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Frequently Asked Questions
1. Will my log home be maintenance free? Contrary to popular belief, a log home is not entirely maintenance free. A log home generally requires much less maintenance than a conventional house. The secret to maintaining the beauty of your logs is to keep them dry. Treat your logs as soon as possible after construction with your choice of preservative and stain. Retreating may be necessary every one to three years thereafter, depending upon the preservative used and the degree of weathering. For additional information, contact your local Barna distributor or a local stain/preservative retailer for choice of finishes available and his or her recommendations for a simple maintenance program for your log home. 2. Can my Barna log home be customized to my needs? Yes! In fact, every Barna log home is a custom home, and even though we have many standard models that might meet your needs as they are, our full-service design and engineering department gives us complete flexibility in helping you design a home that ideally fits your lifestyle and is uniquely you. 3. How much will my Barna log home cost to finish, and how will it compare to conventional construction? The finished cost of your home will depend on several factors--your location, choice of finish materials, how much of the work you do yourself, etc. But, in every case, your total investment should be about the same as a conventional home built to the same exact standards and with similar construction methods. 4. Do my Barna logs carry a warranty? All log systems manufactured by Barna Log Homes carry a limited lifetime warranty on the log elements. The details of this warranty can be found on the purchase agreement, a certificate inserted in the pocket at the back of your catalog, or ask your sales representative to provide you with this information. 5. Will my logs shrink and crack? A natural characteristic of log timbers is that some checking (cracking), twisting and shrinking will occur. The possibility exists that the use of caulking may be necessitated after the passage of time. If these conditions do occur, they are not considered defects. 6. How long has Barna Log Homes been in business, and how stable is the company? We began manufacturing our log homes in 1975 and were incorporated in 1976 under the name Barna and Danner Co. Since then, we've grown to become one of the largest privately held companies in the industry, with over 5000 homes having been shipped all over the United States, as well as to many overseas markets. Our control of raw materials, commitment to quality and service, and network of professional distributors will continue to insure our financial stability, while our commitment to technical innovation and pursuit of excellence will guarantee our consistent growth in the years to come. 7. Are my logs treated before delivery? We initially apply a surface treatment as is standard within the log industry. The intent of this surface treatment is to help delay the buildup of molds and mildew during the construction process until a more permanent weather preservative can be applied by the customer. We are also capable of pressure-treating your logs, with a CCA or Borax solution, which can give a more lasting preserving action and, unlike the surface treatment, does provide protection against insects. 8. Can my Barna log home be added on to in the future? Yes, it can! Whether you choose a full round log, our D-log or the hewn square log, we can match our logs with identical new ones for an addition that will look like part of the original home. We can also help with the design and construction of the addition when you're ready. 9. How energy efficient will my Jim Barna log home be? Wood is one of nature's best insulators. Test after test has established that solid log walls are among the most efficient wall systems in use today, and Barna Log Homes are designed for tightness and lasting integrity. If you follow through with adequate roof and floor insulation (where needed), use high quality windows and doors, and make sure that all joints and openings are well sealed, your Barna log home will use remarkably little energy to stay comfortable all year long. 10. What building system does Barna Log Homes recommend? There are many different ways to build a log home. In our experience, the varied construction methods can be classified in two general categories: Category 1 is referred to as the rigid system, where each layer of log is attached to another, either with a spike or lag bolt, without predrilling either. Although there is little settling of the log wall, considerable gaps can occur between each layer of log. Category 2 is the settling system. The entire structure must be taken into consideration in this system because considerable settling of the log walls will occur. Careful planning is an absolute necessity. Generally speaking, Barna Log Homes predrills the logs for lag bolts or through bolts; floor and roof systems are constructed on adjustable-type jacks so that the entire structure can settle evenly. Even though our company recognizes the advantages and disadvantages of both construction methods, BLH has chosen to adopt the settling system as our standard construction method. |
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