Directly relating to our log home buildings, the following answers are for the most common and frequently asked questions. It would take a considerable amount of space to answer all of your questions; we encourage you to contact us directly. An MM Wood Restoration and Protection representative will be please to answer any of your questions.

What timber species are your log homes?  
We build with many different species; the most common is our excellent selection of Douglas Fir, Engelman Spruce, and Western Red Cedar. These wood species provide excellent aesthetical, structural and insulating characteristics. Selected from the highest quality logs available, each log is hand picked to the specifications required for your home. Typically our logs are an average diameter of 12” to 14” for the walls and 16” to 18” for the roof system.

Are your logs insulated?
Yes, our system is a combination of the time tested shallow lateral groove filled with fiberglass or wool insulation and the additional benefits of the newest technology, two expanding foam gaskets. This in combination with thermal mass, insures your log home has exceptional performance statistics. Energy studies preformed by government agencies have shown that a well-built log home will have lower heating and cooling costs than a standard frame built home of equal design.   

How much does shipping cost?
Payment for shipping is direct to the national transport company hauling your log package. There are no middleman fees or additional handling costs. Our strong business relations with multiple transport companies insure the lowest possible transportation fees. Typically, transportation fees run $1.50 to $1.60 per driving mile.

Do you supply help for the erection?
Yes, we send our crew of log home reassembly specialists to assist with the erection of your log shell package. For larger or elaborate homes, we send more people. Before placing any logs onto your foundation our specialist verifies all pre-log construction is completed and ready for the log shell.

Do you provide a custom design service?
MM Wood Restoration and Protection has the most advanced and comprehensive log home design service available. Our drafting and animation departments work closely with you to prepare the best design within your budgetary constraints. Assisting you through the planning process, our designers offer suggestions to combine aesthetic beauty and cost saving architectural detail. 

How long does it take to build?
This is a tough question to answer accurately without seeing a design and discussing the available options. History has shown that our craftsmen build an average 1400 to 1600 sq. ft per month. In all cases, the time required to build the log shell is equal to the time required to excavate, build the foundation and complete the sub-floor.

How much does a log shell package cost?
In comparison, this is like asking how much a car costs. First you need to know the make of car, what options etc. etc. The same is true with log homes. Without your specifications and options, this is the toughest question to answer with any accuracy. The average cost for a log shell package with exterior log walls is $22 to $26 per sq. ft. The costs will vary with the number of corners and complexity of interior log walls; the average cost when a design includes interior log walls is $26 to $37 per sq. ft.

Myth: log homes cost a lot to finish out and complete.

Fact: finishing a log shell does not cost any more than any other style of home. 

The finishing details are an extremely personal and a very important part of the costing for your home. When you are estimating the total cost of your home it is better to be safe than missing a kitchen sink.
A rather common equation is to take to cost of the shell package and multiply this by three. This will offer the starting range for your completed home. The higher finishing quality you desire, the higher the multiple. Use a multiple of five for the most extreme top-end finishing quality.

Can a log home be properly sealed from exterior weather conditions?
Yes! The first consideration is the type of notching used to join the log work and the quality of the log shell it self. Some notches are more effective than others are. Always consult with your designer regarding the notch style that you would like to use. For sealing the space between the parallel logs, it is a common practice for hand scribe builders to place pink insulation into the lateral grooves. Additionally, some of the higher quality log home builders acquire a tighter seal by using two strips of an expandable acrylic gasket tape called Em-seal. Most companies have developed varied techniques that all meet regional building code requirements, however, some techniques are more effective than others are. Again, consult with your designer to help decide on which technique is best suited to your needs.

Silicon caulking is sometimes applied to door and window openings to help minimize the exchange of air between the interior and exterior elements. For some homes that have experienced gapping due to improper notching and shrinkage allowances, chinking can be applied to the gaps in the notches and laterals as required. Occasionally, chinking material is also applied as an aesthetic preference and used to achieve a desired look.

Are Log Homes Difficult to Maintain?
When you buy a log shell from MM Wood Restoration and Protection you know that the interior and exterior finish will be top notch and maintainable, with or without our help, we have all our products available to our customers, simply a click away to order right online our website at www.woodspecialist.com .  Log homes need regular maintenance to keep the wood protected and maintain the aesthetic beauty.  You can count on some type of maintenance on your logs and natural wood every 3-5 years, flat surfaces need more frequent maintenance.  Just like a regular home needs periodic maintenance, log homes just need a different type of maintenance, but the cost is comparable.

Can I Erect My Own Home?
We do encourage the homeowners to take part in the erection and experience the pleasure and pride of building their log home. Due to the size and weight of our log walls and log components our homes are not the do-it-your-self kind of log package; we send an experienced log home team to assist with the erection of your log shell package.

Do You Provide Free Estimates?
Yes, send a copy of your blueprints to our office and we will provide a detailed, written estimate. We are able to price sketches and simple faxes but the more complete the blueprints the more accurate the estimate. Our estimators are thorough and quick, for most homes, the turn around time is within the week.

Call us now at 877-966-3476 to talk log homes, nobody knows them better than MM Wood Restoration and Protection.  It's all we do!