Welcome to the April 2014 issue of The Oak Leaf! For new readers, this is a monthly newsletter that is sent by e-mail to those that have expressed an interest in Gastineau Log Homes. We use this as a way of communicating technical, design and industry information. For more information, check out our web site at www.oakloghome.com.
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Trivia Question: Which Beatles singles occupied the top five slots on Billboards’ Hot 100 List 50 years ago this week? (See the answer below.)
This Seven Gables II has the fireplace on the side wall vs in the center, which really opens up the space. The exposed beam truss was added but intertwined with the railing for the upstairs loft. From the loft, you have a clear view of Table Rock Lake.
Seven Gables II in Therma Log with Smart Match Interior The picture to the right is of a Seven Gables II that was built to look exactly like a solid Oak log home by using Therma Log on the outside and Smart Match Oak siding on the inside. This photo was taken just before they moved in. Don’t you love the exposed beam truss with the loft railing?
Does this look like a beautiful wood floor? Well it is actually a tile floor! So in areas like a bathroom or kitchen (or even outside!) you can have the advantages of tile with the beauty of wood! High-resolution printing technology allows Mediterranea (and many other manufacturers) to produce ceramic tile that looks like wood.
Looking for some unique bathroom fixtures? Kashani has three lines that incorporate a clean, modern wood aesthetic into beautiful fixtures.
Wood bath fixtures: If you’re looking for an entirely different type of bath collection, Kashani offers a line of products that combines wood with white powder-coated paint on the interior or exterior. Click on the photo of the tub to see the three collections. I really like the solid wood collection.
Kohler introduces a toilet seat with a night light! This new product features a lighted hinge that illuminates the toilet space enough so homeowners may leave the overhead lights off. It runs on a seven-hour timer, allowing the light to be on during the night and off during the day when it’s not needed. I am showing my age when I see that this could be really handy?
Click on this photo to read an article on R-Value vs Infiltration Rate
In March we had a log raising near Jefferson City, MO. This photo shows the home as it is being built. At a log raising, people come and watch the construction crew work and stack the logs. You don’t have to do any of the work! Some people come for an hour, some people come for the day. Let us know if you would like to attend a log raising!
R-Value vs Infiltration Rate: Energy standards today often specify the required R Values for various building assemblies. It is rare to find specifications for air infiltration. Click here to go to an article that is easy to understand and includes the results of a study that proves that prevention of air infiltration will provide a significantly higher return on investment than increasing the “R” Value of the walls or roof. This is one of the “easiest to understand” explanations that I have found.
If you are going to use a front loading washer and dryer, put a cabinet under them to raise them up off of the floor. By using a cabinet (vs what you can buy at the store to match the w/d units) you can get better storage, it will look more custom and you can make it as tall as you want. And if you want addition storage overhead, your upper and lower cabinets will match.
Where is the best place to install a washer and dryer in a log home? The best spot is against a frame wall vs against a log wall. Because all the connections can be buried into the frame wall which is impossible in a log wall. Locating the dryer close to the exterior wall makes it easier to vent it to the outside of the house though. So the perfect location would be on a frame wall at a 90 degree angle to an exterior log wall.
Ready for move in! How would you like to move into this home office? What you cannot see in this photo are the windows. There is a huge bank of windows to the photographers back that looks out at Table Rock Lake. I would have a hard time getting any work done with that view!
Construction Seminar Schedule for 2014:
Click here for information on our one day construction seminars.
Here is our schedule for 2014. Sign up soon!
April 12th
June 21st
Sept. 6th
Oct 25th
Open Houses:
Saturday May 3 from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
PA Oak Log Homes
Dennis & Colleen Gabel
131 Oley Furnace Road
Fleetwood, PA 19522
Dennis: 610-790-7447
Colleen: 610-790-7479
Answer to the Trivia Question: From Number 1 to Number 5: Can’t Buy Me Love, Twist and Shout, She Loves You, I Want to Hold Your Hand and Please, Please Me. The feat has not been matched.
Quote of the Month: “Grandparents are similar to a piece of string – handy to have around and easily wrapped around the fingers of their grandchildren.” ~Author Unknown (Personal Note: On March 20, I became a grandparent for the first time. I know exactly what this quote means! – LG)
