bedrooms is currently being used as an office. The bottom level offers a recreation area featuring a one-of-a-kind custom wet bar made with hand hewn wood and an entertainment area with a pull-down television screen.

Wrapping the home are spacious decks designed for outdoor enjoyment. State of the art technology is found throughout the home including broadband wireless internet. Outside the home and overlooking the valley is a stunning and beautiful in-ground gunite pool and hot tub. Designed with a vanishing edge, very few pools offer the incredible views that this one does.

More photos of this unique log accent home.

_________________

Building a Log Home - Book Recommendation

There are thousands upon thousands of questions that crop up when you are building your log home. We are always available to answer any questions that may arise either through email or by phone 250-791-6683. One handy tool we have discovered is a book called The Illustrated Guide to Log Home Construction - From Log Shell to Finished Home. 

We are always quick to recommend this book to our clients. Here is the description as well as some reviews and some information about the author:

Book Description 

Publication Date: July 12, 2010

This very unique book focuses exclusively on converting the log home shell into a finished log home. There is no other book like this on the market today! It is a must-have "how-to" guide for log home builders, general contractors who finish log homes, designers and architects, students and do-it yourself log building enthusiasts. It covers detailed provisions right from the foundations to ensure that the sill log will be tightly sealed, all the way to the installation of kitchen cabinets in a manner that will allow the logs to settle without damaging the cabinetry. Each chapter of this book depicts one aspect of the log home finishing process and provides several options using a diverse selection of techniques and products available today. Three dimensional color drawings depict the placement of sealants e.g., gaskets, wind-proofing membranes and vapor barriers, and explicitly show how to use and install them so that they effectively perform their function.

Review

This book is a giant step towards demystifying the process of turning a log shell into an outstanding dream home. Wayne Sparshu, Spar-Log Homes Inc., Alberta, Canada --Personal correspondence

Log Homes are everyone's dream home. Building with logs is truly an art and a science. This essential guide details the necessary provisions to complete the dream and avoid the nightmares of guesswork. Robert Savignac, Arbor Vitae Log Craft, British Columbia, Canada --Personal correspondence

This book promotes the observation and understanding of the separate parts of the building process puzzle. It provides creative common sense solutions that have evolved through the open sharing of ideas by a network of focused log building professionals. The result yields enduring end-user satisfaction, creating more work for all. Donald L. Breimhurst, Home Field Advantage Ltd., Pennsylvania, USA --Personal correspondence

About the Author

Dalibor Houdek was introduced to log building construction at the Pat Wolfe Log Building School in Ontario in 1993. In the following year, he received his engineering degree in timber construction and started his own log and timber frame building company. Subsequently, he earned a Ph.D. for his work on the fire performance of handcrafted log walls.

Since joining Forintek Canada Corp., now known as FPInnovations , Houdek has assisted dozens of log building companies with improving product performance and increasing productivity in the log building yard. He is an active member of the International Log Builders' Association where he also served as a Director, and a Vice President.

He has co-authored two other books on round log construction, and frequently presents on log and timber construction throughout North America and Europe.
______________

What is The Best Wood for Building A Log House?

Sitka Log Homes is located in beautiful British Columbia, Canada where there is an abundance of natural beauty and a tremendous variety of forest. We are able to acquire our wood from sources within 150 km's from our facility, therefore reducing emissions caused by long hauling. There are four wood species that we use when building our log homes or timber frame homes.

Wood Species offered by Sitka Log Homes

Engelmann Spruce logs tend to be whiter than the other species available. It is very uniform, has a limited amount of knots and is very clean looking. However, it also tends to have larger "checks" (cracks) in the logs when the logs finish settling and drying. This is not a structural issue, but an aesthetic one. Spruce dries easily and is very stable. It is moderately strong, stiff and tough, is soft and easily worked and stained. Only slightly decay resistant and good in dry climates.

Lodgepole Pine logs tend to have many knots, more "natural" scarring such as cat faces and crevices, and has some blue and gray streaks in it. It is generally referred to as more "rustic" looking with more "character", however, that should be qualified by saying that we have had pine log work in some of the most contemporary homes we have built. A beautiful wood, soft, it is stable and resistant to checking in dry climates, and it’s easy to stain.

Douglas Fir logs are very uniform, have very few knots and a light "orange" hue to the cambium (outside) layer of the wood with a deep orange/red heartwood color. Commonly used for long beams and trusses where strength is of concern. It is the strongest of the species available, but really does not offer anything extraordinarily above the others. Douglas Fir is relatively decay resistant, and accepts stain moderately well.

Western Red Cedar  has great value in being naturally more resistant to moisture, that said however, if a log home is properly finished and maintained it will last just as long as a cedar log home. Cedar is darker in colour and is also softer tending to dent more easily. Cedar has that amazing scent (think of a cedar chest) that will also accompany it. We often use cedar for large feature posts and leave some of the flared trunk on the bottom. It is a beautiful and often stunning feature in many homes.
Note: Western red cedar is British Columbia's official tree. Western red cedar has been called "the cornerstone of Northwest Coast aboriginal culture," and has great spiritual significance. Coastal people used all parts of the tree.

Home built with more than one timber choice.

Occasionally log homes have a variety of wood used within. The main walls may be pine, the ridges may be fir and then they may have a cedar post as a feature accent log.

Sitka Log Homes Welcomes BC Delegates to 100 Mile House

Sitka Log Homes would like to welcome the NCLGA Delegates to 100 Mile House. We hope you enjoy the conference and your visit to our community.

100 Mile House Mayor, Mitch Campsall, thanks Walter Bramsleven, General Manager of Sitka Log Homes, for the log and timber pergola displayed at the NCLGA Conference held May 2-4 at the South Cariboo Recreational Centre.

We're in Edmonton!

Next weekend Sitka Log Homes will be at The Edmonton Log & Cottage Show! Visit our booth to discuss your log or timber frame home or project.

Edmonton Log and Cottage Show, Edmonton Expo Centre, Northlands Park, Edmonton, AB

Show Hours: Friday, April 13, Noon – 7pm, Saturday, April 14, 10am – 7pm, Sunday, April 15, 10am – 4:30pm Admission: General Admission: $10.00 kids 12 and under Free

Time to Get Building!

Spring is in the air at  Sitka  Log Homes! 

Let our guys get started building your log or timber project!
 

Log Home Show Coming Soon!

We look forward to meeting you at the  BC Log Home and Timber Frame & Country Living Show,  March 10 & 11, 2012 @ Tradex, Abbotsford. 

Great Time at the International Sportsmen's Exposition!

We had a great time at the International Sportsmen's Exposition in Las Vegas. Thank you to all the people that stopped by our booth. We enjoyed meeting you and discussing your inquiries about log homes, timber frame homes, and hybrid homes. A big "Hello" to our neighbours at the show, Joe and Arlene, from Smokin Joe's Lodge in Alaska.

Upcoming Show!

  We are starting 2012 out with a trip to Las Vegas for the International Sportsmen's Exposition, Feb. 2-4!  Visit us there so we can help you get started on your dream log, timber frame, or hybrid house plans for 2012. We look forward to building recreational cabins and mountain retreats for your future outdoor adventures!
Wishing you a Happy New Year!

Las Vegas Convention Center 3150 Paradise Dr Las Vegas, NV 89109 Parking: Las Vegas Convention Center Parking: $10

Las Vegas Feb 2 - 4, 2012 (Thursday to Saturday) HOURS: Thursday 10:00 am to 6:00 pm Friday 10:00 am to 6:00 pm Saturday 9:00 am to 6:00 pm TICKETS $12.00 Adult FREE - Youth and Children 15 years and under FREE - Active Military with military ID card