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About The Leelanau Log Home Company LLC
The Leelanau Log Home Company LLC is an authorized independent dealer for The Original Lincoln Logs LTD serving the Great State of Michigan. In addition, we offer complete construction and general contracting services, site evaluation/planning, custom design service plus much more. Let our experience, craftsmanship and professional customer service go to work for you!
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December 2007 (Volume 2, Issue 6):
Happy Holidays!
Tip of the Month: Fireplace & Stove Basics
Imagine it is January - it's blustery cold outside. Finally you sit down after a tough week at work. You gaze through the windows of your new log home over the frozen lake to see kids ice skating and huddled figures fishing through the ice. Totally relaxed now, you turn to the fireplace to add another log on the fire.
For many, a similar Norman Rockwell-like image is etched in their minds when they think of their dream log home. The fireplace -- sometimes referred to as 'nature's TV' -- is often a centerpiece of that dream design and adds comfort and value to your investment. Here are some basics to get you started.
Today you have a wide selection of size, style, quality, price, efficiency, performance, etc. for a fireplace or stove from numerous manufacturers. Ask yourself these questions to help you determine what's best for you.
- How often do you plan to use the fireplace or stove? As a heat source (alternative/primary) or just have an occasional fire for ambience?
- What type of fuel do you plan to burn: hardwood, pellets, corn, coal or gas? What are the availability, access and cost of your fuel of choice?
- How important are efficiency and environmental concerns to you?
- What level of priority is a fireplace or stove on your wish list, and how much can you allocate to this item in the budget?
Fireplace Options
The traditional masonry fireplace/firebox is typically made of brick/stone and mortar, and it requires substantial structural support to carry the weight. If this is your choice, you'll need to plan ahead and design in footing and foundation support at the preliminary design stage. A traditional fireplace is very inefficient, around 10%. You'll also have an option to install a fireplace insert to improve efficiency.
The most popular option today is to install an engineered (also known as pre-fabricated or zero-clearance) fireplace unit with an engineered double wall chimney pipe inside a framed wall with culture stone veneer. This option gives you the look of real stone, but with the choice for higher efficiency than a traditional fireplace. Many manufacturers offer outside air intakes and fan blowers to push heated air into the room. There are typically three grades of fireplaces in this class: builder grade, heater grade and furnace grade. The later can be EPA certified, offer insulated fireboxes, heat exchangers, upgraded doors for improve efficiency and offer higher quality of construction.
Masonry heaters (aka: Russian stove, Finnish fireplace or soapstone fireplace) are common in Europe and are becoming a popular option here in the United States. This option will also require planning at the preliminary plan stage for structural support in the foundation. They are designed to burn a hot fire where the exhaust flows through a series of baffles, which allows the masonry thermo mass to slowly absorb the heat energy and release it back into the space. These units are very clean burning, emit little smoke and are very efficient -- up to 90%. Masonry heaters can be custom built or you can purchase manufactured units of all sizes. If you want to heat efficiently with wood and have the budget, this may be a choice for you.
Stove Options
Typically less expensive than a fireplace, stoves are a cost-effective way to heat your home. These units are great for a primary or secondary heat source. A wide selection of stoves are available on the market, and they burn a variety of fuel such as wood, corn, coal, gas, wood pellets, cherry pits and more. Typically the stove is placed on tile or stone over a fire retardant underlayment. Some pellet or gas stoves are near zero clearance and can be placed close to a wall with direct horizontal venting through the wall. Efficiency varies by stove, but expect up to 60%.
No matter what you choose, we recommend you always consult with a fireplace professional so they can explain more about the products, performance and costs to help you determine the fireplace or stove that's right for you. Your builder of record can often supply you with names of local fireplace stores. We always recommend that you have your fireplace, stove, masonry heater built or installed by a professional.
TIP: If you plan to burn daily as a primary heat source, you'll want to review with your builder of record and/or HVAC contractor about maintaining the correct relative humidity level in your log home.
Here are a few manufacturer's websites to start your research:
If you have any questions or would like to know more, please feel free to contact me at 231-275-5647 or email me at sales@leenanauloghomes.com.
Q&A with Mark Munzert, National Sales Manager, The Original Lincoln Logs LTD
During a recent log home show in Novi, we had the opportunity to chat with Mark Munzert, National Sales Manager for The Original Lincoln Logs LTD.
Q: What are the benefits of air drying our logs?
A: There is so much fodder about which method of drying is best. The Original Lincoln Logs LTD prefers air drying, and we offer kiln drying too (required for international shipments). Truth is, Lincoln has the capability (land, financial resource, storage capacity) to properly air dry our logs while many other companies do not. In many instances air drying vs. kiln drying is much more a matter of business practice (inventory management) than providing dry logs. Kiln drying dates to a time when logs were heated in order to kill larvae, eggs, and insects. I suppose if we were buying and providing logs with these problems to start with, we might lean a bit heavier into kiln drying. We are not. We start with high quality product and work to improve it from there. We typically dry approximately 750,000 linear feet of Eastern White Pine at any given time. The logs are stacked (separated for air space), covered, and the ends are coated with a wax like substance to slow the drying process, end checking and splits. We typically air dry our logs between nine and fourteen months. Proper air drying is not accomplished in three weeks or three months, and it requires many resources that less quality conscious companies would soon ignore. I have witnessed poorly dried kiln dried materials, and I have seen poorly dried air dried product. It all starts with Lincoln's commitment to provide high quality product and not resort to lackadaisical standards.
Q: Tell me more about the Lincoln Logs drafting and engineering department.
A: We offer drafting and site-specific engineering services. This service requires that Lincoln staff members have intimate understanding of the buyer's home and its intended and future uses. It can be simple as ensuring a clear span system for a walk-out basement that will become the recreation room, ensuring electrical service to the great room floor (where are you plugging that light in?) or adding a gabled entry or a breezeway. Our drafting department works to make sure the customer's house is everything they want their home to be. Engineers ensure the home plan meets code and the structural safety of your home.
Q: What makes Lincoln Logs stand out from other log home companies?
A: I believe there are a number of things that make Lincoln Logs LTD stand out from other log home companies. In the way of our product: the attention, time, effort and resources dedicated to providing quality logs (dryness, grain, slope, minimized checking); the use of thermo-plastic spline(s) at window and door bucks; site-specific engineering; variety in building systems; high quality ancillary materials (windows, doors, shingles, high-grade dimensional lumber); and attention to detail from blueprints to delivery. The other thing that is highly noticeable and frequently mentioned is our people. It has been said that "people don't care how much you know until they know how much you care," and I find our Authorized Dealers -- our front liners -- are people that care. They are handshake honest, look-you-in-the-eye realistic, and they will tell a customer how it is and what alternatives are available. Our millwrights, draftsmen, production personnel, buyers, cutters, loaders and receptionists work with the end result in mind. We aim for a positive experience and a beautiful home for our customers. So it is quality and integrity in product and people that make Lincoln the recognized leader.
Q: What are the three key elements that folks should look for when shopping for a log home producer?
A: (1) A representative you can trust, work with, and turn to. (2) A company that stands strong by its products and people. (3) A proven record of customer satisfaction.
Featured Floorplan: Battenkill
1 Bedroom, 1 Bathroom
Main level: 660 sq. ft.
Second level: 308 sq. ft.
Total: 968 sq. ft.
Need a quiet retreat? This quaint 1-bedroom cottage is the perfect place to unwind. The open sleeping loft provides room for the rest of the family and makes the Battenkill popular as a vacation rental unit.
Click for more information or to download a PDF of this floorplan!
For more floorplans access our floorplans database.
The Leelanau Log Home Company LLC
Brad Karikomi & Jim Coyle
Model home address:
1310 S. Lakeshore Drive,
Lake Leelanau
,
Michigan
49653
Business mailing address:
PO Box 309
,
Interlochen
,
Michigan
49643
Office: 231-275-5647
Mobile
: 231-668-1465
Fax: 231-275-0400
The Lincoln Logs Advantage click here to find out why!
