Eaton Executive Log Homes- Construction

THE EXECUTIVE LOG HOME

Lifetime Warrantee

Our logs carry a warrantee for life against air and water leaks. The warrantee is transferable to all subsequent owners. Read on to discover the why and how we are able to offer this incredible guarantee.

About Cedar

Why Eaton Executive Log Homes only uses premium tight grain Cedar

If you were to build any old log home your log species choices would be Premium Western Red Cedar or inferior Western Red Cedar, Yellow Cedar, White Cedar, Fir, Lodge Pole Pine, Tamarack, Larch, Cypress, Yellow Pine, Ponderosa Pine, Spruce and Oak.

The first ingredient in building the best log home is, of course, the species of log. By far the best species is not only Cedar but inland premium Western Red Cedar that grows only in the mountains of the Pacific Northwest of the Americas.

White cedar does not grow big enough and has to be milled down to a uniform diameter which makes it only good for milled kit homes. We do not built milled log homes which is covered in the Construction section. Yellow cedar , though it grows big enough, has an offensive smell. Yellow Cedar is also denser and does not have the insulating qualities of Red Cedar.

Only 2 species of woods are considered practical for outside use on decks and siding. They are Redwood and Cedar. Redwood is not an option in building log homes.

Inland vs. Coastal Red Cedar - tight grain

Cedar growing near the more temperate climates along the coast grow faster than inland cedar creating bigger growth rings. All logs, when they dry, develop cracks called checking. This faster growth creates bigger checks. The best cedar is found high in the Rocky Mountains where it is cold with a short growing season. This cedar takes years more to grow to the acceptable size and therefore creates small growth rings and thus the very desirable tight grain resulting in the small checking.

Cedar is insect resistant

For generations and thousands of years our ancestors have known about cedar's natural defenses to repel bugs. The chests that held heirlooms we didn't want attacked by moths and other bugs were made from cedar, the “cedar chest”. People will use a pouch of cedar chips in their closets to keep the bugs out. High end homes will line the entire inside of their closets with cedar. We use cedar chips in the roof structure so a spider doesn't come down and sit beside you. Cedar chips are used by ranchers for bedding and to keep the bugs from their livestock. Dog and cat beds, the good ones, are filled with cedar shavings for the same reason. Log species, other than cedar, attract bugs rather than repel them.

Cedar is rot resistant

There are 2 big enemies of logs. The 1 st is bugs and the second is rot. Cedar is rot resistant. If snow or water get to the logs they will rot over time. But not nearly as much so with cedar. This amazing wood stands up against the elements like no other. Cedar log structures in Scandinavia are still standing and are structurally sound after centuries. Ranchers for centuries have used cedar posts for their fences. These posts planted in the ground for years will not rot.

Cedar considered Sacred

The Indians for the Pacific Northwest thought cedar to be sacred. They built many of their totem poles out of cedar. Cedar totem poles would last. Totem poles built with other woods fell over. Near the end of the Lewis and Clark trail is a sacred place with the pathway covered with sea shells leading to a sanctuary of cedar totems.

Cedar Oil In Medicine

Even today Cedar oil is harvested for it's medicinal qualities.

Cedar Aroma

Red Cedar has a very light, pleasant aroma. A more powerful scent can be found in Aromatic Cedar.

Cedar Size

Cedar can grow to be very large. The largest we have used is a Cedar over 10 feet in diameter and 60 feet tall. It is used as the center structural post in a home over 118,000 square feet. The logs should compliment the size of the building. Large cedar accent posts are offered at a premium price depending on the size.

Cedar claw foots

As cedar grows in the forest is has a unique characteristic of flaring near the ground to give it a more sturdy stance. When we cut the cedar we shear them close to the ground to retain this flare, claw foot. In the building of the log home we can retain these claw foots in the end of the walls, the posts, or beams. How we use these claw foots is a matter of customer preference.

Cedar perfect or with imperfections

Cedar can have some interesting characteristics that some might call flaws. However, others might see the imperfections as very desirable. We will work with the owner to include imperfections if the owner wishes.

Insulating Value

Cedar, even white and yellow, have air pockets in much more abundance and larger than other species of wood. This gives cedar a markedly advantage in keeping the cold out and warm in. If you were to study conventional insulation you would see that it is not mass that creates R value, its air spaces. For instance, if you were to look closely at Owens Corning pink fiberglass insulation you would see the very high ratio of air to mass. It is extremely light. To learn more about this phenomenon go to www.owenscorning.com

Mass and Heat Retention

The larger the mass the more it absorbs heat and cold. The reason coastal areas do not undergo the extreme heat and cold of the inland is because the ocean absorbs heat or cold and is resistant to any fast changes. The ocean mass is slow to change thus imparting it's temperature upon the nearby land. Logs work under the same principle. The larger the logs, and thus the mass, the slower they are to react to outside temperature fluctuations. If built right, like ours, log homes are warm and cozy in the winter and cool in the summer. The larger the logs and mass the more we feel this effect. Larger logs are more reluctant to give up the heat or cold they have absorbed.

Straight Grain

Logs are strong. As logs dry they will tend to twist and pull towards the twist in the grain. It is very important that the grain run straight. Logs without this straight grain are rejected and may be used by someone else in building a log home or sent to the saw mill to be cut up into dimensional lumber.

Cedar vs. other species regarding oozing of sap.

Cedar does not ooze sap like other species and since our logs are air dried for a minimum of 1 year, sap is a non issue. Another big plus for Cedar. Dead standing timber (which we do not use) will also not ooze sap. However, among other problems, dead standing probably still has bugs in it which is why it was dead standing. This dead standing wood will attract bugs.

Harvest

Our Western Red Cedar groves are privately owned and grown specifically for it's highly prized straight and tight grain.

Aging

Each log is aged at least 1 year before it is used. This reduces shrinkage by over 75%. Green wood does not lend itself to the exact double scribing we use. Other problems could occur if one used green wood.

The Chateau Montebello

Between Ottowa and Quebec lies Le Chateau Montebello, www.fairmont.com/montebello

It is now a hotel run by the premier Fairmont group. It is the largest log structure in the world. Built as a private club back in the 30's it is truly something to behold. It is not only still standing but is magnificent as ever. Guess what it is built from. You guessed it- Western Red Cedar . The cedar was transported clear across the continent. The characteristics and phenomenon of cedar is nothing new.