Monthly Newsletter: June 2009

JUNE 15, 2009

Summer is Building Season!

It's time to start planning your dream log home. As a TLC newsletter subscriber, you have the opportunity of special pricing, and this month we are offering a 10% discount off of the current log shell list price for our featured design, the Alpine. (See below for details).

This Month's Featured Design

From the spacious deck you can enjoy the view of your yard...and your house!

THE
Alpine

The Log Connection continues to introduce new designs for summer. The Alpine is a modern post and beam home with eye-catching rooflines, a large covered side patio, and attached garage.

The rear patio

The main floor plan is arranged to separate the kitchen and dining rooms from the great room, yet allow views and circulation between them.

An L-shaped log stairway leads to a loft overlooking the living room. Completing the upper floor are a full bathroom and two bedrooms, one with its own private balcony.

The living room features a dramatic rock firplace and log staircase

The kitchen

See the Alpine floor plans on our web site

Watch the Virtual Walk-Through Tour

At $82,500 US for the log shell package, this home is affordable. Add a basement to this design and the options are endless.

Remember, as a newsletter subscriber you are eligible for an automatic 10% discount off this price! If you proceed with a design agreement during the next month, your price for the Alpine log shell will be an even more affordable $74,250 US, a saving of $8,250. Money saved is money earned!

Special Offer
for June 15 to July 15 only:

10% discount

Upcoming Events

Have you ever seen the shell of a log home being set up on the owner's site?

Well, if you live in or near southern California, now is your chance, as the Log Connection has a couple of log shell deliveries upcoming in the month of July. In mid July, we have a customized version of the Fairmont being delivered in the Big Bear region, east of Los Angeles. And in late July, a version of the Guesthouse being delivered near Jamul, east of San Diego.

If you would be interested in seeing either of these, please contact us by phone or reply to this email, and we will let you know the exact location and date.

Log Home Construction Close Up

Radiant Floor Heating

For most of the 20th century, homes were typically heated by forced-air furnaces which heated air and then pushed it throughout the house using a blower, or by radiators or convectors which heated the air in each room. Radiant floor heating is an increasingly popular alternative, which makes the floor itself a warm surface which then heats objects in the room.

Here are the three most common configurations of radiant floor heating that we have encountered in our log homes:

Hydronic In floor heating tubing

Hydronic in-floor heating is a system of tubing carrying heated water, usually laid within a concrete topping which is poured on top of a plywood subfloor. A type of tubing commonly used is a leak-resistant, non-toxic, high temperature, flexible piping called cross-linked polyethylene (PEX).

The concrete topping increases the height of the house by the equivalent of an additional bottom plate to all frame walls, or 1 1/2". However the thick concrete layer provides great thermal mass to retain and distribute heat evenly. It also requires a central heating source (often an additional hot water heater, which uses some floor space), plus a manifold which distributes the heated water to the different zones.

A radiant subfloor system uses the subfloor itself to carry piping or heating cables. The most popular brand, known as "Warmboard" (web site: www.warmboard.com) combines a structural subfloor and radiant panels which accommodate PEX tubing. Thinner than the concrete topping system, this also responds faster to changes in heat demand.

Warmboard panels with PEX tubing

Electric radiant floor heating mats

Electric radiant heating usually consists of a series of "mats" carrying electric heating cables. Depending on the type, these can be installed in a concrete topping layer, or laid directly over the subfloor, or even fastened below the subfloor in the joist cavity. Unlike hydronic systems, there is no requirement for a central boiler or routing piping through walls and floors.

Radiant floor heating provides even, comfortable, warmth as there is less air movement than with forced-air systems. The warmest air is at the floor where it is desired (and not at the ceiling) and there is reduced heat loss through the ceiling and walls, saving energy. Which system you choose has little effect on the design of your log home, except that if extra floor thickness is required it has to be taken into account when preparing the construction drawings, while hydronic systems may require some extra floor space for a boiler and manifold.

Visit our web site: www.thelogconnection.com

Please feel free to contact our office at any time with any questions or comments. You can reach us toll-free at the phone number below, or you can reach us directly by email here. Thank you and have a great month!
Sincerely,
Stephen Hancock
President, The Log Connection

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Thank you for visiting the The Log Connection website www.TheLogConnection.com. The Log Connection is a leading producer of quality hand crafted log homes, log cabins, custom log homes, and post and beam style log homes.