Log Home Industry Goes Green

I found this article about a log home manufacurer who has begun incorporating green building techniques into their building process. I know that it sounds like an oxymoron, but residents of log homes tend to be some of the most environmentally conscious folks around. It’s just that there is the issue of all that timber and where it came from. Most responsible log home companies get their timber from tree farms, thereby contributing to the preservation of our natural resources. Many of the steps outlined in the article above can be applied to any house, making it a relevant article for just about anyone. As soon as I gather some links regarding many of the techniques mentioned in the article then I will post them here on this blog.  Another article you may find interesting is this post by David Pogue of the New York Times. Here he has posted an interview with Michael Sykes, the creator of the Enertia House. Michael Sykes has designed a house that uses convection currents to regulate the temperature inside the home. The design is compelling but I would like to see more studies done on it to back up some of the claims that are made on the website.

Dealing With Cabin Fever

Cabin fever is a condition that produces restlessness and irritability caused from being in a confined space. The actual word is a slang term for a claustrophobic reaction that takes place when a party is isolated and/or shut in together for an extended period of time.

Having grown up in Alaska I can attest to the fact that cabin fever is a real ailment which strikes many people. I have suffered with it several times myself. The best that I can do to explain how it feels to have cabin fever is to describe it as an intense longing to get outside and walk, run, garden, or whatever. But you can’t get outside and haven’t been outside for any length of time because of the cold, long winter. It isn’t an ailment along the lines of depression or SAD, it’s more like homesickness. It is very intense for a week or so and then you work your way through it and it goes away. The University of Minnesota has written a good article explaining ways in which to cope with cabin fever. The best remedy for cabin fever is Spring, which gives you the ability to go outside and blow off some steam. I just think that Spring needs to get here and stick around long enough to do some good. The Northeastern and the Northwestern U.S. can’t seem to shrug off winter for good. The foul weather that keeps blowing through is enough to give the most winter hardy souls a bit of cabin fever. Even down here in the South we had a late Spring freeze which did extensive damage to our plants and trees that had begun leafing out and blossoming. Anyways, if you suffer from cabin fever, keep in mind that it is only temporary and iw will resolve in a week or so. Hang in there!

I Can See Clearly Now

I spoke with one of the producers of ‘Great Taste’ and I finally got the full scoop. They are doing a 30 minute segment on rustic decorating and they would like to feature Northwoods State of Mind in a 5 minute segment. the filming won’t begin until July and the show won’t air for a couple of months after filming wraps up. Nothing is written in stone at this point, I have to speak with a Senior Producer next week so that he can interview me and make sure that Northwoods is a good fit for the show. But here is the caveat….they want me to pay a hefty licensing fee. Very hefty. the way I see it is that I am actually paying for my part of the production, the cost is being transferred to me in the form of a ‘licensing fee’. If any of you have ever shopped on Ebay then you know this trick: Advertise an item for an impossibly low price to reel in the buyer, then make up the shortfall by charging an exorbitant amount for shipping. So now the analysis begins. Will the exposure that the store gets convert to more sales and make it economically feasible, or will it just remain a feather in our cap. Time to put the thinking cap on.

Northwoods State of Mind To Be Featured On National TV!

I received a surprising and wonderful phone call last week. I was in Vancouver, British Columbia crammed in an elevator full of screaming kids (not mine) when my cell phone rang. Under normal circumstances I would not have answered it in an elevator but due to the high level of noise being generated by these children I  felt that my cell phone use would not be a nuisance. I am so glad that I did answer the phone because from the bits and pieces that I could hear and confirm, my company Northwoods State of Mind is to be featured on a national home decorating show which is doing a feature on rustic decorating. I’m sure the producer who contacted me thinks I must be an idiot because the conversation went something like this..

“this is blahblahblah from the show blahbala…rustic decorating…….when will you be available?”

Me : “Who?”

“blahblah”

Me: “what was that?”

Me:”Really? Who is this again?”

All the while there were 4 small children screaming at the tops of their voices, and due to the surprise of the phone call I couldn’t think straight enough to tell them that I couldn’t hear anything and ‘No, those are not my children’, and most importantly ‘ Can I call you right back as soon as I get away from the screaming mimi’s?’ Ah well, such is life. My initial interview is slated for this Wed. at 10:00 and I will be patiently waiting by the phone with the dogs outside and my office door shut tight.

Building Your Own Sauna

By Thomas Oak

If you would enjoy owning your own home sauna but find the cost prohibitive, you may want to consider actually building your own sauna. If you are a decent handyman and can follow directions it will probably be pretty easy for you to get your own sauna built in no time. Before you start building you should consider any special needs for your sauna, whether you want a modular sauna or a pre-cut kit, and also be aware of any special warnings or precautions you need to be aware of.

Special Needs

Before you get started on your home sauna there are a few special needs that you need to be aware of. First of all, you will need to know what size you want your sauna and if you want to have it inside or outside of your home. If you only want a small sauna for two people, then you will only need to build it large enough to allow 2-3 feet of space on the bench for each person. You should also know, that while you will not need a water hookup for the home sauna, you will need to be sure that there is an available electrical circuit, which will be needed to operate the heater for your home sauna.

Constructing a Modular Sauna

One option that you will have for building your own home sauna is a modular sauna. This is a great choice for people who do not want to do as much work or who are not qualified enough to use a pre-cut kit. A modular sauna comes with most of the work already completed and your only job is to put it together. This is also a great choice for those who relocate often, since you are able to easily disassemble this type of a sauna so it can move with you. Usually everything you need for your sauna, including the heater, will come with your modular sauna kit.

Using a Pre-Cut Kit for Your Sauna

Those who have a bit more experience with building may want to choose a pre-cut kit for building their home sauna. While this will take a bit more time for you to construct, it will also save you a great deal of money as well. The great part about using a kit is that all the boards and necessary trimmings come with the kit, so you do not have to worry about going out and buying the right amount of materials. You will only want to use this type of a kit if you are proficient at building, or you may mess up on the project and it may be difficult to replace the materials.

Warnings

There are a few precautions and warnings that you should keep in mind when you are building your own home sauna. First of all, all the electrical components you use should be UL rated for your safety, and unless you are an electrician, you should leave the wiring to someone else who is an electrician. Also make sure that the door is easy to open and that no locks are used on this door to prevent someone from accidentally being locked in. It is also highly important that no paint or stain is used on the inside of the sauna or the steam may cause there to be very harmful fumes. Keep these warnings in mind as you build and you will be able to construct a great Finnish sauna for your relaxation and enjoyment.

Thomas Oak writes exclusively for http://www.hot-sauna.com

Follow the links for additional information from Jake Plumer about a   Finnish sauna or for a conventional  Home Sauna  for indoors or outside.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Thomas_Oak
http://EzineArticles.com/?Building-Your-Own-Home-Sauna&id=491369

The Life Expectancy of Home Appliances Is Going Down

I found this article in the Realestate.com pages very interesting. It states that recent homeowner surveys have revealed that the life expectancy of our homes major appliances has gone down since 1993. This means that we will be replacing our appliances earlier than we would have 14 years ago. This is a major consideration when you are purchasing a home that is 5-10 years young. How much will you have to invest in aging appliances? Now I have my theory on why this trend is occurring and I think it is very simple. I believe that homeowners today change their mind and their style more often than in years past. Remember the white kitchens of the late 80’s and early 90’s? That trend lasted maybe 8 years or so before people began changing back to stained kitchen cabinets and stone countertops with stainless steel appliances. This, coupled with the fact that we are a nation of re-locaters (frequent movers) who have to sell houses and sell them fast is what I believe is driving this trend. One of the best ways to update a house is to update the kitchen and thus increase the chances of a quick sell. I truly do not believe that appliances today are less reliable than they used to be, I think we just change our minds more!

Whistle While You Work

It is no secret that the federal government has slashed funding for the National Park System. All you have to do is visit any US national park and you will be able to tell that there isn’t enough financial support. Facilities may be deteriorating, staff may be scarce, and trails and maps may need restoration. I love visiting our national parks, I never letan opportunity to visit one slip by. So far I have been to Yellowstone, Yosemite, Denali, Shenandoah, Rocky Mountain, Grand Teton, Smoky Mountain, and Glacier. It pains me to see the number of visitors increasing while the funds to support and protect our parks from all of this traffic is dwindling. One solution to this problem is to rely more heavily on volunteers. The Sierra Club has organized several working vacations which allow participants to help maintain our national treasures. Service trips are a  great idea for families with teenagers. 

A Tribute To John Denver

One of my favorite singers of all time is John Denver. I found this video on Youtube. I hope that you enjoy it as much as I did.

Building a Cabin

This is an excellent video showing the entire cabin building process. A couple from Manitoba captured this endevour and set it to delightful music and shared it on youtube. Take a look:

Well Water 101

If you live in an urban or suburban environment you probably take your water supply for granted. With just a flick of the wrist it’s always there. Things aren’t so simple when you are buying property for a vacation home. When you are looking for property it is important to remember that the breathtaking views will do you no good if you cannot access a good water supply. It is important to invest in professional help from a licensed driller from the outset. The price of a well is much cheaper than the price of the property and a house. Once you have found the property of your dreams you need to hire a licensed driller who will determine for you where your water table lies, and if it has sufficient quantities of water to support daily usage. This is invaluable information especially for mountain properties where the depth needed to drill a well can add significantly to the cost of constructing a home. If there is already a home on the site then you will still want the well tested to make sure that it is adequate and in good working order.
Once you have the well drilled and have located the water table, you will want to have the water tested for organic and inorganic content. Typically, well water is very clean and free of microorganisms but you will still want to run a check. It is the inorganic materials that most homeowners find the most bothersome. Growing up in Alaska where almost everybody in my town was on well water, I know first hand the effects of sulphur, arsenic and iron can wreak on your clothes, hair, and out of town guests. I never owned anything white, everything was off-white to gray due to the high iron content of our water. We considered ourselves lucky though. Friends of ours had so much arsenic in their water that they couldn’t use it to drink or cook, only shower. It was hard to drink some neighbors water because the smell of rotten eggs from the sulphur in it would make me queasy. Have the water tested by a certified contractor prior to purchasing the property, and then annually if you do go through with the purchase. Look for your contractor to be accredited by the National Ground Water Association.
Here are some tips for well-water users:
Have an annual maintenance check performed by a certified professional.
Keep hazardous materials away from the well area. This includes motor oil, paint, fertilizers and pesticides.
make sure there is proper separation between your septic system and you well.
Keep records of your annual well tests so that you can note any changes.
Take care around your well casing. Damage to the casing can compromise the sanitary conditions of your well.

If you follow these steps your well should stay in good working condition for nearly 20 years. A small investment in testing and maintenance will allow you to enjoy that rural retreat for years to come.