The Oak Leaf - February 2016 By Lynn Gastineau President of Gastineau Log Homes, Inc. Welcome to the February 2016 issue of The Oak Leaf! For new r

 
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The Oak Leaf - February 2016

By Lynn Gastineau
President of Gastineau Log Homes, Inc.

Welcome to the February 2016 issue of The Oak Leaf! For new readers, this is a monthly newsletter that is sent by e-mail to those that have expressed an interest in Gastineau Log Homes. We use this as a way of communicating technical, design and industry information. For more information, check out our web site at www.oakloghome.com.

Please "Like" Gastineau Log Homes on Facebook! There are LOTS of photographs of our homes in the Photo section!

LvgRoomandStairs

The traditional loft in a log home looks down into an open greatroom. The options here include round beams, railing and truss versus using a square beam. Another choice that is yours to make is using a wood ceiling as shown or another material such as drywall.

Trivia Question: Four US Presidents had birthdays in February plus we celebrate Presidents Day this month. Which President was the only licensed bartender, which President held the job of a hangman and which President was the only tailor?

Focus on Options!: What do we mean by options? We have standard plans and standard materials. But there is no limit to the options that we can provide for your home. Both in materials, sizes, logs, building systems and in design! If you want to build a custom home that uses wood, we can guide you through the process and help you achieve the home of your dreams!

simms int living rm.lowres.

The option here was to REMOVE part of the first story floor to allow you to look down into the basement/lower level. This created a three story open loft feel and provided an abundance of natural light into all three levels.

Unlimited Options: At Gastineau Log Homes, we have standard materials included in our standard plans to provide pricing and a starting point for the construction of your home. We are building "custom" homes. However options can range from design to building materials to finishes. We would like to share with you some of the "options" that just a few people have built in our homes over the years. This month we will focus more on photos than text because as they say, "A picture is worth a thousand words!"

Schl.garageend

Incorporating stone can be done in several ways. The stone peirs for the deck above continue up onto the main level as the bottom 1/3 of the porch posts. The rock is also used to cover the exterior of the basement/lower level walls and the retaining walls for the garage.

DiningRoom.Skylites

Options in this custom home: Beams in the ceiling with skylights between. Octagon shaped windows on both sides.

Starting with Design:

GLH offers 34 standard plans but often they are not "perfect fit" for your site or your family. In those situations, we can "tweek" the design. Maybe you like the floor plan of one home but prefer exterior design elements from another home. We can blend the two so you have both the interior and exterior that you like. Maybe you have a custom design either in your head or one you found in a magazine or another source. We will take that basic design and customize it to suit you. Our Design Department is very talented in helping you achieve the perfect design for you and your family.

Bedroom.Second Floor

The second floor loft bedroom has a dormer which provides the headroom as well as the exposed beam truss which is a decorative optional element.

Preplanning can be an option!: What do you do if you have a lot on a Lake that you want to use as a vacation home now and build your retirement home later? One of our past customers chose to do it by building the "home" below that he then converted into a garage with guest quarters after he built his Seven Gables home next to it.

S5001336

This carriage house was built to be used as a part time vacation home until the "big house" could be built in later years. At that time, the carriage house will be converted into a garage with guest living quarters attached. See how they preplanned for the garage doors structurally with the two bays easily converted into garage spaces.

McMeeken.SwimPool2Ext

How about a lap pool in a sunroom adjoining your log home?

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A gas fireplace was incorporated into the cabinet design of this kitchen. Very unique!

Are there limitations because it is a log home?: NO! You can build anything into a log home that you can put in any other type of housing. Just because something is "standard" in our package does not mean it has to be built that way. For example, we use an open beam floor system for the second floor. If you want a conventional floor system, we can change this for your home. Maybe you want casement windows and our package has double hung. Just let us know and we can change the windows to casements. The choices are all yours.

Schl.lowerlevel.gazebo

This patio and gazebo were constructed of matching materials to the home and serve as an extension of the patio and decks. Optional materials for gazebos or other buildings can be purchased as needed.

Vialle.BarnDoor.Int.LowRes

Barn doors are a hot design element currently and are very practical for small spaces or where a door swing is going to be cumbersome.

The Evolution of Different Building Materials: New building materials and methods are constantly evolving. (Maybe not as fast as Apple puts out new I-Phones but there are new trends each year.) Any of these can be incorporated into your home. For example, the barn door shown to the left. This is really just a door slab with door hardware that has been around for decades. (Think "barns.") Do you have specific features you want in your new home? Just let us know! We will help you incorporate it into your design.

Vialle.BunkBedsGable.lowres

Do you have lots of oveernight visitors and need to sleep a lot of people? Consider a bunk room. This bunk room is over the attached garage. These custom bunk beds were made using Oak 6 X 6 posts that we provided.

How much wood can a wood chuck chuck?: One of the most popular "options" we sell is wood to cover the ceilings and partition walls in homes. Why is this an option and not standard? Because some people don't want wood everywhere. A lot of people want to mix drywall with the wood walls from the logs. So how much wood do you want? DO you prefer Oak or Pine or Cedar? You tell us and we will include it exactly where you choose.

CoveredBridge2

How about a covered bridge going to your property? Or a timber frame or post and beam home? We can design, engineer and provide you with the materials for any of them!

Construction Seminar Schedule for 2016:

February 6, 2014
September 24, 2016

Click here for information on our one day construction seminars.

ALSO: We will be announcing the date for our first Annual Log Home Owners Party to be held in the summer of 2016. This event provides an opportunity for all our past customers to come and bring photos of their home and share their experience with other Gastineau Log Home Owners. Prospective home owners are also invited to come meet those that have built their home and want to share their experiences. We will be providing some good ole' Missouri bar-b-que for everyone to enjoy!

Open Houses:

Remember that the GLH Model Home Center on I 70 in central MO is open 6 days a week! We have three houses there that you can tour! We open again on Sundays in late January.

Answer to the Trivia Question: Abraham Lincoln is the only US president who was also a licensed bartender. He was co-owner of Berry and Lincoln, a saloon in Springfield, IL. Grover Cleveland was the only President to hold the job of a hangman. As Sheriff of Erie County, NY, he had to spring the trap at two hangings. Andrew Johnson was the only tailor ever to be president. And he only wore the suits that he made himself!

Quote of the Month: "Take a leap of faith and begin this wondrous new year by believing. Believe in yourself. And believe that there is a loving Source - a Sower of Dreams - just waiting to be asked to help you make your dreams come true." - Sarah Ban Breathnach

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