Welcome to the June 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: What was the greatest number of stripes on an official US flag? (See the answer below.)
Here is the view from the loft out through the living room windows of the home above.
Seven Gable design featured this month in the Oak Leaf: One of our most popular designs in the Seven Gables. This month we are exclusively featuring photos from homes that were based on that design. And this is just a small sampling of all the ideas that people have built after starting with the standard plan. Bring us your ideas and let’s get started on a design customized for you!
Here is another view from the same home as above. Round half log Oak stairs were used with square stringers.
Don’t you wish you were at this stage by now??
Turn your tv into a digital picture frame! Looking at a blank tv screen in the middle of your living room wall is not attractive. But there is an app that will transform any internet connected tv into a way to show art from museums or even photos from your phone! You can choose images by categories like you do Playlists for music. And the App is FREE! It can even be used on your laptop or desktop computer. Now more trying to hide ugly tv screens!
This diagram shows how Artkick works.
Here is a Seven Gables II built in Illinois by our builder/dealer Jeff Fore. Jeff has built about 100 Gastineau Log Homes!
This is a kitchen in a Seven Gables II. The raised bar “hides” the cook top and uses bar height chairs vs table height chairs. There is an office added to this end of the house which eliminated the window over the sink, but with the big glass door who needs the window??
Control the Quality of the air coming into your home: Air infiltration is the biggest culprit to energy loss and we continue to develop new methods for reducing it. However, when you do so, the difference in air pressure between the inside and outside of your home will cause unfiltered air to enter through all kinds of areas. We want to control and condition this air instead. This unit brings fresh air in but it has a core that transfers heat and moisture to the supply air coming in so that it tempers the indoor temperature and moisture levels. This helps maintain energy efficiency inside the house while bringing in new, clean air from outdoors.
Keeping with our theme of Seven Gables design photos this month, here is a Master Bathroom modification! These windows look out at Table Rock Lake in MO!
This sump pump will text you when water levels are rising or if the power goes out.
A Sump Pump That Will Text You! I know this is not a very glamorous product, but several years ago we had a power outage at our model home center during a storm. The sump pump failed and we had 4″ of water in our finished basement level. I now have new respect for the importance of sump pumps! This one will text you when water levels are rising or there is a power outage. It is the only sump pump on the market today that uses cellular technology (vs the Internet or landline) to send text messages instantly. Great idea! Thanks Wayne Water Systems!
Construction Seminar Schedule for 2014:
Click here for information on our one day construction seminars.
Here is our schedule for 2014. Sign up soon!
Sept. 6th
Oct 25th
Log Raising:
We are planning log raisings north of Columbia, MO and near St Genevieve, MO soon. Give us a call if you would like an invitation.
Answer to the Trivia Question: 15, on the US flag adopted in 1795 after Vermont and Kentucky joined the original 13 colonies as states. In 1818, after five more states had joined the Union, Congress permanently set the number of stripes on the flag at 13 and rules that every year on July 4th an additional star would be added to the flag for each state admitted to the Union since the previous July 4th.
Quote of the Month: “The taxpayer: That’s someone who works for the federal government but doesn’t have to take the civil service examination.” – Ronald Reagan
