The Rural Voice, 1994-10, Page 40MENE
A Caledon Log Home is
more than just a house .. .
It is a better lifestyle surrounded by the magical warmth of wood.
• Solid Pine or Cedar
ALEDON
`� A Naf,ml
LUg trt5f�<< R.R. 5, Owen Sound
Homes PH. 519-371-5045 FAX 519-372-1319
• 20 years of experience
• Energy efficient
• Toxin free
1 W...w,..o.-
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WOODCRAFT
MAPLE • HILL • LOG • HOMES
Head Olhce - Model Horne Highway t 8 Norlh. Mount Forest, Ontano NOG 2L0 Canada
Greenbrier
1752 sq.ft.
$70,400
!=4j
Ridgemont
1344 sq.ft.
$44,700
fJIrni NI 191
Upper Canada
1560 sq.ft.
$62,800
For a free brochure call: 1 -800 -663 -LOGS
36 THE RURAL VOICE
this provides a natural looking wood
that makes the wood impervious not
only to weathering but to damage to
insects like termites. That's allowed
the Mount Forest company to
become supplier of choice for a large
new development in the West Indies
with a minimum of 40 houses, and
possibly 100, being shipped down
and constructed in an exclusive new
resort being built.
Caledon uses a staining and
protective agent called Weather -Bos,
manufactured in London and made
from 60-70 per cent vegetable solids
and resins. Because there are so
many solids in the treatment it
doesn't crack and peel yet it still
allows the wood to breath. If the log
is sealed the house won't be able to
exchange air and the wood will begin
to rot, Donkers says. The first coat
contains a pigment to protect the
wood from ultra -violent rays but a
clear stain is used thereafter and once
about every five or six years will be
enough, Donkers says. That clear
coating will prevent the wood from
darkening, he says. The stain is easy
to apply: Ken Williams stained the
outside of his 2,300 -square -foot
home in only three and a half hours
using and airless spray painter.
Two building features also provide
longevity for the logs. Unlike the
homes of pioneer days where the
bottom log was right on the ground,
the modern log homes follow the
European tradition of building on a
foundation well off the ground,
keeping the bottom logaway from
ground moisture or splash -back from
rain hitting the ground. That has
allowed log buildings in Europe to
last 1,000 years, says Gord Harris,
partner in Donkers Harris.
Roof overhangs on log homes are
often larger than on regular houses
(three foot on the Williams house
compared to 18-24 inches on a
regular home. "The reason we put
three foot overhangs on these homes
is for appearance but also for
protection of the logs. The sun is
higher in the summer so the overhang
gives more protection to the logs
more shade." Log homes don't need
an air conditioner, Donkers says. In
the winter, when the sun is lower, it
shines under the overhang, allowing
the logs to warm up and store energy
for the interior of the house.