What is a handcrafted log cabin home? Just the name sounds more expensive because often we assume that products produced by hand will cost more than products that are massed produced. However, we think you will be happily surprised! Continue reading to find out what the differences are between Machined Log Home Kits and Handcrafted Log Cabin Kits and if there really is much of a price difference!
Continue reading
Trust us when we say, the last thing we want is for your log home dream to die, which is precisely the reason we are sharing this post. Too often folks come to us with a desire for a log cabin, often something they have been planning for a decade, and for one reason or another their project gets temporarily put on hold or is moved completely off the table.
Continue reading
Caribou Creek adds a beautiful log home addition to a 33 year old owner build. Come read about the entire process from beginning to end.
Dave and Debi Gullo found the perfect location for their custom log home in Sandpoint, Idaho, 33 years ago. On a visit from their home in Southern California, they purchased their land and spent the next year getting everything in order before making the big move. The Gullo’s managed to pay off all of their debt, minus a car payment, and 12 months later they were living in Idaho excited to start the next chapter of their life.
There was much to be learned as Dave began building their custom dream cabin, one log at a time. Dave cut the trees down himself and stripped the Tamarack logs by hand. “We did everything you could possibly do wrong!” laughed Debi, now fully recognizing how their eagerness over three decades ago was greater than their knowledge and expertise in building a log home. “But this was Dave’s dream, and we were grateful for the opportunity to make it happen.”
Caribou Creek’s exceptionally meticulous process ensures that each and every log is dried to perfection. Using one 50-foot kiln and another 70-foot kiln, logs are dried to 20% moisture at the core. This dramatically reduces the movement of the log once it has been set and provides a stable, superior material to work with even before the crafting process begins. Taking the time and effort in selecting and treating only the best of logs is a point of pride for Caribou Creek, the only handcrafted custom log home building company that kiln-dries their wood before they start the customization process. Learn more about our drying methods
Each naturally tapered log is hand-peeled with a draw-knife. From one end of the log to the other, you will not find any butt splices in any of the logs Caribou Creek uses to build your home. None.
The Gullo’s chose the round-on-round look for their addition (as opposed to stacked square logs) that included Weatherall’s Triple-Stretch synthetic chinking. Simply put, this flexible chinking method allows the logs to shrink and expand without damage.
The addition was built using a non-settling process that locks the wall logs together, while still allowing them to shrink independently of each other. To be clear, the house will not settle at all. This means that all the interior framing can be done just like a stick-framed house, without having to implement any special building techniques to allow for settling.
Caribou Creek is one of the very few custom handcrafted log home builders who use this engineered concept. It’s a tried and true method they have used for many years with tremendous success.
When building a custom log cabin or home, the owner may choose to use their own general contractor or use Caribou Creek. Regardless of their choice, Caribou Creek remains a committed partner throughout the entire building process.
If the owner chooses their own contractor, Caribou Creek meets with them and explains the building process as a whole and all of the nuances that make their handcrafted log homes exceptional. Priority is placed on open communication between every partner involved in the making of a house, including and especially with the owners. This ensures every buyer is getting the exact cabin or log home they desire.
Clearly communicating details are the norm and ensure that there are no surprises along the way for either the builder or homeowner. If the owner is working with their own general contractor, Caribou Creek is intentional in making sure communication is maintained with them throughout the design, production, reset, and post-production period.
Many people choose to have Caribou Creek do the reset (when the handcrafted log home package is reassembled on the home site). If the owners prefer to have their own contractor reset the home, they can call for advice any time throughout the project or ask any questions they may have about finishing or interior work.
If necessary, Caribou Creek will even visit the site during the reset. “Everybody was so nice, and it was clear that everyone knew their jobs very well,” said Debi. “The whole approach from everyone involved was comforting. The whole process was laid out so well, and nothing was hidden. Brian explained everything, so we never had to guess what was happening.”
The Gullo’s chose to have Caribou Creek do the reset of their addition. “That was an easy choice for us,” explained Debi, “it was so much easier, and we felt that if we had someone else come out to do the reset, it might only get done halfway.” Thirty years ago, we would have said, “Heck no! We’ll do it ourselves! However, we’re a little older and wiser now, and we were happy not to have to worry about a thing and leave it to the experts. What would have taken us, who knows how long, was finished by Caribou Creek in one day. Amazing!”
The best compliment any business can receive is satisfaction by their customers. “Everybody was very nice to deal with, and I do mean everyone!” said Debi. “They were hard workers who do their job well. I like everything they did. I don’t have even one complaint. Dave and I looked at our new home not long ago in awe. We both said, ‘Yeah! This is really good.’ We also both agreed that we wished that we would have started our custom log home with Caribou Creek three decades ago when we first built the place!
I would definitely recommend Caribou Creek Log & Timber to anyone who ever wants to have a custom-crafted log cabin of the highest quality. My gosh, you guys do incredible work – just beautiful! Thank you so much.”
Thank you, Dave and Debi. It’s people like you that make all of the love, sweat, and passion in what we do worth every minute.
