Distinctly Montana Magazine

M Y M O N T A N A H O M E 7 0 WE UNDERSTAND THERE'S SOME DEBATE OVER WHICH LOGS TO USE IN YOUR LOG HOMES, AND THAT THE STYLE CHANGES WITH THE TIMES. WHAT LOGS WOULD YOU USE FOR ANY GIVEN FLOOR PLAN OR DESIGN? YELLOWSTONE CUSTOM COUNTRY HOMES: Handcrafted or hand-hewn. The style is timeless and connects new design with the Montana roots of the past. MONTANA LOG HOMES: There are many different species that work well for log home construction. In Montana, we primarily build with Lodgepole pine, Engelmann Spruce, and Western Larch (Tamarack) as they are readily available, grow straight with min- imal taper and have good strength. With handcrafted log homes, clients are also given a choice of log size desired from 10" average to 24"; larger homes quite often look better with larger logs. PIONEER LOG HOMES: I would answer by saying the best logs for any project are the logs that meet the style, character, budget and availability for a customer build. At Pioneer, we believe any log species of high quality and crafted by an expert builder will yield a beautiful log home. Our log wall stacks are primar- ily crafted from white wood species like Engelman Spruce and Lodgepole Pine. For trusses and support beams we focus on Douglas Fir & Western Larch. We also have many projects that include Western Red Cedar, Port Orford Cedar & many other specialty species of character logs. HOW CAN LOG HOMES HELP TO BALANCE COMFORT-VS-FUNCTION IN OUR NEW STAY-AT-HOME WORLD? YCCH: Logs are often very inviting. With a well-laid-out design, considering the client lifestyle, all the modern amenities can be included as well. MLH: There really is something comforting about living in a log home. The natural wood has a calming effect, and of course, there is nothing like sitting by a crackling fire in your natural stone fireplace inside your cozy log home! NEW TRends IN And HOMES LOG - - - - Designing buildining A ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION WITH THE OWNERS OF

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