•    Check to see if the company has it’s own manufacturing facility. If a problem arises, the chances are much greater that this type of organization will be able to fix the problem quicker, and a customer would find that working with a manufacturing facility based in the United States would be easier to deal with. They are generally in a better financial situation to work through the problem. Lodge Logs has recently relocated into a brand new, state of the art manufacturing facility.

•    A warranty is a must!  If the company you’re buying from won’t stand behind their product for a lifetime why should you? Additionally, working with a U.S. based company will be less complicated to deal with. Other countries courts don’t necessarily have your interests at heart. Lodge Logs has been in Boise, Idaho since 1975 and offers a limited lifetime warranty.

•    Make sure you are comparing apples to apples. Each company has its own definition of what’s included in their “complete” package. Ask the right questions: is the house pre-cut or will you get random lengths - is the necessary hardware included to assemble the walls - are floor joists, roof members, stairs, railing and vertical post included – are the gables and dormers full log or siding, if siding, is it ½ log or dimensional. For example, the savings one may get by purchasing a random length package can be offset by the time and labor involved in stacking the package, not to mention all the hardware necessary to assemble it (lags, oly screws, spikes, etc.). Lodge Logs will include as much or as little log material into every log package, meeting each home owners unique design and budgetary needs.

•    What type of fastening system does the log package use. Log homes can be assembled several ways – lags, spikes, oly screws, and the use of a thru-bolt system. We feel the best method is a thru-bolt system anchored into the foundation, topped off with a 1000 lb tension spring countersunk into the top course of the log wall. This type of system allows the entire wall to be tightened at once, with the springs keeping the log courses tight when (not if) the logs move; expanding when the logs settle, compressing if the logs take on moisture and grow (coastal and humid areas). This eliminates the need to chink or caulk most houses. It is also a huge benefit in earthquake and hurricane areas where additional engineering is necessary. Lodge Logs helped to pioneer the thru-bolt system. We utilize the same techniques now as we did when we started in 1975.

•    The use of kiln or air-dried green cut logs, dried to 15% moisture content. Problems that might arise when using dead standing material are that the moisture content (MC) in dead standing is very inconsistent. Within one log, the top could read at a 15% MC while the bottom reads at 25% MC. This occurs because after the tree dies the water gradually moves down to the base of the tree, drying it inconsistently. Another issue with dead standing material is the insects. They will move in after a forest fire, as well as infesting a depressed stand of green trees, and kill them. Inconsistently dried logs leads to problems of uneven settling and excessive checking. Lodge Logs uses a combination of air and kiln drying to bring the MC of our wall logs down to 15% total, well below the industry standard of 19% MC. Due to our drying methods and the fact we use a thru-bolt system, a Lodge Logs home will only settle between ¼” and ¾” for every 8’-0” of stacked wall logs. We purchase our inventory from the U.S. Forest Service, State of Idaho Lands Department, and from local private landowners. Additionally, we utilize the entire tree in our manufacturing process, making Lodge Logs an ecologically friendly company.

•    Drying Kerf applied to log before initiating drying process. Look for companies that put a saw cut into the log before drying. This reduces random cracking, twisting, and checking while drying and allows the log to dry in an even and controlled environment. At Lodge Logs, we put the saw cut near the center of the log when it is green to stress relieve it during the drying phase. This greatly reduces cracking, and allows the air to dry the log all the way through.

Quality Homes Begin With Quality Timber

Our logs are selected from only the highest quality stands of Lodgepole Pine, Ponderosa Pine, Englemann Spruce, Douglas Fir. Lodge Logs' own logging crews harvest the trees. Our loggers thin the number of smaller trees, allowing the older, more mature trees to grow. This logging practice helps to maintain the overall health of the forest. By having our own logging division we can control the availability, quality, and cost of our raw material, which translates into value and savings for our customers. All of our wall logs can be TPI (Timber Products Inspection) grade stamped if required by your local building department.

The secret to the quality and beauty of our wall logs is the curing curf, which is used to relieve stress and facilitate drying. The curing curf helps minimize surface checking and cracking. Logs are then kiln-dried to the Timber Products Inspection "Dry" standard.

Tolerance and Finishes

Logs are precision milled in our state-of-the-art manufacturing plant. The logs can have either a smooth finish or a hand hewn look if desired.

Log Joints

Where logs join together they have a slot in both ends, and a Styrofoam key block is inserted into the slot to prevent air infiltration

The Thru-Bolt System
Innovated by Lodge Logs in 1975

All wall logs are pre-drilled for "thru bolt" securement, which holds the log walls to the foundation. Most manufacturers use a time-consuming spike or lag bolt system, which aggravates cracking. Thru-bolts are placed at four on each corner, one on either side of windows, doors and fireplace openings, and approximately every 4 to 6 feet along the log wall. Tension springs are placed on top of each thru-bolt in order to maintain the tightness of the log wall system over time. The typical amount of settlement for our log walls is between 1/4 to 1/2 inch per eight feet of wall height.

 Corner Type

Lodge Logs produces wall log packages that utilize an overlapping saddle notch corner to insure structural stability and a weather tight fit.

Profiles

Our "D" log profile maintains a full round stockade corner, satisfying even the most ardent log home purist. It can also be matched with our full round profile providing for a mixture of both flat and round log walls throughout the home.

The Results
The Lodge Log Home Log Wall System

These many important elements combined produce our high-quality log wall system. The finished logs are numbered and have a given location in the wall package. All windows and doors are pre-engineered and pre-cut for ease of construction, which saves you time, labor, and money. Lodge Logs wall packages are designed to be easy to construct and maintain.

 Specifications

• Lodge Logs Package: Engelmann Spruce, Lodge Pole Pine, Ponderosa Pine, Douglas and Alpine Fir

Type of Timber:

•  Live-cut

Drying Method:

• Kiln-Dried-core

Moisture Content:

• TPI "Dry" standard
• Grade Stamped: TPI Select or Premium with no decay allowed

Profiles:

• Full-Round & "D" Style
• Fastening System: 5/8" Thru-Bolt Lodge Logs innovated in 1975 when we started in the log home industry.
• Precut: Window and Door Openings

Joinery:

• Swedish Cope with Single Tongue and Groove
• Sealer: Micro-Foam
• Corner Type: Saddle Notch

Log Lengths:

• Up to 20' Standard

Log Diameters:

• 7, 8, 9, 10 & 12 Inch
• Log Finish: Smooth or Hand Hewn

Lodge Logs packages are designed to be the easiest log wall package to construct and maintain. Typically, our log wall packages will only exhibit a 1/4 to 3/4 inch of settlement in an eight foot wall.