Q: Can I change your floor plans?
A: Yes almost all of our homes are customized using our standard floor plans as a starting point. By utilizing our incredible design team clients can adjust, make changes and design concepts to suit their own needs. You can also submit your own plans or plans from another company for us to build your very own Pioneer log home. We pride ourselves in constructing only quality custom log homes, with details that are our signature and delivering this personalized structure to the homeowner.
Q: What does it cost per square metre?
A: It is very difficult to quote a per square metre price as there are so many variables which effect the cost of a handcrafted log home. Some of these variables are: log species, size of logs, the detail of the plan, the number of corners, the intricacy of the floor and roof system as well as any special feature or individual touches you might want to incorporate into your log home. If you have an idea of the size or a rough plan of what you want, we can provide you with an approximate price.
Q: What species of logs do you use to build your log home?
A: All of the timber used in our homes is selected and harvested by our own crews in the central forests of British Columbia, Canada. We use two species in the construction of our log homes – Western Red Cedar and Standing Dead Lodgepole Pine. Western Red Cedar is by far the best in terms of beauty, quality and durability, yet Standing Dead Lodgepole Pine can offer such wonderful and colourful character that determining which timber to build with may be a difficult decision. Whichever log species you end up building with, along with proper roof overhangs and foundation, your home will last for generations. Some of our log homes in Europe have been engineered and rated by German Engineers to last up to 300 years.
Q: How do I start with my Pioneer Log Home?
A: It is very easy, just get in touch. To start the planning stage a deposit in the amount based on the square footage of your proposed plan is required. You then work directly with one member of the design team to ensure your personal needs and desires are met to complete the preliminary plans. Once you approve your plans and sign off on them, the final set of construction plans are produced for you to take for engineering, permits and contractor pricing. In order to be placed on the schedule at our building site a deposit of 5 to 10% is required to reserve a position in the production line, this deposit goes towards your first payment on you Pioneer log home.
Q: What is the payment schedule?
A: We break the payments down into three equal payments during your log home construction process. The first 1/3 (minus the deposit) is due on the start of the construction of your log home; the second 1/3 is due at the halfway point of construction; and the final 1/3 is due prior to delivery of your log home shell package.
Q: What is included in the log shell package?
A: Generally, we only provide the log shell package which includes the log walls, log beams and posts to support the roof structure, the log floor joists to support the upstairs floor, a log staircase if required, and related hardware. However, we can assist with arranging for additional materials you may require in the finishing of your home such as: dimensional lumber, stain, windows, doors and cabinets.
Q: Is freight included in the price of the log shell package?
A: The freight is usually a small portion of the overall expense of your log home. All log shell packages are constructed in British Columbia, Canada and you are responsible for the cost of the freight to your site, we are more than happy to arrange the transportation and have you pay for it prior to the delivery date.
Q: Do you build log structures other than residential log homes?
A: Yes we build structures for deer stands, play houses, barns, carports, garages, gateways, malls, visitor centers, lodges, hotels, restaurants and much more; if you can dream it we can build it! We have built the largest log structure in the world, 114,000 square feet in Colorado U.S.A.
Q: Is financing a log home different than a “regular” home?
A: To finance a log home is no different than a conventional kit home. There are some financial companies that we can assist you in contacting to help you with your log home financing.
Q: Why should I purchase my log home from Pioneer Log Homes?
A: We believe that we offer the most attractive, as well as, the most structurally sound product on the market. We have been constructing handcrafted log homes since 1973, and have not only the expertise, but also the years of experience behind us. We pride ourselves in constructing only quality custom log homes, with details that are our signature, and delivering this personalized structure to the homeowner, wherever in the world they may be. In fact, these structures have been shipped to four continents. We emphasize the beauty of the natural wood we use and try to use each piece in the area of the house that best suits it. The uniqueness of our logs and the artistry of our craftsmen are what we are most proud of.
Q: How long does it take to build a log home?
A: There are basically three time phases in getting your log home to you, the first phase is the planning and design phase which varies, depending on the uniqueness of the project, then you move into the construction phase; on average a 3,000 square foot home will take approximately 12 to 14 weeks to handcraft, and the final stage which is the fun stage for you, is when we erect the logs on your foundation, which takes 2 to 3 days.
Q: Do you allow for settling and shrinking?
A: Most definitely! To ensure the least amount of shrinkage we have all our logs rough peeled and air dried on our site for approximately one year before we use them in construction. European Pine will shrink a little more than the Western Red Cedar, however all of our construction methods allow for the shrinkage of the logs as well as the load crush and settling of the home itself. We have specialized methods of construction to allow for shrinkage over the doors, windows and with all the support posts in your home. We go over all of these procedures and methods with you during the planning and design phase.
Q: Can I have flat walls on the interior of my log home?
A: Yes, you certainly can have us produce flat walls on the interior of your log home, however a more pleasing and modern way of having flat walls and still have the log home feeling is to go to the Post & Beam, Timber Frame or a Hybrid log construction system. To see what these look like please go to the photo gallery.
Q: What is the insulation value in your log homes?
A: Our log homes are some of the most thermally and energy efficient log homes being built today. There are two factors that determine the R-value of logs that we use; the diameter and the species. The greater the diameter of the logs used to construct your home the higher the R-value and thermal mass it provides. The cellular structure of the Western Red Cedar provides a better R-Value, compared to any of the other log species. As a rule the wood fibre that we use in our log homes are more energy efficient to heat and cool than a conventional stick frame home built with 2×6 studs and R19 insulation.