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The Oak Leaf - April 2018

By Lynn Gastineau
President of Gastineau Log Homes, Inc.

Welcome to the April 2018 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!

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This custom design features a magnificent back porch with an outside fireplace that backs up the the interior living room fireplace. An exposed beam truss on the end is structural and beautiful.

This Month: Questions you should answer before you begin your log or timber frame home journey: Folks dreaming of living in a home come to us and often say "We are just beginning. We don't know where to start." In this months newsletter, we are suggesting the "Top Ten Questions You Should Ask Yourself" to make the process easier. So, before you drive to the model home center, review these questions and think about your preferences. If you need help with these decisions, we can provide more insight during your visit with pros and cons. But some of these are big decisions and you can start giving them some thought.

Trivia Question: Easter falls on April Fools Day in 2018. How often does that happen? How is Easter Day set? (See the answer at the end of the newsletter.)

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What a cute idea for the pantry door!

What is the maximum $ amount I am willing to spend to get the home that I want? And how much would I feel most comfortable spending? You should determine this range based on your situation and preferences. This may require a visit to the bank to be prequalified. It may help to review the April 2017 Oak Leaf where we discuss the cost per square foot.

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This beautiful kitchen has everything you need! An eat on island, lots of storage and a wine rack!

How many "floors or levels" do you want? Do you want a one story home? Do you want a one story home with a loft? Do you want a one story home with a finished basement? Do you want a one story home with a loft and a finished basement? Do you want a story and a half home with bedrooms/bathrooms upstairs? Do you want a story and a half home with bedrooms upstairs and a finished basement? Do you want a two story home? Do you want a two story home with a finished basement?

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This second floor bathroom is ready for kids or guests. The drywall used on the walls is accented by a wood ceiling.

Do you want a Garage? If yes, do you want it attached or detached? In the basement? Do you want a Carport? This can have a significant impact on your design, so it is an important consideration. I have worked with people to design their home and then, as an afterthought when we are almost finished, they say "And oh yes, we need a garage too." But there is no way to have reasonable access to the garage for the design they like. Even if it is going to be in the basement, it is important for the design to ensure adequate space for the vehicles.

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This two car garage and connecting enclosed breezeway have a side entrance so the garage doors are not visible from the road.

What size of home do you want? How many bedrooms and bathrooms do you need? Some people have a hard time visualizing square footage. The visit to the model homes can help as we have three different sizes ranging from 1000 to 1800 to 3100 square feet. Think about the rooms you need. Are there any special rooms you need like an office, a sewing room or a mother in law space? Or a play room like the one below!

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Do you need a play room for the kids or grandkids??

Where are you going to build? Do you have your land? If yes, do you know where on your land you want to build? Have you checked to make sure you have clear title? Will it need to be surveyed? These are details that can delay construction and may take time to be resolved.

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This finished basement uses log siding to carry the log home feel to the lower level family room.

Do you want a General Contractor to build your home "turn key" or do you want to do some of the work? Do you want to do all the construction yourself or do you want the shell erected and you will finish your log home? If you have the time and skill set, it is very feasible for you to do some or a lot of the work yourself. Time is usually the biggest challenge. Be realistic about what you have the time and ability to tackle.

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This is a story and a half home with a finished basement. The stairs to the basement are located directly under the stairs to the second floor. This is the best use of space in your design.

What type of foundation do you want? Basement (walk out or not), Crawlspace and Slabs all have different advantages and disadvantages. You may want to read the August 2016 Oak Leaf where we discuss these in more detail.

Drive In Basement Ext

Your building site may determine your foundation. A basement is virtually the only type you can use on a site this steep.

Do you want porches or decks or patios or other outside spaces? The December 2014 Oak Leaf features information on porches. The difference between a porch and a deck is that a porch has a roof covering it and the deck is open. Think about which you prefer and what fits into your life style.

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This house has a wrap around porch on two sides and a huge deck across the rear.

Do you want shingles or a metal roof? This is another question you can decide and get out of the way! Need more info? Check out the July 2015 Oak Leaf.

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A standing seam metal roof has a difference appearance from a shingled roof. Which do you prefer?

And last but not least, what type of log style do you like? What kind of corner do you like? In the log home world, the term for the outside of the log and the inside of the log is the "profile." You can have round or flat for either or both profiles. A visit to the model can make this an easier decision but something you should ponder. To see our profiles, go to our website page. Learn more about the different corner styles in the July 2016 Oak Leaf.

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And a good relaxing soak at the end of the day....

Need help?....... We are here to help you in any way we can to make the building of your log home as easy as possible. We want it to be your dream home that you will still be enjoying in 30 years. We appreciate the opportunity to be involved in the process and see you fulfill your dream.

Home Shows:
The Log Home Show will be in Harrisburg, PA April 20 - 22, 2018. For more information, click here.

Log Raising:
This weather has eliminated our ability to have a log raising but we hope to have one near Fulton, MO in April.

Construction Seminar Schedule for 2018:

September 15, 2018

Click here for information on our one day construction seminars.

Open Houses:

Remember that the GLH Model Home Center on I 70 in central MO is open seven days a week now! We are open 9 - 5 Monday to Saturday and 12 to 5 on Sunday. We have three houses there that you can tour!

Answer to Trivia Question: For the first time since 1956, Easter Sunday falls on April 1 also known as April Fools Day. Since 1900, Easter has fallen on April Fool's Day only four times - 1923, 1934, 1945 and 1956. It won't happen again until 2029.
Easter falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon occurring on or after the spring equinox. The spring equinox occurs on March 20 this year. Easter generally falls between March 22 and April 25 each year

Quote of the Month: "Funny thing about comfort. One man's comfort is another man's misery. Most people don't work hard enough physically anymore, and comfort is not easy to find. It is surprising how comfortable a hard bunk can be after you come down off a mountain." - Richard Proenneke, One Man's Wilderness - An Alaskan Odyssey

 
 
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