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Progression of a Michigan Lakeside Cabin

11 April 2013, 3:47 pm

View Elevation of HomeAs a Michigan native with a lifelong career in the automotive industry, Steve and his family’s roots were firmly planted in the state. Loving the recreational opportunities Michigan offered, for years they retained a small cottage and land near Dead River Basin on the Upper Peninsula. After several years, Steve decided it was time to build a newer, rustic cabin retreat that was better equipped for their family’s changing needs. Thus, his search began for the perfect company to fulfill these needs.

Having a keen eye and attention to detail, Steve immediately liked how PrecisionCraft’s Total Home Solution® offered him a flexible, yet structured design and construction process. After browsing through the vast floor plan gallery and discovering the Wood River concept, he knew he had found the company that could offer him all he needed for his particular project.

Utilizing the Wood River design as an inspiration for his own home, Steve began working with Tim, his M.T.N Architects designer, to create a layout that worked with his budget, style, and needs. Tim’s design was primarily driven by the activities Steve’s family enjoyed on their lakefront property.  For example, an outdoor shower was included to the layout so that the family could rinse off after playing on the lake, and the great room was designed and oriented to appreciate the property’s waterfront views. Steve also had him expand the original design to include an unfinished walkout basement and a loft, and included more bedroom space.Timber Frame Home

Once Steve’s design was complete, he had the original cottage torn down and worked with his project manager through PrecisionCraft’s Builder Bid Administration process to find and secure a builder for the next phase of his project. Now, after several months of construction, Steve’s home exterior is being stained and sided, and work on the interior is in full swing. Steve and his family hope to have their rustic cabin retreat completed in time to enjoy the upcoming summer months.

 

Stay tuned for final photos of Steve’s lakeside cabin, coming to Facebook this summer.

Filed under Choosing a Log Home Company, Construction, Customer Quote of the Month, Design & Floor Plans, Finding a Builder. Tagged , , , , , , ,
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Log Post and Beam Homes

5 April 2013, 8:29 am

Post and Beam in Georgia

The appeal of large, handcrafted logs and a rustic design has always been a popular desire for log home enthusiasts. However, many potential log home buyers do not necessarily want the full log walls associated with handcrafted and milled designs. The understated allure of the Post and Beam style can be a great alternative to consider to full log wall homes.

What is Log Post and Beam?

Compared to traditional log homes, the Post and Beam style is comprised of vertical posts that support the beams and truss accents throughout a home’s interior. This style creates a structural and aesthetic alternative to utilizing complete log walls. While retaining their own unique look, post and beam designs created at PrecisionCraft still feature elements like the exposed cross beams, handcrafted posts, and mixture of materials that create the mountain-style look prevalent in many complete handcrafted or milled log home designs.

Why are Post and Beam Designs Appealing?

When couples are looking into building a log home, many of them do not know there are alternative options to building with full log walls. The Post and Beam style provides structure, but also offers clients the rustic, mountain-style charm they’ve sought after in a log home design, without the effect of complete wood throughout.Post and Beam Truckee

Other Benefits of Log Post and Beam Homes

Along with offering a unique design alternative, post and beam log homes create faster build times and can reduce building costs as compared to a traditional handcrafted log home. Utilizing log posts and beams for structural or decorative accents, also opens up the option of mixing other building styles in alongside the logs. For instance, many of our clients will include a complete log wall or two as accents in their post and beam design.

 

For more visual examples of Post and Beam style designs, visit PrecisionCraft’s Post and Beam Homes page and browse through our Post and Beam design concepts.

Filed under Design & Floor Plans. Tagged , , ,
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A Project Manager Perspective – Part 4

28 March 2013, 3:54 pm

Over the last year we have offered insight from several members of our Project Management team on what it is like to be a part of a client’s dream home coming to fruition. Today we spoke with Dan, another valued PrecisionCraft team member, on what it has been like working with Steve and Patty, a couple building their custom timber frame home in Northwest Washington.

Why did the couple decide to build in Washington?

Steve is retiring from a career as a Life Flight helicopter pilot in Texas, so the couple has been looking for a place in their home state of Washington to build their dream home for years. They chose their Lilliwaup location for its lush, green forests and proximity to a channel of the Puget Sound.

Why did they choose to work with PrecisionCraft?

Steve and Patty had been researching energy efficient homes for a long time. Learning how well timber framing and structural insulated panels (SIPs) worked together, and how fast they could go up, the couple started to look for home building companies that offered both. Intrigued by the rustic timber framing featured in several PrecisionCraft homes, they decided that PrecisionCraft was the right company to create their custom timber frame and SIP home.

What do you think is unique about this project?

Shell-in of Washington homeWhat I thought was really unique was that when the couple reviewed the builders from our Builder Bid Administration process, they ended up choosing one that had no previous SIP experience. The builder did an excellent install of the SIP panels, and everything worked out seamlessly. The couple ended up really liking their builder and has developed a relationship with him, which is important in a custom home building project.

What has been the most challenging aspect of the project?

The road leading to Steve and Patty’s property is very steep and has made delivering materials to the site quite arduous at times. The rainy weather that Washington is known for has also proven to be a bit of a challenge. The installation of the home’s asphalt shingles was actually bumped up to help protect the home from the elements during the rest of construction.

What is your favorite part about working with Steve and Patty?

My favorite part of Steve and Patty’s project is their excitement. You can tell that building this home is the realization of a lifelong dream coming true for them; it is really something special to be able to share that with them.

Filed under Choosing a Log Home Company, Construction, Customer Quote of the Month.
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Building a Future from the Past

21 March 2013, 4:48 pm
Stone home

The 1849 Stone House

For Nicole and Ronnie, building a home rooted in tradition was something they had dreamt about for a long time. Living in historical Bedford, Pennsylvania, the couple owns 200 acres of land that has been passed down in Nicole’s family for generations. Included on the property is a stone house that was built in 1849.  While it is not uncommon for clients to come to PrecisionCraft with inherited acreage, the couple’s request to incorporate their existing stone home into their new design was a first. Here is the story of how Nicole and Ronnie worked with PrecisionCraft’s M.T.N Architects to create a design that showcased their past, while accommodating for their future.

When the couple first started browsing through PrecisionCraft’s website, they were instantly struck by the look of an existing home in Idaho that blended multiple building textures, including log and timber with a significant section of stone. Comforted by PrecisionCraft’s success with blending stone with a timber structure, the couple went to M.T.N Architects to create a similar timber frame design that would incorporate their 164-year-old stone home as a similar section.

PA home rendering

Nicole and Ronnie's Rendered Design

 

The couple wanted their design to be laid out so that the original home’s stone could not only be seen from the new home’s interior, but could also function as a part of their new home’s floor plan. To accommodate this, their designer incorporated doors leading from the dining and great rooms into the stone home’s main floor. The structure’s original staircase would be restored during construction to be used as a secondary staircase. The stone home section was also reconfigured to function as an office for Nicole and Ronnie and a game room for their children.

Overall, the couple wanted a home that showcased their family’s history while still providing for their modern day lifestyle. Their new 7,000 square foot home design has all the amenities they need and includes luxury spaces like; four bedroom suites, an expansive master closet, and a large exercise room above the garage. Moving from the inside out, the couple’s love for outdoor dining also prompted their designer to include glass bi-fold doors off of the great room. These doors can fold away to reveal an expansive, covered outdoor living space where the family can barbeque and enjoy their historic acreage.

 

This unique blend of past and present is scheduled to begin construction summer 2013. Keep an eye out for future updates on Nicole and Ronnie’s dream home project on Facebook.

 

Filed under Choosing a Log Home Company, Customer Quote of the Month, Design & Floor Plans. Tagged , , , , , , ,
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