Designing and building a customlog home can be one of the mostrewarding experiences of a lifetime.One can also use expressions such aschallenging, time consuming, crazy,exasperating, or life changing. Theseare a few terms that my wife and I feltwhile we were building our first home.I am sure many of you have heard vari-ous adjectives to describe this experi-ence, some positive others negative. Ifyou have that adventurous pioneeringspirit and enjoy a challenge, come and

join the hearty soulsthat have blazeda trail or two onthe way to build-

ing their own dreamlog home. I know my

wife and I look forward to the chal-lenge again in the future.

Designing and planning a loghome can be portrayed as assemblinga puzzle. Each puzzle piece equates to

some segment or anoth-er of the building proj-ect. One piece mayrepresent your budget,another piece could bethe site location or style ofhome, and on and on withthe many facets of planningand building. The designprocess is fundamental toorganizing the pieces of yourbuilding puzzle and fittingthem together in an orderlyapproach.

As you begin defining the parame-ters of your dream, take some time toconsider a few aspects that will helpin the design development stage.There are a few acronyms and cuteaxioms that I have heard over theyears that are appropriate for anyintimidating project; a couple thatcome to mind are the KISS principle(keep it simple stupid) and simplify,

simplify, simplify. You may notice thatas a designer I like to keep things sim-ple. Even complicated design prob-lems can be made less intimidating bythinking them through and breakingthem into manageable pieces.

So how do you keep this dream ofbuilding a log home as simple as youcan? Well, let’s take the puzzle analogy.When a person begins to assemble a

A VIEWFROM THEMILLBy Levi Hochstetler

With summer upon us and therecession still lingering, if thereever was a good time to build alog home, it is now.

Interest rates are historically low,lumber prices are down, 7/16”OSB roof sheeting is about 1/3the price of a year ago, and metalroofing is about 1/2 of what itwas a year ago. We are offeringDouglas Fir for the price ofSpruce, Pine, and Fir. (And lookfor our Blueprint Specials ad onpage 3.)

Builders and subcontractors actu-ally call you back when you wantthem to. Building property canbe bought for less. Even the gov-ernment is helping by giving atax credit. (See the article on page6 for details!)

Also, keep in mind where priceswill go as soon as this recessionturns around. There seems to bepent-up inflation waiting to hap-pen in the housing industry.Companies like us were unableto adjust our prices during thehigh fuel costs because of thedown market.

Also playing in is the unfortu-nate fact that several log homecompanies went by the wayside,thus there will be less competi-tion down the road. Yes, if youcan secure the funds to build,you could save a bundle by doingit now.

Designing your log home... piece by piece

Mark your calendars now for a fun-filledfamily outing at Hochstetler Milling.You can experience the log homelifestyle through the rare opportunity ofthe self- guided tour of several privatelog homes. In addition, there will belog-raising, hand-hewing and hand-peeling demonstrations, and tours of

the mill and our two model homes, theBlack Fork and the McKay. Meet manyexhibitors and taste plenty of goodAmish food and pastries. See moredetails in our next newsletter.

Log Cabin Days, Sept. 18 & 19

PRSRTSTDU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDMAILEDFROM

ZIPCODE 46750PERMIT NO.832

continued on page 2

Hochstetler Milling, LTD.552 St.Rt.95Loudonville, OH 44842800-368-1015

Change Service Requested

Designing your log home continued from front page

We are proud to introduce our newest plan, The Sweetwater - a2,312 sq. ft. 3 bedroom, 2-1/2 bath home. It features a completewrap-around porchwith gabled entry;large open-conceptgreat room withexposed timberedceiling and stone fire-place; and masterbedroom with con-venient walk-in closetand spacious masterbath with room for ahot tub. Yourfamily orguests willenjoy the twoadditionalbedroomsupstairs withlarge dormersoverlookingthe frontporch andopen loftwith a dra-matic view ofthe greatroom below.

This spectacularhome blends the rustic charm of yesteryear with the upscale refine-ments and conveniences of today.

M.BATH7’x 13’6” LAUND.

8’3”x10’1”

ENTRY9’9”x13’8”

KITCHEN15’6”x13’6”

MASTER BEDROOM15’6”x13’6”

GREAT ROOM19’8”x17’6”

DINING AREA15’11”x13’10”

ISLAND

W.I.C.6’x8’

PORCH

PORCH

GABLED PORCH

PORCH

PORCH PORCH

PORCH PORCH

52’

REF.UP

DOWN

28’

8’8’

DOWN

OPEN TO BELOW

BEDROOM #313’4”x18’7”

LOFT9’7”x11’7”

BEDROOM #215’6”x18’7”

7’ WALLHEIGHT

ATTIC ATTIC

CLOSET CLOSET CLOSET CLOSET

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LIN

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FEATURED NEW FLOOR PLAN

The Sweetwater

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Collect brochures or sales sheets on components of your dream homesuch as doors, windows, flooring, along with photos of things you likesuch as kitchens, bathrooms, fireplaces, etc and place them in folders.This can help communicate to your designer what you envision.

1000 piece puzzle, typically theybegin by looking at the over-allpicture of what the finished prod-uct should look like. This then

becomes a goal toachieve; you have anidea of how to organ-ize the puzzle piecesby color, shape, or

any number ofpatterns that fit

the project needs. Asyou begin your log

home journey, take time to look atthe over-all picture of what youare creating. Organize the projectinto manageable sections such asbudget, site, style, design ideas,etc. – the list is yours to make.Later on you may define these cat-egories further to include moredetails such as exterior and interiorfinishes, cabinet style, dormers,windows and doors, flooring, orlighting, etc.

Along with this list your designerwill give you some home work, typi-cally in the form of a design work-sheet of some type or another. Thisis a process you should review indepth, whether you choose todesign your log home yourself orwork with a design professional; thiswill outline your design preferences,how you want the home to functionand how you will live in and withyour home. By studying the entiredesign process and applying yourown individual preferences, you willbe able to make practical, informeddecisions in designing your loghome so that all of the puzzle piecesfit together properly.

Whether you hire an architect,design professional with a log manu-facturer, or design your home your-

self making a thorough list ofwants, needs, desired amenities,and any other feature will help youcreate a living space that reflectsyour personal tastes and lifestyle.

Size, shape, layout and locationare features that will characterizemany home designs. Thinking aboutthe various elements that will consti-tute the design of your log home anddeciding on the features that willwork best for you are key decisionsthat ultimately help you arrive at thefinal style and design of your loghome. You have general ideas abouthow your home should look. Do youenvision open large rooms, cathedralceilings, cozy nooks, large brightkitchen, lots of windows? These areall things that should be consideredby thoughtful good design.

So consider the overriding princi-pals that will make your log homefeel special and comfortable, for you.Think about the total project, putsome effort into the site selection,consider your budget and compile afile of the differentpieces of your designideas that can helpyou create your home.What is the big pic-ture for your log home– the view from 30,000feet? What are the individual, simplepieces that will formulate this picturethat will one day become home?This is just the starting point; it getsreal interesting from here!

Watch for future articles on putting togetherthe log home design puzzle.

The author, Jim Kanagy, works withHochstetler Milling and has been designing loghomes and timber homes for more than 25years. He will be doing several seminars includ-ing those at Log Cabin Days and Log Shows.

A couple years ago, good log homebuilderswere hard to come by. Today, they seem to beeverywhere and ready to take on your project ata moment's notice. So how do you know whichone is right for your project? Here is a list ofeight things to consider before you sign or handover a down payment.

1. ReferencesGetting a minimum of 3 references is a must.While no builder will give out an unhappy cus-tomer as a reference, they are still worth yourtime to get.

Ask to see at least one home the builder hasbuilt. Keep in mind that just because that cus-tomer was happy with the builder and his crafts-manship, it still may not be up to your standards.Try to find out from the reference a few morehomes the builder has built. Those might bemore valuable to check out than the referencethe builder provided.

Also, don't hesitate to ask the builder for sup-plier and bank references.

Remember to ask references if the job wasdone in a timely manner. A major temptation forsome builders is to lure someone into signing acontract with them, knowing they are too busyto do the job in the desired time frame. Theythen push it off to a later empty slate.

2. IntegrityThis is probably the most important point of all.A builder may have built 100's of log homes, hasa long list of references, the best warranty, a nicebrochure, and the most thorough quote. But ifthey do not have integrity or honesty, then for-get them. The question is, "How can you tell?"

Do they badmouth their com-petition? Do they talk down onpast customers? Do they have abad attitude toward the loghome manufacturer or make neg-ative comments about past blue-prints? These are all hints thatthe builder may lack integrity.

Listen carefully to their sto-ries. Quite often you can seethrough their talk. Ask refer-ences how the builder handledproblems that arose. Did theycome back and fix the problem,or did they pass the blame to themanufacturer of logs, doors, win-dows, shingles, etc.?

Quite often builders try to blame manufactur-ers for inferior products, when in fact the prod-uct was not installed properly or to the manufac-turer's specifications.

Ask references if they had any differenceswith the builder, and if so, whether or not thebuilder came their way at least partially.

3. ExperienceExperience is important, but it would be betterto work with someone who has never done a loghome but is a conscientious builder who followsthe construction manual, than a builder who hasbuilt 100 log homes and wants to do it their ownway. Many of our customers build it themselves.And if they can, then certainly a good buildercan too.

However, if you find a good, experienced, andconscientious log homebuilder - better yet.

4. Job SiteVisiting one of the builder's current job sites can tell you volumes about the builder. Look forneatness and tidiness. Do they have foreignobjects laying around, such as pop cans or plasticbags? Do they keep bundles of lumber stackedneatly together and covered? While builders can'tpickup every minute, good ones will do so at leastonce a day.

5. Contracts & DocumentsAvoid builders and contractors who say they canbuild your home from a sketch or an illustrationsheet, and that they don't need a blueprint. Mostlog home manufacturers generate blueprints offyour sketch for a very reasonable price. And,being the manufacturer, they know their materialto calculate for structural integrity.

After all, the blueprint is the most importantdocument between you, the builder, and the

continued on page 8

Selecting the right builder

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FREE BLUEPRINTS!For a limited time we are offering free blueprints if you put $2000down on your log home package. This offer applies to our stan-dard and custom blueprints. Our blueprints are done by experi-

enced draftsmen and created to comply with local codes.

Contact Hochstetler Milling at 1-800-368-1015.

For over 20 years Clayton andSusan Livengood dreamed of livingin a log home. And though theopportunity to build never seemed topresent itself, the thought alwaysremained in the back of their minds.

But one day in early 2005, all thatchanged. Clayton was clearing someland at the top of their 17-acre horse

farm, located about halfway betweenCanton and New Philadelphia,Ohio. Sometime around noon, hestopped for a break when Susanbrought him some lunch. They sat inthe clearing at the top of the hill,enjoying the spectacular view.

"You know," Susan observed,"This would be a great place to buildthat log home we've always wanted."

And with that, their dream of liv-ing in a log home started to becomea reality.

The Livengoods immediatelybegan doing their research. Theytalked to several homebuilders beforefinding the one they felt most com-fortable with - Raymar Log Homes inSugarcreek, Ohio. In comparing loghome suppliers, they looked at no lessthan twelve from across the UnitedStates. Finally, based on the glowing

recommendation of their builder, theLivengoods chose HochstetlerMilling from Loudonville, Ohio.

Clayton and Susan decided to gowith a custom home design, anddrew up floor plans themselves -with the help of the expert designersat Hochstetler. "They were extreme-ly helpful," Clayton said, "andaccommodated any changes in planswe had along the way."

With blueprints in hand, theLivengoods broke ground on May

14, 2007, and began constructingthe extra sturdy foundation. Alongthe way Clayton and Susan saw theopportunity to make a few changesfrom their original plans, includingmoving an interior wall. Sam Yoder,the builder from Raymar, was morethan happy to work these changesinto the design.

"The entire process was so easy,"Clayton recalled. "We all had a lotof fun!"

In an effort to build "green," theLivengoods strived to incorporateenergy efficiency into the layout.The result is the use of radiant heatbuilt into the concrete floors - a fea-ture that will save them a great dealof money over the years.

On November 21, 2007, theLivengoods moved into the home oftheir dreams. The beautiful log homeperfectly matched their lifestyle,which includes a love of the out-doors. Susan handled most of the

interior design herself, with help fromPine Tree Barn in Wooster, Ohio,where many of their furnishings werepurchased. The Livengoods used ele-ments from their horse farm amongthe southwest style decor. A genuineleather saddle, branding irons, and

On top of the world...

A 20-Year Dream Finally Came True

zz

“This would be a great place to build thatlog home we’ve always wanted.”

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western artwork were all incorporated into the motif.Heavy, barn-style interior doors were custom built by

Amish craftsmen. The kitchen features granite counter-tops, and bathroom tile imported from Italy. And asClayton insisted, "You can't have a log home without areal wood-burning fireplace in the family room."

The Livengoods love the fact that despite its largesize, their log home doesn't lose that homey feel. It'ssolid and quiet, even in strong winds. However, theirfavorite feature is the incredible view from any of theirsix outside porches, aswell as the enclosed sun-room that overlooks thewaterfall in the rock gar-den outside.

As for others who areconsidering building a loghome, the Livengoodsoffer the followingadvice. "Take your time and plan ahead. Have a good idea of what youwant before you start to build. And if you can, try not to cut corners."

It may have taken them 20 years, but the Livengoods are finally enjoy-ing the log home lifestyle. When asked if there was anything about thebuilding process or the home that they would do differently, Claytonquickly responded. "We wouldn't change a single thing."

That's the way it should be when you're living your dream.

Would you like to have your log home featured in a future issue? Please submitpictures and a few words to Hochstetler Milling, 552 St. Rt. 95, Loudonville,OH 44842. If selected, someone will call you for an interview.

ame True

TV ROOM

KITCHEN

GREAT ROOM

MASTER BEDROOM

MASTER BATH

WIC

DINING

SUNROOM

LAUNDRY

GARAGE

PORCH

PORCH

PORCH

PORCH

UP

OPEN TO BELOW

DOWN

BAT

H

BEDROOMBEDROOM

LOFT

2ND FLOOR

FIRST FLOOR

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It's already a great time to buildyour new home, but if you're a first-time home buyer it gets even better.In an effort to revive the strugglinghousing market and boost the econ-omy, Congress has enacted legisla-tion that could provide you with atax credit of up to $8,000. However,you have to act fast - only homespurchased before December 1, 2009will be eligible.

Who qualifies? To apply for thecredit, you must be a first-timehome buyer, which the law definesas a buyer who has not owned aprincipal residence during the priorthree-year period. There is anincome limit for claiming the taxcredit - generally $75,000 for singletaxpayers and $150,000 for marriedtaxpayers filing a joint return.However, this can change undersome circumstances and you shouldconsult with a tax advisor for morespecific information.

How is the amount of the taxcredit determined? The tax credit isequal to 10% of the home's pur-chase price up to a maximum of$8,000.

How does this tax credit differfrom the one enacted in 2008?The most significant difference isthat the 2008 credit was essentiallyan interest-free loan that had to berepaid. The 2009 tax credit doesnot have to be repaid, as long as thehome buyer uses the home as aprincipal residence for at least threeyears. Certain exceptions may apply.

Does building a log home quali-fy for the credit? Yes, any type ofhome that will be used as a principalresidence is eligible for the tax cred-it, as long as the buyer meets allother stipulations. If you are hiring acontractor to construct your home,the purchase date is considered thedate of first occupancy, which mustbe before December 1, 2009. And

participating in the tax credit pro-gram is easy, as you can simply claimit on your federal tax return.

This tax credit provides anexcellent incentive for choosing tobuild your log home today. For morecomplete information, visitwww.FederalHousingTaxCredit.comor consult with your tax advisor.

Tax Credit Can Pay Off forFirst-Time Home Buyers

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QUESTION - I have talked to several different companies and am soconfused. Half of them say air-dried logs are best, and half say kiln-driedlogs are best. Who is right?

– Perplexed in Columbus

ANSWER - Actually they are both partially correct, as both air-driedand kiln-dried have their advantages.

The advantage with air-dried is that it dries slower, thus the claimthat there are fewer checks in the logs. On the other hand, kiln-driedhas a few advantages too.

For one, the high temperature crystallizes the pitch, which helps tokeep the logs from bleeding out pitch - especially around knots. Also,the high temperature will kill any bugs or larvae in the logs, as well asmold and mildew. (For this reason, European regulations require loghomes to be heat treated when imported.) And most importantly,kiln-drying simply makes logs drier.

Manufacturers, of course, promote the drying method they use. Somelarger companies need to kiln-dry because they don't have the yard spaceto air-dry. (Can you imagine how much space it would take to air-dry ifyou produced 500 log homes per year?) On the other hand, smaller start-up companies are forced to air-dry simply because they can't afford dry-kilns. Smaller companies can have others kiln-dry their logs, but they mayhave less quality control.

A few manufacturers will do both - first air-dry them for a while, andthen finish drying them in a dry kiln. This way they initially dry slower asin air-drying. Then in the end the bugs/larvae get killed along with pitchset during kiln-drying. Thus you get the best of both worlds.

To conclude, if done right both methods will make a good loghome. I say "done right" because technically one could call it air-dried while being hauled on a truck to the job site, or kiln-dried whenputting green logs in a kiln for only 2 days.

Over all, it is fairly well accepted that kiln-drying does giveenough advantages that justify the normal additional cost to manufac-ture and provides a higher quality log home. And if you can buy froma company that does both, so much the better.

If you have a question, please submit to Levi Hochstetler at 1-800-368-1015or mail to Hochstetler Milling, 552 St. Rt. 95, Loudonville, OH 44842.

QA& ASK THE EXPERTS

To place an advertisement or to receive advertising information in the next quarterlyissue of Mill-Direct News please contact:

Henley Graphic Communications • 1-800-772-5488 • Larry@Henley-Graphics.com

“It takes something other than wages to hold a good employee, andit takes something other than low prices to hold a good customer.”

- Imperial Metal & Chemical Co.

7

manufacturer. It is your way to com-municate to them what you wantand expect, and what you envisionyour home should look like. Also, it'sa good idea to have someone otherthan the builder draw up plans,because builders can “cheapen up”areas to save themselves money.

Never have a builder build off ofanother company's illustration sheetswithout paying for plans, as thiscould land you in a legal battle overcopyright laws.

Contracts should spell out fairlyclearly what will and will not bedone for a set price, but don't needto be anything fancy.

6. WarrantyMost log homebuilders warrant theirwork for one year or more. Whilethis is important, it is not as impor-tant as them having the simple abili-ty and financial resources to standbehind their work and come back tomake corrections.

Ask them to build to the manufac-turer's construction manual and specsto make sure there is no problem withthe manufacturer's warranty.

You will want that, because buildersseem to come and go. Manufacturershave invested in much more time andmoney in research, testing, and engi-

neering than any builder would orcould hope to do.

7. InsuranceMake sure they carry liability andworker's compensation. Ask for a copyof their policy, and don't confuse itwith other insurance such as health orauto insurance. If you decide to gowith a builder who does not carryinsurance, make sure you are willing totake the risk or buy insurance yourselffor this project. You may also want tobuy theft and fire insurance.

8. ProfessionalismLook for estimates and quotes that areneatly spelled out and leave no doubtas to what is and is not included.Remember, an estimate is a "ballparkfigure" and generally based on squarefootage costs, whereas a quote is anexact figure based on your final blue-prints and needs. Normally they haveallowances for certain items such ascabinetry, floor coverings, etc.

The appearance and dress of own-ers and sales people will give you ahint on the professionalism of thebuilder. Promptly returning phonecalls will give you an idea of theirresponse when there is a problem orconflict. Safety programs and con-cern for employee safety are alsogood signs of professionalism.

Their vehicles don't need to beexpensive, but it's better if vehicles,forklifts, tools, etc. are clean and ingood repair.

Additional ConsiderationsHow long has the builder been in busi-ness under that business name? Checkwith the Better Business Bureau to seeif there have been any complaintsagainst them. Keep in mind that mostpeople don't bother to report, so mostcompanies have a good rating.

When securing your loan, banks area safeguard and may have had experi-ence with the builder. Dunn andBradstreet can be helpful in theirfinancial strength. A building license

The Right Builder continued from page 3 Eating High on the, um...Frog

sometimes can be helpful if you arebuilding in an area that requires one.Good building departments can be asafeguard to keep builders from substi-tuting with secondary material andtaking shortcuts. Unfortunately, not allareas have a building department, or ifthey do, don’t bother to check thegrade or species used.

Log home manufacturers normallykeep a list of potential log home-builders. This can be a fairly safesource, as to make the list they wouldhave to have a good track record.

Here is one of my favorite storiesconcerning builders. After complet-ing a log home, a builder realized he

didn't do a certain detail accordingto the log home manufacturer's con-struction manual. Instead of hopingthe homeowner would never discov-er the small missing detail, thebuilder went back to the homeownerand told him about the situation.Now that is the kind of builder I'dwant and hope you get!

Levi is the principal of HochstetlerMilling and has dealt with 100's ofbuilders over the years. If you are abuilder and would like to build loghomes, and don't think you arealready on our builder list - pleasecontact Levi at 419-368-0005.

Do you have an interesting short story about a favorite memory of a log home?

Maybe it's a childhood vacation, a weekend at the lake, or a day visiting a friend.Whatever you remember and love to tell others qualifies.

Don't forget - a picture to go along with your story makes it even more interesting.Please mail your submission to Hochstetler Milling, 552 St. Rt. 95, Loudonville,OH 44842. Hope to read about your log home adventure in a future issue!

By Donald Buck, Lexington, OH

Years ago when I was inBoy Scouts, our scoutmas-ter arranged for our troopto take a fishing trip toCrow Lake in Ontario. Wespent all summer collectingnewspapers to pay for thetrip and finally, in late July,we were on our way to thelog cabin on the lake.

One day, my buddy andI headed out in our smallrowboat in search of a mon-ster muskie - the kind we hadread about in old issues of Field & Stream.After fishing all morning without a single fish, we headed closer toshore amongst the lily pads. We soon noticed several large bullfrogsrelaxing on top of the pads and tried to entice them to strike at ourplugs. By approaching very slowly and quietly, and dangling the lureabout 6 inches in front of their noses, we were able to catch 6 jumbobullfrogs. We headed back to the cabin excited about our frog legdinner, even though neither of us had ever tasted frog legs. We care-fully removed the legs and slowly fried them in an old iron skillet.

Our plan was to have enough for 4 others, but once we started eat-ing them we couldn't stop. They were delicious! I don't think we eventold the others what had happened, but that was one gourmet mealthat I'll never forget!

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