I have a design I like, can you give me a quote?

Answer: Absolutely! We would be happy to give you a detailed price quote for your plan - free of charge. Just send us a rough sketch with the dimensions, windows and doors, interior walls, etc., and we will send you our custom floor plan and quote for the materials you would like us to supply.

I have gotten several quotes from different companies, how do I compare what I will get in my package?

It can be very confusing as to what you will get in your log home package. The most important thing is to compare "apples to apples". Coventry Log Homes has three different packages to choose from: Log Wall Package, Shell Package and Complete Package. You should review each quote you receive closely to ensure that all the materials you desire are included in each company's quoted package.

How do I figure how much the final cost for my home will be turn-key?

As a ballpark figure, you can calculate between 2 to 3 times our complete package price for a turn-key home. The final price will include the complete log home package, plus labor to build, plumbing, electrical, finish flooring, heating, kitchen cabinets, insulation, septic, and foundation. You can certainly save money if you do some or all of the work yourself.

How much will it cost to ship to Iowa

Shipping to the Eastern & Central time zones are just $1 total What a deal!!!

How much will it cost to ship to Washington State.

Sam, Shipping to Washington is $5,700 per truck. So depending on the size of the home you may need 1 or 2 trucks typical. Call us to find out how many your design would take.

What is shipping costs to Central Arkansas?

Our standard log homes are only $1.00 total for shipping in the Eastern & Central Time Zones. What a deal! We do have a new line of Recreational Camps that have recently been shown on The Outdoor Channel. These camps are shipped based on your location. Shipping for a Recreational Camp to Arkansas would be $1,800

what doe's complete package have

We list the materials that come in our package right on the website. On the left side of the home page you will see a link to “What's In The Package?” Check it out, we even tell you what’s not included

Hi, I'm interested in your Clearwater sale and I am wondering if a mirror image of the plan would qualify for the sale price. I'm also wondering if you have ever shipped to Western Canada before and what the cost would be, thanks.

Yes, we would mirror image the plan and that does not affect the price. We have shipped to western Canada in the past and the cost would be based on your location. If you are in the Eastern or Central Time zones shipping is only $1 total. Past that we would assess the shipping charges. Please contact us to let you know your exact shipping cost.

What is involved with shipping to PEI, Canada as far as shipping, duties, taxes etc.

Shipping to Canada is quite easy and we can walk you through the process. Basically when you purchase the home from us shipping is only $1 total in the Eastern & Central Time Zones and I think we would even cover you in the Atlantic Time Zone there in Prince Edward Island. The truck would come to a predetermined border crossing and at that point you would need to pay them any taxes required. You can do this ahead of time or have a broker take care of it for you. The truck would than drive to your site and your home is ready to unload. It really is that easy! Please contact your representative and they will be able to help with any additional questions you may have. Great Question!

What is the diferance between the Craftsman, Tradesman and no change series?

In order to give our customers the most options we offer several package options to choose from. Here is an over view of our packages: The Recreational Series was designed to give the outdoors person a place to getaway to. The logs are made of 4x8 Eastern White Pine that is Kiln Dried. The package comes with everything to you need to build a great camp. See our list of materials for details. The Cabin Series is a series of larger log cabins that are made with our 6x8 Eastern White Pine that is also Kiln Dried. These logs may have slight imperfections but are structurally sound. The Cabin Series can be changed and the package can be modified to fit your needs. The Tradesmen Series is an excellent choice for the first time buyer or those looking to get the log home they have always wanted but at an more affordable price. These plans can be changed and you choice between several log styles and sizes all of which are Kiln Dried. The Tradesmen Series have conventional roof systems with rafters and just a few exposed beams where needed. We offer the Andersen 200 series window as a standard in this package. The No Change Series has the same materials as our Tradesmen series but are only available in the 6x8 “D” log style. The homes are discounted heavily and designed to be taken just the way they are designed. Any changes need to be made on site. Great Savings! The Craftsmen Series is our Premier series of packages with exposed beams throughout the loft and roof system and unlimited design options. We use Andersen 400 series tilt-wash windows and Therma-Tru Fiber Classic exterior doors. We supply 35 year architectural shingles standard. Round rustic railings are supplied for all porches and loft areas.

For just the basic log package, how many trucks on average would it take to deliver logs for a 2500 sq. ft. home?

For a logs only package it may fit on one truck. It also depends on the type of roof system and options like porches and dormers for the materials we supply in those areas. Hope this helps, Mark

Can you price a saved plan?

We would be happy to price your custom design. Just contact one of our representatives and they will be happy to do that for you. Thanks, Mark

the price list received is effective 12/1/06 & subject to change so are there any prices that have changed?

Our prices have not changed from that price list, in fact we are offering some great discount on top of holding our prices from 3 years ago. It's never been a better time to buy! Thanks, Mark

How much would it cost to ship the Clearwater special to Greybull, WY?

As of 1/7/2009 shipping to your state is $3,100 per truck. We should be able to get your Clearwater on one truck from here and ship the dimensional locally. Thanks for the question Mark

What would be the cost for shipping one of the camp series pkgs to north Florida

Should I be concerned about how dry my logs will be?

Yes! The logs that go into your home should be dry BEFORE you get your package. Wood that is not dry will shrink, warp, crack excessively, and is very unstable. Coventry Log Homes uses only the finest eastern white pine logs. We KILN DRY these logs to a stable moisture content of 19% or less for the whole home.

Does Coventry build my log home kit?

No, you can either build the home yourself or find a local contractor to do the job. Because we pre-cut, letter, and number all the logs, and provide plans, a construction manual and video, most anyone with carpentry skills can build our log home packages.

Does my builder need experience with log homes to build a Coventry Log Home?

No, the builder does not need any special experience or tools to build one of our homes. Each year we have many first time builders and self-builders who construct our homes. We offer free unlimited technical advice to our customers. We have very detailed, easy-to-read construction plans, construction manual, and even a construction CD. The logs are all pre-cut, lettered and numbered, saving time and money.

What is chinking?

Chinking is a material used to seal the joints of some log systems. These are usually the older style full log systems that require chinking or the chink log systems seen more in the south. By the way if you like that look; we have created a log profile that looks the same as the old chink logs but with all the advantages of our sealing system. Our system uses a 4 component sealing system. 1. We use a tongue & groove to lock the logs together. 2. We use a foam gasket between the tongue & groove to eliminate air leakage. 3. We use a special formulated caulking to seal out any moisture. 4. We have designed a drip edge into the log to stop moisture from settling on the log. This system has proven to work very effectively in creating a weather tight home. We get many comments from our customers that they “had to open a window to allow some air in to start their fireplace.” Must be a great system!

What is not included in the complete kit?

Due to differences in personal preferences and requirements, the following items are not included in our complete package: foundation, basement and deck support posts, any masonry items, plumbing and heating materials, electrical materials, kitchen cabinets or countertops, finish flooring, stains and finishes, roof insulation, nails and miscellaneous items such as flashing and vents.

Can I put my foundation in right away?

Yes, but because we have specifics on what the foundation needs to be, we would be happy to give you a detailed foundation plan for the package you are purchasing from us.

Do you offer cedar logs?

No, we offer only the best kiln-dried Eastern White Pine logs. We do not offer white cedar logs because they do not meet our high standards. White cedar has a soft core or dry rot, and is not solid like pine. It takes between 150-200% more cedar to produce a log home due to wasted materials, which is not wise stewardship of our natural resources. Most customers forget that if they buy a cedar home they will always have a strong smell that never goes away.
Pine is a very good building material. It is energy efficient, very stable with little shrinkage (especially since we kiln-dry them) and makes a beautiful log home.

What log profiles do you offer?

We offer four styles of log profiles to choose from:

Since my lot is at 8900 feet in northern Colorado, I have two questions. First, how do you compute shipping costs outside the eastern and central time zones? And second, given my climate, would 8 inch logs result in higher R value walls?

Shipping to Colorado is $2,400 per truck needed. Yes, an 8" log does have more insulating value than the standard 6"

What type of R-value do logs provide?

You can not assign an R-value to a log due to the fact it is not a human made insulation. A study in how log homes perform over a course of time with heating and cooling will show that a log home's performance is much greater than of a stick built construction. It is a fact that log home owners see the benefits of this type of construction each month in their heating and cooling bill. I had one State offical tell me "I know log homes are more energy efficent than conventional homes, but we scientist's don't understand why." I can explain why; God made the trees we use and He knows how to make the best materials!

I see that your log homes don't come with the finish flooring, but can we purchase the finish flooring for an additional price? Do you have an E-mail address?

Thanks for the question. Our standard package does not come with finish flooring but we can sell extra T&G pine that some use to lay a rustic pine floor with. The T&G we supply for the walls has a flat back so some customers’ chose to use it for flooring. Contact your representative and they can help determine what works best for your situation. As a side note there is one exception to the flooring question. Our new Recreational Series of camps does come with T&G pine for the floor to be finished with. e-mail us at info@coventryloghomes.com

How well do these homes retain their heat during the winter? Does a person need to do anything special to make sure that your home stays warm even in -40 degree winters.

Energy efficiency has long been a benefit to owning a log home. Our log homes are designed to be tight and protect your family from the harsh winter environment. We hear back from customers each year telling us how happy they are in their warm log home. I live in a log home and believe it is the best insulating material around, but off course it is because God made it!!! To answer the question of anything special: If the home is properly constructed and a properly installed heating system is utilized you should be in great shape for winter.

is there any settling in the logs .if so how does this affect the doors and windows

Yes, there will be minimal settling in one of our log homes. Any company that tells you there won’t be is not telling the truth. We use Kiln-Dried logs to help minimize the affects of moisture and we have designed appropriate space around window and doors to accommodate the settling. Many companies have large areas over the windows and doors to allow them to use wet logs, we don’t do that. Starting with dry logs is a key component to a quality log home. For that reason we are one of only a few companies working to certify moisture content as a commitment to a quality package.

on average how long would it take to construct the exterior shell of the clearwater model for a crew of 2-3 all with minimal carpentry skills? How user friendly are these kits?

On average it would take an experienced crew about 3 weeks to shell up this package. The logs go up fast and the roof system is a simple conventional design so things should go quite quickly for the average carpenter. Our packages are very user friendly and we offer unlimited technical advice from our experts. You will notice on our website, we have had past customer give high marks to the professional service they received before, during and after construction. We are here to help you through the process! Thanks

I live in the Pacific Northwest, will you ship to the Seattle WA area?

We ship worldwide so yes we can ship to Washington, we ussually send several package there each year. Thanks

Do you offer different roof systems?

Yes, we offer both a conventional roof system and a post and beam style purlin system with exposed beams. These are listed under our material packages. Craftsmen series has the beam system and the others are conventional. Our new Recreational series has a beam rafter sytem in it. Thanks for the question, Mark

I am planning on building your Springfield style log home hopefully sometime this year and was wondering is there a way to get the construction video for this log plan before I purchase? I would like to study it somewhat before I get to far into this. Tha

We only send out the construction manual and CD after someone has placed a order deposit. The materal included in each of these has taken our staff years to develop and has many tips designed exclusivly for our homes. We will get them right out to you after ordering. We look forward to helping you in the future. Mark

I am interested in your no-change series, The Homestead complete package. I was wondering, how long would it take 6 skilled carpenters to complete. Working on it for 10 hrs a day, until finished.

The actual building of the package can be fast. As you stated 6 skilled workers with good weather could be under roof in 8-10 days. Where the extra time comes in is organizing your plumbing, electrical, heating & cooling contractors etc…. Once things are roughed in it should not take but just a few days to get the walls closed in. Then you have your sealing inside and finish flooring, kitchen cabinets & counters, and finishing up the mechanicals. All totaled a well planned building site can have a house finished in as little as 6-8 weeks. We normally try to remind our customers that building a home is a great undertaking and things will come along that will slow down progress from time to time. How well you deal with those times will determine the final product. Remember a few months to build a dream home is really a short period for the lifetime of memories it will give you back.

Are your logs pretreated for any kind of termite protection?

No, we do not pre-treat our logs for any kind of insects. Let me tell you why we don’t as this is a great question. First of all, we start with kiln-dried logs so any insects and larvae are eliminated and the logs are totally free from insects when we ship them to you. Secondly, any product that is known to kill insects is also potentially harmful to humans. We do not want to take a chance and possibly harm someone’s family. We have studied this and the fact remains that these so called “good pre-treatments” will over time leak gases back into your living space and we have talked to some that found out after years of miss diagnosis for sicknesses, that it was allergies related to the gases leaked. We at Coventry Log Homes don’t want to use a selling slogan just to get a sale at the expense of potentially harming your family. Let’s put it this way; we sleep well at night knowing the product we sell is safe and helping families not hurting them. Thanks for the question!

what size (depth) electrical outlet and wall switch boxes do you recommend.

Electrical codes dictate the size of the electrical box you can use, so I suggest you talk to your electrician for this. The code has a formula based on how many wires will be in the box and must have the volume to handle it properly. I understand a regular box is 2”(w)x3”(h)x3-1/2” deep. I have seen people use a shallow box where they can be used that are not this deep as long as it meets code. Hope this info helps.

can you tell me what the longest lenght of log 6x8 would weight. Want to know if I could handle it myself.

The longest log we have on average is 16 feet and would weight in the range of 100-120 lbs. Most logs are shorter than this so they weigh less. I can tell you during the manufacturing process 1 man lifts each log to stack them for shipment. For construction purposes we recommend that longer logs be handled by 2 people especially when stacking them over windows and doors. Thanks for the question, Mark

I talked to a builder in the area that we are going to build,in North Carolina about your log home packages.His concern was that all the logs are pre cut & if he encounters a fit problem ie-a pre cut log that is too short by even an inch or so how would w

Great question! Our system is designed and all pre-cut to save time and money on the job site. In the event that a log is miss-cut we have that covered too, becuase we send extras to replace any problem logs. We also stand behind our package and take care of our customers to fix any problem you have. We sleep very good at night knowing our packages are complete and our service after the sale is the best in the industry. As for the windows and door openings we do engineer an area for the logs to settle, but it is less then 1/2". We can do that becuase we kiln-dry our logs to take care of that. In fact we are one of a very few companies who certify the moisture content in our packages. This means quality for you. Thanks, Mark

I am getting ready to stain the exterior and noticed some black staining on one side of the log home. I assume that is probably mold? How do I treat this prior to staining?

David, During the construction time the logs can become dirty and some black streaks can appear. Please refer to your Construction Manual we provided with the package and you will find a simple solution you can use to remove them. Please call one of our tech guys with any questions as they can be very helpful for these questions. Great question, hope this helps. Mark

Please explain the benefits of 8x8 logs vs 6x8

The 8x8 log does offer a better insulating factor, but the 6x8 is just fine. In fact my home is built with the 6x8 and I live in New Hampshire, so winters are cold but my heating bills are low. Some go with the 8x8 for looks as they like the larger log look and if you want a round inside also you need to go with the 8x8. Both logs are good its up to your taste and needs. Thanks, Mark

Can you recommend a builder that you have any dealings with or do you have builders at Coventry?

Check out our Builders list on the website for builders in your area. Take care, Mark

Do you offer different types of corners?

Yes, we do offer some choice in corner design. The most popular we use in most homes is the butt & pass corner where the logs pass by each other and interlock. The other type we do is a corner post style. This is used with our chink log and when someone requests that the logs do not extend out from the wall. Please ask your representative for a detail showing these corners. Thanks, Mark

i have a flat roof on my foundation which has to come off 1st. - can a log home be put up in the winter time?

Yes a log home can be built in the winter. Our production line runs year round. We have some great specials running to take delivery in the winter to save you money. Thanks and good luck, Mark

How difficult is building one of these log homes when you know nothing about building or reading plans? We have the land, we have the money for the log home...we do not have the funds for a contractor. Are we looking at a pipe dream?

We get this question a lot! We recommend that you have some basic carpenter skills and that you have some help that does also. I can tell you that over the years we have had quite a few customers build their own home with limited experience. We have on staff professional advisors that have built hundreds of log homes. We offer unlimited technical support from start to finish and even after. If you do choose to build your home I would recommend coming for a day of training, in fact we just held a training session with someone else who is also building a home for themselves. Again basic carpentry skills are needed, but building with logs is easy because we pre-cut and number them all and you just follow the plans. Let us know if you would like to know more about our training session.

What is the buying process?

Answer: To order your package, we require a 20% deposit. However, if you need plans for the bank or to obtain a building permit, a plan deposit of $250 for standard plans or $500 for custom plans is required. Any deposits made prior to receiving your home are credited toward the purchase of your log home package. Once we have a deposit, we will send you the Plans for Approval for your review. Any changes should be made at this point. Once you approve the plans and sign a Purchase Agreement, we can schedule a delivery date. On average, it takes about 6 weeks to produce a home after we receive your approved plans. The balance is due the day of delivery and should be given to the truck driver who delivers your home. Remember that you will need to have a forklift to unload the truck.

Who does financing for log homes?

Answer: We recommend you start with your local bank. In most cases, they can help you through the process of financing your log home. If your local bank does not handle the type of loan you need or you want, you can contact a national lender, such as the following: American Log Mortgage (877) 226-5242 ext. 6612
Log Lenders of America (888) 880-5647
M&T Mortgage (888) 539-1160
First Financial Services (877) 811-9206
Bill Leonard & Associates (410) 975-9681

Do you deliver the package out side of US, for example, Finland?

Yes, we do ship over seas. Give us a call or drop us an e-mail and we can help anwser your questions about this. Thanks, Mark

I want to order a complete package but i am putting a concrete slab in. The package comes with flooring joists and flooring. Would you be able to take off the flooring from the complete package.

Yes, we would credit the floor joists, and subfloor and basement stairs. Please speak to your representative for the credit amount. Take care Mark

Do you have a layaway program?

We work with each person on an individual basis for this type of question, so give us a call and we will try to help. Thanks Mark

My husband and I are actively searching land to purchase, we have become very interested in your Madison log model. We would like to know if this model offers the option to make changes to the floor plans?

Yes, we would be happy to help make the changes necessary to the design for your family. Contact your representative and they can assist you and give you a free detailed quote.

Can the floor plans be altered at all? We would like to add a mud room.

The floor plan can be changed to meet your family’s needs. We do this everyday to help our customers design a home that works for them.

Do you have a Swedish cope log?

We do not offer a Swedish cope log design. We do offer our 8x8 log in a round on round design to get that appearance of the round, but with an energy efficient tongue & groove system.

We are interested in the Mountaineer wilderness series cabin. However, we'd like to eliminate the smaller bedroom and move the wall to expand the larger bedroom slightly and provide more space in the common living area. Also, it looks as though a window

The Recreational Camp series is designed and priced to take them as they are shown, but you could make some changes on-site. If you wanted the loft to still extend out; you would need to provide support for that if you removed the wall (i.e. posts).

The floorplan that we are looking at, on the 2nd floor is open to below is there anyway we can get it where its not open the below? We are looking at the Riverside House.

Customizing the design to meet your needs is our goal. Yes we can make the design have a full floor upstairs to utilize more space. Ask your Representative for help with this option.

How does your pre-cut designs account for electric outlets?

All electrical is done on-site during the time of construction. It is detailed in our construction manual and CD and is very easy to do. We even have some information on our website about electrical listed on the home page and in the FAQ section.

We are interested in purchasing an existing log home and would like to add a master suite off the main floor. Can add-ons be done.

Yes! Every year we design and produce additions to log homes. Please contact one of our representatives to send you our flyer on additions.

We really like the Montana floor plan. Can we take out the wall between the kitchen and living room and move the counters to the corner with the bathroom and outside wall?

Yes you can make those changes on site with only a few simple structual changes. The Montana is part of our No-Change Series so your builder would handle those on site.

I am interested in your Sherwood design. Can the front upper bedroom be eliminated and have the cathedral ceiling extended to over the kitchen? Also, can the upper bathroom be reduced to provide simply a separation between two loft areas (i.e., enlargin

Yes to both questions, our staff can help you with the changes. Thanks

We noticed that some of your floor plans appear to have a daylight/half basement (Oak Ridge, Fairfield) with windows and a door. Is this unfinished space that we can use? Thanks!

Some of our designs show walkout basements in the picture and although we do not supply those materials in our standard package we can add what you need for your particular home. While not every property allows you to have a walkout basement, the basement is a great area to consider finishing off, adding livable space for your family. Thanks, Mark

are the closets tongue and groove also? And how hard is it to make them 2' wider?

Yes, all walls including closets are supplied with T&G to finish them in our complete package. We can also customize them to whatever size you wish. Thanks for the question

Cabins in your Recreational Camp series carry with them a warning that they will not meet residential building codes, yet the plans for homes in the Cabin series do not. What is the difference?

Great question! For clarification our free brochure states it correctly. “They may not meet residential codes. Check with local & state officials for regulations in your area.” The reason we say this is we know in some areas of the country you need a 6x8 log to meet residential codes. This is the main difference between the camp which has a 4x8 log and the cabins which have a 6x8 log. The other area is the roof insulation. Many areas of the country require a higher insulation value in the roof system which the cabins are designed to do. The camps come with 2” of rigid insulation that may not be enough for a full time home in your area. We put this information right there for you as a customer because we “sleep good at night” knowing we are an honest company giving you all the information right up front. By the way did you see we include our prices in our ads and on the website? We have nothing to hide and we let the quality of our homes and our prices do the selling for us, no high pressure selling! Thanks again for a great question. Mark

Is block foundation ok?

Yes, a block foundation put into the specs for the design is fine. We have many customers who have done a block foundation for their log home. Some parts of the country it is a lot less expensive to use block then to have a poured concrete foundation. Hope this helps! Thanks, Mark

Where can we get the furniture shown in some of these designs?

The rustic log furniture is a line we carry. Call your Rep. and they can give you prices. Thanks, Mark

I notice that all of the pictures have the T&G walls running the boards vertical, while the log walls run horizontal. I assume that is for looks. Would you provide some discussion from your perspective about building the T&G horizontal verses vertical?

Your right about the looks. If you run all the pine the same as the logs horizontally, it has the affect of looking like a zebra. That is what the majority of people tell us, but not all. Some customers really like it all going the same way. It's a personal decision. I hope this helps, if it's worth anything I like my pine running vertical in my log home! best of luck on your decision, Mark

1. Is the under the floor type radiant heat compatable with the log home? 2. I am interested in the Clearwater, can I have the chinking with this no-change model?

Yes, you can use the in florr radiant heat with a log home. Yes, we can offer the chink style log for this design at the same price. The actual chinking does not come with the package for that price, contact your representative for prcing on that. Thanks, Mark

I noticed all of your interior stud walls are faced with T&G boards in your photos. I would prefer to have some walls with conventional drywall. How would this effect the price of a "Complete" package?

Great Question We do supply T&G Pine for all walls in our complete packages, but we can remove as much or as little and give you a credit. So the less T&G you want, the more the price will go down. You would just work with your local contractor for the drywall price. Thanks for the question, Mark

I like the Clearwater design. It is pictured with a tin roof. The complete package states shingles. Can Coventry substitute a tin roof and if so, what would the cost be?

Shingles are standard, but we could get the metal for you. Lots of time that is handled on a local basis and we give a credit for the shingles. But if you want us to supply the metal roof (not standing seam) ask your representative for more info. Thanks, Mark

How is the second floor framing secured to the log walls, and can I use engineered I joist for both floors? Do I need to order more log siding to cover the first floor I joist framing? Thank you.

Depending on the series of home you choose will decide how the floor system attaches. We can work with you to use I-joist and depending how tall of I-joist will determine if more log siding is needed. Thanks, Mark

What are some of the first things I need to do in order to start planning the build of my log home between 2010 and 2011?

Great Question, Planning ahead will make the process go better in the long run. Start by thinking about what type of design will meet your families needs. Think about the future and also about re-sale value. Another consideration is where you are building, do you own the land? You may want to do some things in stages like getting some of the groundwork done now. I would suggest getting in contact with your representative here and explaining your situation and they can help you plan for your future log home.

It appears that the square footage you list is internal and external square footage. I plan to build in an area where I must have 1800 square foot of heated space minimum. What floorplans fit this specification?

Gary, Our Sq. Ft. shown is for the inside floor space of the home. Only garages are outside dimensions. Unless someone made a typo they should represent the sq. ft you need. As far as finding homes in your range the fastest way is to click on the price list on the web or the free info we are sending as all sq. ft. are shown right there. I'm sure Richard would be happy to help also if you need him. Thanks, Mark

can the 2 car garage in the homestead no change be replaced with the 2 car gambrel garage

Yes, we could work with you to change that part of the design to meet your needs. Please contact your representative for more information. Thanks Mark

How difficult is it to add a woodstove to one of the recreational camp series cabins? Does any planning need to be done for this prior to delivery?

Was wondering if any of your designers take an interest in feng shui?

Does it matter what type of stain you use on your home?

We encourage customers to purchase high quality preservative products to protect their log home. We sell products by Continental Products (WeatherSeal) and Perma Chink Systems. Both these products do an excellent job protecting log homes. We encourage customers to educate themselves on the benefits of these products. Remember don’t just buy something because it is the cheapest one available. Buy a good product and you will be glad you did.

Are your logs treated in any way? I see that most companies are now using a borate treatment.

We do not treat our logs in any way. The reason is simple; you can not dip only the outside portion of the log which means the whole log will be dipped into a substance that will be on the inside of your home forever. These treatments have been known to seep out over time and cause other problems. We know of many people that have allergies to these substances and have had reactions to them. Imagine if you sold your home and the inspector asked if the logs where treated with these products, because the buyer has allergies, this could stop the sale. What if your children develop allergies and you must move due to this. Not a good situation to put your family in. We use kiln-dried logs; these dry logs are stable to build with and are not harmful to your family. You can than apply a good preservative to the outside to protect your home from the elements. Treating the logs is a good sales pitch, but not one Coventry Log Homes is willing to use just to make a sale!

Will the logs crack and need to be replaced over time?

The logs will check and crack as this is natural for them to do, but with proper maintance they will last a lifetime without any replacement. The only time I have heard of replacing a log is when it was in direct contact with the ground or shrubs. Direct contact with the ground is not recommended for any type of construction

How much maintanance will I be doing on my log home each year?

Once the home has been preserved with a good quality stain than yearly maintance is the same for any home. Take a walk around and address any new concerns. For the most part you should just keep the logs clean and free from contact with trees or shrubs like any home. Depending on how much sunlight the home gets will determine how often the home will need additional coats of preservative. Typical is every 4-6 years

I am looking to put one of your log homes on some property in Florida. Termites are a big concern, and I know your logs are not treated. How do I prevent termites from getting into these logs?

This question gets asked often in states that have an insect problem. Here is what our customers have found. Regardless of what type of construction you use to build your home, if you live in an area that has wood boring insects you need to treat all homes with insecticides. In other words what ever you would do normally in your area of the country like spraying should be done for your new log home. I know it is common for most all home owners in Florida to hire a professional to come in a couple times a year to take care of these pests. I personally know people who own homes in FL that are block, conventional framed, log homes and mobile homes and they all tell me they have a professional take care of it and they have no problems. Remember good building and maintenance practices like keeping trees and shrubs from being too close to the house and doing a yearly walk around will help take care of a lot of issues all homeowners have to deal with. Thanks for the question, Mark

I have my house all closed in now and i am having alot of problems with moisture on the windows, log walls and ceiling.

We get calls especially in the winter about moisture problems in the home.. Coventry recommends that you use a humidifier or dehumidifier to maintain appx 35% humidity. Using construction heaters or any ventless heater will add moisture to your home. An unvented propane heater will produce 0.000078 lbs. of water per hr per btu. If you are running a 50,000 btu heater, this calculates out to appx ½ gal of water every hr, 12 gal every day, 84 gal every week. If using this type of heat you need to crack open the windows to release moisture outside and use a dehumidifier. 99% of the time this is the cuase of moisture issues.

If I order a complete package before March 31, 2010, what would be the soonest it could be delivered?

Minimum delivery time is about 4 weeks from the time we get signed plans, and all the other paperwork and deposit. This is due to cutting schedules, material specifications, window orders etc… We encourage our customers to order as soon as they can as our schedule gets busier and can run out into the 6-8 week area. Another good option is to get your plans deposit in and that can save some time by having those nailed down and approved. Thanks for the question and we look forward to working with you. Mark

Do your building meet the 2006 universal building code? The county where I am building requires that standard.

Our standard designs meet current building codes. In some areas of the country local codes are enforced on top of the national code too, so make sure we know if anything special in your county. Thanks Mark

The county in which I'm looking at building a small cabin has construction standards of: 30# sq.ft snow load, 85mph wind gust, seismic category c-d1, severe weathering, slight to moderate termite, winter design temp of 20deg. and requires ice shield unde