Log Siding

Whether it’s new construction or a remodel, interior or exterior, Heartwood Mills is your go-to source for quality log siding and milled wood products. Call our experts 888.829.5909 - Visit us at www.heartwodmill.com

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Log Home Spring Cleaning Tips

Finally, the snow has started to melt and the sun has begin to show its face a little more regularly. The warm weather is coming and it’s time to start thinking about engaging in some major spring cleaning to clear out those winter cobwebs and dust.While spring cleaning is often the same from house to house, it is a little different when it comes to your log home. There are a few extra things to consider and focus on. Here is a complete checklist of what needs to be done to fully spring clean your log cabin. Rinsing Your Log Cabin

To remove the the buildup of mold/mildew, pollen, pollution, dust, dirt, etc. from the outside of your log home, rinsing it with the right products is the way to go. There are some great “green” products available that will get the job done as well. These products contain oxygenated bleach, no chlorine, which removes the substances from the wood surface without requiring pressure washing. Combine with just a simple household garden house and make your wood shine.

Exterior Finish

If the finish on your log home has begin to wear there are some options on how to repair it. Applying another coat of finish is important in helping to prevent carpenter bee infestations and the growth of mold/mildew. Maintaining your exterior finish will exponentially reduce the amount of future maintenance needed.

Bee Season

Spring is the season of carpenter bees, a log home’s enemy. Invest in some products that will help to repel the bees, in combination with your exterior finish. Replace bee traps and respray product to prevent the damaging effects these bees can have on your log cabin.

Gutters and Downspouts

Having gutters and downspouts that drain correctly are extra important when it comes to a log home. Overflowing gutters or disconnected and damaged downspouts can lead to water damage of your exterior wood surface, leading to early decay and mildew and mold. Make sure to remove all leaves and debris in your gutters, as well as the valleys in your roof to ensure correct drainage. Trim back foliage that may be close to your log home to allow for air flow and to help reduce mildew and mold.

Maintaining your log home is an important and somewhat simple task. To ensure that your wood surfaces will last as long as possible, you must make sure to pay close attention to what it is exposed to and help to prevent overexposure of damaging factors. Enjoy the spring season from your beautiful log cabin and take pride in your hard work!

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Cozy life in a log home!

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Happy Holidays!

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A nice addition to wow the family over the holidays!  http://heartwoodmills.com/other-products/

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Protect the Walls of Your Log Home

The walls of your log or timber frame home wrap you with protection. They keep you safe from the elements and harmful UV rays. They keep you warm in the winter and help you stay cool during summer. All the while, your walls bear the brunt of all that Mother Nature has to throw at them.

Luckily, there are simple steps you can take to protect the walls of your log home. It all starts with smart design and ends with regular maintenance.

Read more at http://heartwoodmills.com/mainpost/protect-walls-log-home/#more-2356

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Log Siding: Get the Look and Feel of a Log Home with A Lot Less Effort

It’s easier than you think to get the look and feel of a stunning stacked full log home without the cost and maintenance worries that are often deal killers for home owners. Log siding can transform almost any build into a log home, whether you’re building from the ground up or altering an existing conventional frame.

Log siding can be used in both the interior and exterior of a home to add natural beauty and a rustic appearance. An added bonus — log siding comes at a fraction of the cost of building a stacked full log home!

Read more at http://heartwoodmills.com/mainpost/log-siding-get-look-feel-log-home-lot-less-effort/#more-2364

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What a stunning home!

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Selecting the Best Mantel Style for Log Homes

Close your eyes. Picture a log home. What are some features that immediately come to mind? Soaring trusses? Yes. Warm wood walls? Of course. A roaring fire in the fireplace? Absolutely.

While all of these are quintessential elements of log home design, the fireplace is often at the heart of a log home. Not only do fireplaces add warmth, they also create endless decorating opportunities — particularly around the holidays. And it’s the fireplace mantel that helps frame this popular design element and transform it into a focal point in a home

Read more at http://heartwoodmills.com/mainpost/selecting-best-mantel-style-log-homes/#more-2368

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3 Reasons to Choose End-Matched Wood Siding, Paneling & Flooring

End-matching isn’t a new phenomenon. The process, which involves double-end trimming wood siding, paneling and flooring pieces and precision milling a tongue-and-groove on the plank ends, has been a building practice for more than 20 years.

Yet, some builders remain hesitant to use end-matched wood. The biggest concern is often just that it’s different. Rather than 12- to 16-foot lengths, end-matched boards come in 2- to 8-foot tallies. At Heartwood Mills, our bunks are composed of roughly 30% 2- to 5-foot lengths and 70% 6- to 8-foot lengths.

The smaller size is responsible for some of the greatest benefits of using end-matched wood. These include decreasing labor, reducing waste and enhancing the natural beauty of wood siding, paneling and flooring.

3 Benefits of End-Matched Wood

1. Decreasing Labor

2. Reducing Waste

3. Enhancing Natural Beauty

Read more at http://heartwoodmills.com/resources/end-matched-vs-non-end-matched/

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The History of the Log Cabin

In the U.S., we associate log cabins with pioneer days; intrepid early Americans leaving their homes in the East or Europe to build a new life on the frontier. For many of us, the first image that comes to mind when we think of a log cabin is Little House on the Prairie. The original log cabin designs were simple, as trees were the only building material, and the ax, adze, and auger were the only tools for construction. The typical log cabin design was a small, one-room hut with one door and possibly one or more small windows. The logs were stacked and the spaces were filled with mud to keep out the wind and cold. There were no nails during this time, so the logs were fastened with notched ends, or with wooden pegs. For the roof, overlapping rows of short boards were used. The floor was hard packed clay and the window openings were covered with oiled paper to let in a little light. The home was heated with an open fireplace that also served as the cookstove.

Read more at http://heartwoodmills.com/mainpost/the-history-of-the-log-cabin/#more-14

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Glossary for Log Home Builders

Building  your dream log home, log cabin or timber frame home can seem daunting if you don’t know the terminology. To help make the process a little easier, we’ve compiled a list of basic jargon used in the log home industry. If you any terms you would like us to define that we haven’t already, please don’t hesitate to ask! — A —

Adze: A tool comparable to an ax that is commonly used to craft hand-hewn log siding. The blade of an adze has a downward sloping angle that is horizontal to the handle.

Air Drying: The process of allowing wood to reach its proper moisture content by naturally drying. Logs and lumber are stacked to allow air movement, exposing the wood to the surround atmosphere.

Read more at http://heartwoodmills.com/mainpost/glossary-for-log-home-builders/#more-16

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Build a Log Home That Will Stand the Test of Time

All log homes are not created equal. The type of logs you choose make a big difference in the amount of maintenance that will be required and how well your home will stand the test of time. At Heartwood Mills, our number one choice for logs is Northern White Cedar, grown right here in Michigan where our mill is located. So what makes Northern White Cedar the best choice for your log home or timber frame home? Take a look… Read more at http://heartwoodmills.com/mainpost/build-a-log-home-that-will-stand-the-test-of-time/#more-1127

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Winterizing a Log Home

For homeowners with a second home, winterizing is a fundamental part of saying farewell to a log home or timber frame home for the long winter months. Although log cabins or log homes might be cozy little getaways, they still represent a large investment for any family. Proper winterizing techniques should be followed in order to ensure that the log home is not damaged while it is vacant. The last thing you want when you return to your log home in warmer months is extreme damage from the cold. One of the most obvious steps in a properly winterized log home is to make sure there is no food left in either the cabinets or the refrigerator. Not only can rotting food permeate the home with a stench that is hard to remove, it will also attract any number of hungry animals that will certainly do further damage. Once the refrigerator is empty, it needs to be unplugged and the door must be propped open. A closed refrigerator that is not being used will develop unhealthy mold and mildew.

Read more at http://heartwoodmills.com/mainpost/winterizing-a-log-home/#more-1175

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A Guide to Building a Log Home

Whether it’s a one-room log cabin or a 5,000 square foot luxury log home, the custom home building experience is exciting. There are a lot of steps that will occur before you have the keys in-hand and are enjoying the comfort of your new home. That’s why we’ve put together this step-by-step overview of what to expect from start to finish. Read more at http://heartwoodmills.com/mainpost/a-guide-to-building-a-log-home/#more-1132

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5 Ways to Incorporate Wood as a Design Feature in Your Home

Wood is a staple element of home design. It’s such a diverse product that is easy to work with, is widely available, and can enhance any space with its natural beauty. Adding wood as a design feature in your home can help you achieve structural and artistic expression, comfortable yet elegant functionality, and a means of highlighting elements of your home’s or family’s history.

Read more at http://heartwoodmills.com/mainpost/5-ways-incorporate-wood-design-feature-home/#more-1502

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Preparing Log Homes for Winter

With the temperature dropping, it’s important to take the time now to prepare your log home for the harsh conditions of the winter months.The cold can cause a lot of damage to wood siding, but with the proper precautions, you can ensure that your log home will be in great condition come springtime. Whether you are winterizing a summer home or protecting your all-year home, these steps are important to help keep your home in top condition for many years to come. Inspect Log Exterior

Furnace and Fireplace Inspection

Gutters, Doors and Window Protection

Read more at http://heartwoodmills.com/mainpost/preparing-log-homes-for-winter/#more-18