Log Building News Issue No 57

NEWS
SeptemberDecember 2005 Number 57

Agreement Number 40707514
C
hristm
as
is just around
the corner!

Give your employees a
gift that keeps giving
all year round
an ILBA membership.
Keep your employees
interested, enthusiastic
and informed on whats
happening in the world of
log building.
Costing Log Home Shells
by Robert W. Chambers
How much do your handcrafted
shells cost per square foot? Just
give me a simple ballpark gure.
Every customer asks this ques-
tion, and how you answer it can
be life or death for your business.
Four years ago I changed the way
that we cost log shells for my
company, and it has worked well
on more than 100 shells we have
quoted. I wont be going back to
square-foot costing methods. In
this article I will tell you how we
are costing shells, and try to con-
vince you that square-foot costing
has aws that are fundamental
and dangerous.
We cost by the lineal foot of log
used for a project, not the square
foot of space enclosed. And we
know all of our costs by the lineal
foot the cost to buy logs, cost
to transport logs, cost to peel, the
cost to scribe, cost to notch, cost
to reset buildings, overhead. All
these costs are known to us by the
lineal foot of log sold. We nd line-
al-foot costing to be fast, reliable,
and accurate.
If you are perking along nicely
selling a 3200 square foot log
shells for $40 per square foot
(PSF), then I can almost guarantee
that you are losing money selling a
1400 SF shell for $40 PSF. And
thats a problem.
The problem isnt $40 PSF (or
$65, or $35, or any other price
you name); the problem is that
different size shells do not cost the
same per square foot to build.
Small log homes should be selling
for a higher per square foot price
than larger log homes. Please give
me some of your time to show
you why.
Cost & Price
A reminder on the words Ill be
using here: cost means all the
things that your business pays for
which is made up of: 1) All your
direct costs things that you
continued page 18
Dai Onas collage of photos from Allan Mackies 80th birthday party. Read Dais tribute to Allan on page 6.
Inside This Issue
Transition Time at the ILBA
page 2
Chambers Returns as Editor
page 3
Nominees for ILBA Board
of Directors
page 4
B. Allan Mackie Happy
80th Birthday!
page 6
New Job-Costing Software
from ILBA
page 7
ILBA Visits Okanagan
School of Log Building
page 8
Getting a Handle on
Lifting Logs page 10
Advertisers in this issue
page 11
TechTalk page 13
ILBA Conference 2006
page 14
Women in the Industry
page 16
New and Renewing
Members page 21
Classied Ads page 24
2 LogBuildingNews SeptemberDecember 2005
LogBuildingNews
SeptemberDecember 2005
Issue #57
Published six times a year
2005 International
Log Builders Association
P.O. Box 775
Lumby
British Columbia
Canada V0E 2G0
Toll-free: 800-532-2900
Phone: 250-547-8776
Fax: 250-547-8775
www.logassociation.org
Ann Miks, Administrative Assistant
ann@logassociation.org
Log Building News Editor
Robert Chambers
PO Box 283
River Falls, WI
54022 USA
robert@logbuilding.org
Contributors to this issue:
Robert Chambers
Dai Yoshito Ona
dai@daizen.com
Ed Shure
ed@timmerhusinc.com
Higgs Murphy
higgs.murphy@sympatico.ca
John Boys
logworks@uniserve.com
John Nininger
john@woodenhousecompany.com
Helen Radomske
info@okslb.ca
Pat Clark
pclark@aboutmontana.net
Cathy Hansen
cathy@logassociation.org
Transition Time at the ILBA
by Ed Shure, President
There are changes at your organization,
the ILBA.
First, the Board of Directors has
changed. In late October, President Jeff
Patterson and Treasurer Martha Patterson
volunteered to retire early when Robert
Chambers, Brian Lloyd and I put our
names forward to help out the ILBA. Brian
and I were voted on to replace Jeff and
Martha, while Robert lls the seat that
became vacant when Mark Fritch departed
the Board.
The Board has elected me President
(a position that I am hoping is temporary),
and John Boys as Treasurer. Pat Clark
remains Vice President. We welcome
Robert back for a while as Log Building
News editor, and all the Committees and
Chairs are listed on page 27.
Three past-presidents (John, Robert
and I) have
been added to
the Board, and
this experience
and strength
will help us with
the nancial and governance issues that
we have right now. Frankly, I am very
optimistic that things are looking up.
Brian Lloyd, as many old-timers will
remember, was at the head of our out-
standing and successful 1993 conference
at Yellowstone, and Brian co-chairs our
Montebello 2006 Conference Committee
with Linda Bourdage. We are lucky to have
their talents and experience added to our
efforts.
The staff has changed. We feel fortunate
that Ann will remain at the ILBA offices.
Cathy Hansen, currently on sick leave, and
Robrt Savignac have been let go by the
Board. It is hard to imagine how volun-
teers can ll their shoesbut we are going
to try to do our best. Our current budget
simply does not allow us to keep them on.
Cathy and Robrt have been, in many
ways, the faces, the voices, and the heart
of the ILBA during their tenure, and we
will miss them, their talents, and their hard
work.
We will need to rely on our members to
take up stronger volunteer roles in the
foreseeable future. If you get a call from us
asking you to step up to the plate, please
consider it a serious, and seriously needed,
job that must be lled.
We need you to join, pay your dues, and
to upgrade your membership. A log build-
ing company really should not coast by on
an individual membership. Log building
companies should pay company dues
its only right. And, of course, we will treat
you like company!
This week I sent the ILBA a check for
$100, a donation on top of my estimated
Montebello conference fees of $800. I
encourage you to do the samecommit-
ment builds condence.
The 2006 Conference in Montebello is a
make or break event for the ILBA. We ask
all our members to attend. We promise a
good one, and we need you there. We
need your support, we need your money,
and we need your opinion. Without a big
success at Montebello, success at the ILBA
will be difficult. You can help us guarantee
a bright future.
I feel strongly that the changes we have
made in the past few weeks will ensure
that the ILBA will remain a world leader in
log home organizations. We have a long
history of supplying leadership to the edu-
cation of log builders that is unmatched.
Expect to see a number of good new ini-
tiatives, products, and services being
offered to you in the next 6 to 12 months.
This is not the time to step backI
intend to help the ILBA to step upa chal-
lenging goal in a time of transition. And
the new ILBA Board, the Committees, and
the staff have committed to do exactly
that. We also need your supportyour
positive and helpful advice, your volunteer
time, and your membership dues.
I am very optimistic that things are
looking up.We need your positive advice, your
volunteer time, and your membership dues.
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Hello again, team.
I am back as Log Building
News editor for a while, and am
looking forward to bringing you
some great articles and news.
I have to admit that for the past
several years I have really
enjoyed getting LBN in the mail-
box, and having only one job:
reading it!
I like the new look of LBN
its really fresh, and I dont plan
any changes. Cathy and Robrt
have done a super job, I think.
But the type of articles we print may change just a littleafter all
I have a weakness for certain log building themes. First, I like
technical, nuts-and-bolts building stuff. Tech Tips. Tools, jigs,
new ways of doing old things, ways to make our jobs easier,
faster, or better.
Second, I enjoy the money side of things. Log building is a
challenging and honorable craft, and it is also a great opportuni-
ty to make money. So, starting with my cover article in this issue,
expect to see more articles on businessand especially on
improving prots, cutting costs, increasing sales, and more.
Third, I like to explore other log building traditions, and in
other places or at other times. Whenever I have been overseas I
have learned something about log building, and LBN is a good
place to share our experiences. If youve seen something that
you think wed all learn something from, please send it to me.
As always, I do need your helpyour photos, thoughts, letters,
ideas, tools. Look around your yard, or your computer desktop,
and contact me! My email is <Robert@LogBuilding.org>. It can
be difficult to reach me by phone, so please try email rst. I do
have a spam lter, so you may get an email reply with simple
instructions on how to get your email delivered to me. I hope
you dont mind!
The focus of LBN will be on log building, of course. Theres
plenty of good advice out there, and once in a while we may
include articles that are a little off topic. But Log Building News
is the official newsletter of a log building organization whose
mission is education. I take that responsibility seriously, and so, I
will be publishing as much log building news as I can nd.
My best, Robert W. Chambers, Editor
Chambers Returns as LBN Editor
John Boys
I have been an active
and enthusiastic con-
tributor to the ILBA
both on and off the
board of directors
since 1984. I also
served as president of
the association from
1996 through 2001.
My chief satisfaction in participating in
the ILBA is the sense of camaraderie and
openness that typies our association.
At this time I seek election to the board
motivated by a concern for the long term
strength of our association. Weve grown
from a grassroots organization run by
members into a more sophisticated crea-
ture run by a full time office. It is critical to
the future of our association to bring back
the spirit of member involvement. I believe
it needs to start with the elected members
of our board.
To accomplish this I feel we need to
develop clear roles and expectations for
directors and a mentoring program for
new directors this would help those new
to the board understand our mandate, and
give them the tools to make effective con-
tributions.
As a board, we need to more fully under-
stand and act on our mandate; this
includes reviewing and taking scal respon-
sibility as well as dening our core activities
and ensuring the following services and
undertakings are a priority:
Involvement in Code Issues including
ICC. This is vital to the health of our indus-
try and I will continue to advocate strong
ILBA participation.
Education: We need plan our future
undertakings and build upon our core
assets: The Log Building Standards, LBN
and The Log Span Tables.
Member Services and Benets: Our
Construction Contract is another example
of past endeavors by an active and com-
mitted board. Other projects developed to
further our cause and benet the member-
ship include Land to Lock-Up and The Jig
Book. I am currently working with Dai Ona
to develop a pricing/customer manage-
ment program for sale to members.
Conference: A strong conference is critical
to our future growth. It is a great forum for
the exchange of information and with the
strong support of members and Sponsors
also generates a big chunk of our operating
revenue.
From my perspective the up-coming year
is going to require a big effort that needs
member support. If you are willing to be
called on for contributions and want to
ensure and participate in dening the
future of our association cast your vote
for meI will be calling.
Jay Driesen
My interest in log
building started while I
was still associated
with the engineering
team of the double
hung window depart-
ment of Pella Windows
at their home plant in
Pella, Iowa. Our family built our personal
milled log home in 1990 and proceeded to
travel the country building other milled log
homes for home owners who purchased
their materials from a milled log home pro-
ducer. We soon realized that we desired to
produce and build the most beautiful hand
crafted log homes which; however,
required property with space and location
to enable this venture. Due to the passing
of my father in the fall of 1999, the oppor-
tunity presented itself by utilizing one of
the farmsteads by Sioux Falls, SD near
Inwood, Iowa. After doing some initial
preparation on the farmstead, we sold our
Pella, IA log home and relocated to the
farmstead in the fall of 2000. Two days
after arriving we experienced the sudden
and untimely death of my wife and chil-
drens mother in an auto accident. But we
persevered and nished setting up the pro-
duction capabilities of our company, Rustic
Home Builders, according to plans and are
currently manufacturing and producing
high end log homes and related compo-
nents.
Having had early experience and involve-
ment with a farm organization in the
1970s, I could see the necessity of organi-
zation and involvement with the ILBA. It is
truly sad to witness the many and various
log homes being built that are decient in
so many ways. The ILBA and it's past lead-
ership has achieved a great milestone in
developing the Log Building Standards that
have come to be the industry wide bench-
mark. The Log Building Standards must
continue to be held forth to the entire
industry as the standard for all log con-
struction along with continuing education
Nominees for ILBA Board of Directors
for builders and their employees. Some
areas of further association work may be in
facilitating the procedures with all involved
in the log home sales and production. The
Log Building Standards have been set forth,
training in building has been and is being
accomplished for all involved, and I feel we
need to continue to build and develop our
association on the great foundation work
already in place. What further services can
be rendered to association members and
their clients in the whole process of log
structure production? However the associa-
tion deals with many of the future issues
that face the industry, one fact is para-
mount with that being the integrity and
honesty of the association and it's leader-
ship. As a late comer to the association I
"take my hate off" to the early members
and their leadership in organizing what we
have to day. As your director from our
unique location bordering South Dakota
and the upper Midwest I would cherish
and seek out the input of the many associ-
ation members regarding their needs and
serve those needs as your servant director
to the best of my ability.
Todigan Hodson
My name is Todigan
Hodson, the rst log
home I constructed
came in a kit I assem-
bled like pieces of lego
at the age of 3 or 4.
My father has built log
homes since I was
crawling and, having grown up in the
industry, I have always found the construc-
tion intriguing. I cut my rst log when I
was considered old enough to safely han-
dle a chainsaw. In the last 10 years, I
worked towards becoming a lead hand in
the construction and reassembly of our
projects, and I now manage the company.
I graduated in 2002 from the University
of Alberta with a degree in Forest
Management, and going into University
knew that I would be a business owner.
With this goal in mind, I have supplement-
ed my degree with business courses to help
me become a success. To be a successful
business owner, I feel you must become
intimately familiar with industry standards,
successes, and failures so that you can
make informed business decisions. For this
reason, I have been
attending the ILBA con-
ferences for the last three
years, and have been
ooded with a wealth of
information. I have
become more informed
and more involved with
some of the current polit-
ical issues facing the
industry, so that my
knowledge of the indus-
try may continue to
grow.
I am young, focused
and ambitious, wanting
to be involved with the
further advancement or
our industry, and feel
that I would be an asset
to the board of directors.
I will bring a fresh, edu-
cated, and hands on
opinion to the group and
look forward to getting
to know the members
better.
Jean Rodrigue
My name is Jean
Rodrigue. I have been
working with wood all
my life. I got some
saw dust in my blood.
I set up my cabinet-
terie shop in 1972
making high quality
solid wood furniture and stairs. Doing this
for 25 years full time I got a little tired of it
so I decided to lock the door and look for
something different. Six months later I dis-
covered log building and just jumped in.
Since 1998 I have built 42 log houses. I
believe ILBA is part of my success and I
want to join the Board of Directors to work
at my best for the interest of all ILBA mem-
bers.
Dan Wait
I was born and raised
on a dairy farm in cen-
tral Wisconsin, thus
you can understand
my passion for football
and the Green Bay
Packers. I helped my
father, Jerry construct
his dream home in the early 80s. Frontier
Builders, Inc. formed in 1966. In 1997 I
attended Great Lakes School of Log
Building 10-day Full Scribe class. I then
built my rst cabin. I read everything that I
could get my hands on regarding log
home construction. My back ground in
farming serves me well in the log building
industry with the long hours and the
unique problems encountered.
I attended my 1st international AGM in
1993 at Yellowstone and was in awe. I
came home, excited to try some of the
new things I had learned. I have attended
as many as possible since and come home
invigorated. I have a great respect for the
organization, its goals and its many ne
members.
I took over Frontier Builders from my
father in 2000 and now know what he
meant when he said, just wait till you sit
in this chair. I could not have had a better
teacher or mentor.
My wife Mary, our three children, and I
co-exist with 2 horses, 3 cattle, several cats
and dogs as I am also a hobby farmer.
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B. Allan Mackie Happy 80th Birthday!
by Dai Yoshito Ona
In a April, Allan and I were on a way to
Germany, and we stopped in Toronto for
the transit, where Allans daughter Nadina
came to see us. Big hug between father
and daughtershe is really proud of her
father. Allan is going to be 80 years old
but is still working just like the rest of us.
At this time, we were running a 7-
month course at Chase, BC, and the tem-
perature got to minus 35 degrees, then
we were heading to Germany for other
course. No day to rest at all. This time we
had talked about getting together for
Allans birthday.
By word of mouth, a lot of people came
long way to celebrate his Happy 80th
birthday. I have been celebrating Allans
birthday each year for ten years because
we have been running course in this time
of season. This year, Allan wanted to stay
at home and get to the next project.
So I drove to his home 8,000 km
drive round trip. It was long drive. I was
thinking about the past on the way to his
place, the time I have spent with him, 13
years we have seen every year, and all the
fun. On the way back to BC, I was think-
ing about the future. For my future plan,
after seeing Allan, I am not worried now,
as I was before.
Driving to his home, it took three and
half days and I drove all night because I
had big gift for him on my trailer. I had to
ll the tank 11 times to get there. On the
way back, it was easy and we took 6 days
seeing the country and driving in the day
time. It was very hard for my kids. When
we got close to home, where the scenery
gets familiar, I thought my kids would be
excited, but both kids started to cry. Allan
made this trip over ten times every year
that he came to my place. I think his butt
is very thick.
People came all over the place. Staff
from Korean school, staff from Japanese
school and Hans from the Germany
school. Graduated students also came. I
know we would get a lot of people if we
told them what we were doing.
Allan told me people are connected for
economic reasons. People have relation-
ships because we gets some kind of bene-
t. I think he is right. Most of the time this
applied. But what about this time? I think
people are also connected not just because
it benets themselves. There were many
people who came, helped and left. They
would not except anything in return. Will
this happen to me? I guess it will depend
on how I do for others.
Allan is my only teacher. He taught me
what a house is for, he told me how things
were done in an age when I was not in
this world. He also taught me that we can
expect to have fun for a long time.
But he is really my friend. I have had
New Job-Costing Software
from ILBA
Training Sessions at Montebello!
LogWorksHelper1.0 is a major new effort by the ILBA to develop a pricing and
construction management tool for log builders. It is built on a series of easy to
use Excel spreadsheets. You put in basic information about a particular building
project, and the program will output the information that you need to price and
track the progress of your projects.
Output includes: log lineal footage, log volume, waste, piecework count,
estimate of hours, gasket count, shipping weight, staining coverage.
LogWorksHelper automatically generates documents such as price quotes,
contracts, change orders, purchase orders, and more. It will be available for sale
before the Montebello conference, and training workshops will be held during
the conference. If you are interested, please indicate by emailing
program@logworks.ca and put pricing-1 in the subject line of your email.
Samples from the LogWorksHelper
software, which automatically
generates price quotes, contracts,
change orders, purchase orders,
and more, and will be available
from the ILBA at the Montebello
Conference.
many hard times in a past, just like every-
body. Every time when I had him beside me,
he gave me courage to face trouble, and I
got over it every time.
The B. Allan Mackie School of Log
Building is where many log builders started
a new life. I tried to keep this school going
and I have been doing this every year. We
still get many inquiries for the course. I dont
know how long I can keep this going. It will
be big loss if we let this school go. I really
wish that some public organization would
take over this school and continue what
Allan has started.
We are lucky to be located near enough to
the ILBA office to allow a presentation to
our students. Robrt Savignac arrived, rst
coming to the house for a meal of elk
chops compliments of Del and Jarret
Radomske, and Robrt brought his
appetite! Then it was off to the classroom
for the presentation.
In his usual high spirits and exuberance
for the industry his presentation left no
one in doubt about his passion for the
Craft of Log Building and his dedication to
the ILBA.
Robrt gave an insightful overview of
how the Association initiates and explores
ways to get the log building message out
to the log building world, ways to involve
the membership, and encourage new
members. His PowerPoint presentation,
complete with great photographs, compli-
mented his comments. Throughout the
presentation the themes that he struck
most were the advantages of becoming a
member; opportunities to meet other like-
minded people at the conferences and
rendezvous, the exchange of ideas, oppor-
tunities to learn more through Association
workshops with the ongoing endeavour to
promote education as offered by the
Association.
Robrt commented to the students that
the ILBA is member-driven and has the
richness of being an International Associ-
ation. That the Association is about shar-
ing of history, knowledge and invention,
and as a result The Standards were
developed, and many other contributions
that have been made through the ener-
gies of members; scientic research, jigs,
lots of jigs, the various publications that the
association has available to its members.
The ILBA is founded on: education,
design, engineering, research and testing,
and there was also mention of safe build-
ing practices and log building being
green for the value added nature of
handcrafting with logs. And he mentioned
regional log building associations as well
as the Timber Framers Guild. It was a
good couple of hours and a presentation
that the students
found very worth-
while.
The students who
attend our classes
have often com-
pleted extensive
research on the
subject and many
are looking to enter
into the log build-
ing industry. We do
have some owner-
builders, too, but
then that is almost
every student just
as in the past, eh!
The students enthu-
siastic response to
Robrts presenta-
tion brought ques-
tions. Do you live
in a log house?
What type of join-
ery is that? All
thought the presen-
tation was great and appreciated Robrt
coming.
There are usually a few memberships
that result from the presentation and that
lets us know that having the ILBA do a
presentation is very worthwhile. Many
thanks, to Robrt for giving our students
the opportunity to hear about the
Association.
ILBA Visits Okanagan School of Log Building
by Helen Radomske
Getting a Handle on Lifting Logs
by John Nininger
Handling logs for a living keeps us trying new things to make
the process easier and safer. Today we use a variety of metal
tongs and exible slings to get a good hold on each log before
lifting it up.
The closest thing that Ive found to a pair of strong, gentle
hands to grab each carefully-chosen log and transport it safely
are the non-marring log lifting tongs made for us by Wayne
Sparshu and originally designed by Alan Mackie (Photo 1). This
stainless-steel-lined, scissor-action design is good for unloading
new logs, and excels at moving them around the yard, and dis-
mantling the completed log walls before loading the logs onto
trailers.
But, slings are our rst choice for loading trailers and assem-
bling the log shell (re-stacking) on the owners foundation. For
pre-building the log walls in the yard we use both tongs and
slings: tongs are quicker and easier; slings are better for con-
trolled rolling and multiple picks. We nd that slings are better
for oor and roof-system logs than the tongs.
Log tongs are extremely quick to put on and get off the logs,
and to re-position for a near-perfectly balanced pick. Slings leave
very faint marks, if any, on only the heaviest of our relatively soft
White Pine logs.
Every tool has its limits, of course. They are:
1) Tongs cant pick small logs diameters of 7 (20cm) or
less. Sparshus tongs were designed for logs up to 16" (40cm)
diameter. Larger logs are damaged by the rounded points of the
tong arms because the radius of the arms is too small, and pre-
vent it from holding or squeezing the log gently. To overcome
this limitation we built an oversized set of tongs based on the
same design but with larger radius and heavier parts (Photo 2).
They work very well on any size log from 7" to 26" (66cm)
diameter (at the balance point). We used very wide stainless lin-
ers to make them even more gentle to the wood surface of
large and heavy logs. These tongs are more cumbersome
because of their size and weight, so unless we are lifting large
logs, we will use the Sparshu tongs.
2) Tongs must be dropped low enough onto the log that they
are below the widest part of the log that is being picked up
this is necessary for the tongs to grab and stay closed. Tough to
do when there is not enough space (5" to 6" either side)
between the logs to get the tongs intofor example when logs
are on trucks. We have found that it helps to un-hook the tongs
so they are in the closed position. This way they slip down over
the log and require the least clear space either side. And some-
times you have to lift one end of the log high enough (3' to
6'1m to 2m) to get a short, stout beam under it. With the log
propped up, then the tongs can drop down around it for pick-
ing (Photo 3). This is still often easier than using slings in a tight
spot and is used most often when unloading new logs off the
trucks.
3) Very freshly peeled logs (slippery with sap or slime), and
heavily ice-coated logs can slide out of the tongs if not carefully
balanced to within about 5 degrees of level (Photo 4). Since its
quick and easy to re-position the tongs on the log for a bal-
anced pick, its worth doing. Safety comes rst, men. Wayne
suggested roughing up the liner with small bumps, but we
found the indentations in the wood were more of an issue than
the sliding logs. All logs should be carefully balanced before lift-
1 Sparshu tongs in use, hanging from
lifting slings.
2 Our oversize tongs with extra wide
stainless linings.
3 In a tight spot, we lift one end of the
log enough to put a timber under it,
and then we re-grab it with the tongs.
4 Make sure the load is balanced by rst
lifting only a little.
1
2
3
4
Advertisers in This Issue
Accutech . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
British Columbia Trailer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
CBR Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Dietrichs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Emseal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Good Shepherd Wool Insulation . . . . . . . . . . 26
GRK Fasteners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Insulspan Corporation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
J. Rouleau & Associates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Log & Cottage Show . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Log Home Design Ideas/Log Home Living . . 28
Log Home Store . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Nicola Log Works . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Pat Wolfe Log Building . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Perma-Chink Systems Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
RCM Cad Design & Drafting . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Riverside Forest Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Roto-Clip Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Schroeder Log Home Supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Summer Beam Books . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
The Continental Products Company . . . . . 4/11
The Sansin Corporation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Timber Framers Guild . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Wayside Press . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
ing to ensure easier swinging from one end and more accurate
placement with the crane. Contrary to common belief, balanc-
ing a log is not easier or better with a greater distance between
lifting points.
Contrary to common belief, balancing a log does is not easier
or better with a greater distance between lifting points.
We lift each log just a foot or so and evaluate its balance. If
both log ends dont rise clear of any supports than it is immedi-
ately set back down and the load is completely released from
the tongs. With the tongs hanging freely by just an inch or two,
they are moved along the log toward the end that was low and
lifted again. This procedure is repeated until a nearly perfect bal-
ance is achieved. This procedure goes quickly, and often the
tongs can be slid along just by the crane operatorwithout a
man at the tongs.
For setting short log pieces under 4' that cant be picked by
the Sparshu tongs we use a single non-marring lifting tong of
an earlier design that never gained the condence of my crew
when lifting larger logs.
Because our only piece of lifting equipment is a tower crane,
we are limited to how much room we have to spread logs out.
Winter time usually sees us stacking 50' (15m) logs in a criss-
cross pattern as new logs come in (30 to 60 minutes per load to
unload), sometimes up to 6 or 7 layers high.
When peeling season arrives (April/May) we
spread out the pile for peeling and bumping
(rough smoothing). Then they either get re-
stacked in piles, or stored one-layer-deep in
the racks. In one to two hours a log pile of
50 or more logs is spread out by two men,
one at the crane, using radio controls. Its
fast, safe and fun (on a nice day!).
For operations where the tongs are too cumbersome, they are
quickly unhooked from the spreader cable hooks. From the
hook on the cranes main rope, two wire ropes about 14 -feet
(4.2m) long go down and through the spreader bar, which is 4-
feet long (the same length as the width of our tongs). Each of
these spreader cables has a hook, and on these hooks we set lift-
ing slings of various lengths. Often, we have one 3', one 6', one
9', and one 12' (1m, 2m, 3m, & almost 4m) sling on each
spreader hook (Photo 5).
The tongs are hung from the 9' slings, which leaves the 12'
slings free for lifting a log end, or another log. When not being
used, the 12 slings are clipped up and out of the way. Or, when
we remove the tongs, the slings are now used by themselves,
Contrary to common belief, balancing a log
is not easier or better with a greater distance
between lifting points.
continued next page
Divisions at Lumby, Armstrong, Kelowna,
Wineld, Williams Lake and Ashcroft
Meeting your log building
requirements with beam
logs and all species of
house logs.
Contacts:
Clive Powell 250-550-7233
Shirley Taylor 250-547-9802
Clint Dyck 250-547-9802
choked around a
log, or clipped with
a shackle/carabiner/
snap hook onto
another sling that is
already on a log.
With the multi layers
of slings to hang
logs from, plus the
spreader hooks, up
to ve logs can be
lifted in one pick and
placed one at a time
on the building
(Photo 6).
This system is simi-
lar to a rigging
method called a
daisy-chain. The
main difference
being that in a daisy-
chain each piece is
hanging from the
slings of the piece
above it which even-
tually puts the entire
load on the top pair
of slings. It wouldnt
take long to over-
load those top slings.
Our system provides
individual slings for
each piece so that
the each load is
taken directly by the
spreader cable
hooks.
Once the shell is
completed at our
yard, we use log
tongs to dismantle
and spread out the
logs for gasketing.
When fully closed the tongs are still 6" or so apart (this amount
is adjustable) which prevents damaging the scribed edge of the
lateral groove.
Once the shell is taken apart, a pair of 7-foot long, 1" nylon,
endless loop slings are placed on every single piece of log in
the shell, where they are to remain until they are placed on the
foundation (yes, this requires a lot of slings). The logs are then
lifted, 4 or 5 at a time, and loaded on the trailers, again in
reverse-order of how they will come off.
Once at the foundation, the logs are lifted for the last time
and stacked, corner by corner, up to the headers. The headers
are lifted and set, sometimes two at a time, and the stacking
continues. Floor joists, purlins, rafters and most any of the differ-
ent pieces can be lifted in multiple picks (daisy-chain). The only
limitations are the load capacity of the crane and the height of
the boom.
Most of the slings can be pulled out of from between the
stacked logs by hand, but this must be done immediately after
each log is set on the wall. Occasionally one end of a log needs
to be looped with a sling and lifted to get its trapped sling
released. There was one sling that somehow got looped onto a
purlin log and was never noticed until the crane had left. That
one had to be cut free.
When its time to clean up, we throw on three or four of the
old-time skid tongs (the ones with sharp points, like ice tongs)
and pick up three or four log end cut offs at a time and ll a
wagon that gets hauled away by a local farmer who heats his
whole farm with our scraps using an outdoor furnace.
Combining the merits of all of these log holding contraptions
has proven the most benecial way to go. But that doesnt
mean we wont stop looking for better ways and tools to do the
job. Why it was just the other day we got talking about big
magnets and wonderingthere must be a way.
Remember, like many of the doctors we build for, we are real-
ly all just practicing log builders.
My source for slings: East Shore Wire Rope and Rigging Supply,
Inc. 203-469-5204
5 Our usual riggingfrom the top:
spreader cables, spreader bar,
and slings of various length.
6 Daisy-chain of ve logs.
5
6
TechTalk
TRACTOR MOUNTED CRANE : : BANDMI LL ROOF
T
E
C
H
T
A
L
K

T
E
A
R
O
U
T

F
O
R

Y
O
U
R

J
I
G

B
O
O
K
A Boys Big Book of Jigs
A Log Builders Reference to Jigs, Tools and Techniques
An informative book on jigs and work methods specic to our trade.
Sections include:
Scribing and Layout Stairs and Railings
Cutting and Drilling Stairs and Railings
Holding Mills and Machines
Lifting Work Methods
Accessing Heights Resources
Cool Tools New Stuff
Available to ILBA members only
Convenient binder format allows additional information to be inserted
into appropriate sections, such as the TechTalk information at the centre
of this LBN. This will allow for unlimited expansion, creating a personal-
ized work handbook.
Send in your TechTalk ideas for future LBNs as other members have
done for you.
Price $95.00 CAN plus shipping
Ive always liked the idea of having my bandmill
under a roof but the complications of feeding
logs with a crane and the expense have preclud-
ed that idea. Ernie suggested a small roof on the
mill carriage. Great idea! It is cheap to build and
does good job of protecting the mill and opera-
tor. It also gives the mill carriage a bit of extra
protection from out of control crane operators!
John Boys
Higgs Murphy using his tractor-mounted, unfolding, crane at the Chris
and Wil Dancey's log timber-frame project. Higgs may be bringing this
crane to Montebello for pre-conference hands-on workshop.
To order, contact the ILBA office at 1-800-532-2900 or
250-547-8776 or email info@logassociation.org
JIG BOOK JIG BOOK
- - - -
On sale NOW!
Laser Meets French Scribe
by Pat Clark
This past spring at the Timber Framers conference we had the pleasure of
teaching round joinery to the square wood guys. My business partner
Paul and I have been developing a
technique that we call French
Scribe meets the Laser Beam.
Originally we applied it to the
mitered truss building technique,
but quickly discovered that the laser
beam opened up a whole range of
new layout possibilities . We have
used the laser for a multitude of lay-
out situations such as window and
door layout and cutout, post and beam joinery, loft (joist) log layout, cen-
tering of purlins and posts, mortise and tenon joinery, and the list goes on.
The beauty in the method is that all the joinery can be drawn and seen
before it is cut. We are nding that we are shaving lots of time off our lay-
out procedures, and thus potentially putting some extra coin in our pock-
ets and having fun at the same time.
This spring we intend to use this
technique in our pre-conference
gazebo workshop so there will be
ample opportunity for all to experi-
ment with this 21st century log
building technique. Well see you at
MontebelloBe there or be square!
Telling Our Story & Building Our Future
Le Chateau Montebello
33rd Annual Conference and AGM - April 6-9, 2006
Montebello 2006 is the place to expand your craft, your business
and your prots.
We have had some excellent conferences over the years, my
friendsfrom Yellowstone to Coeur d'Alene its pretty hard to
match those venues. So we decided not to try to match them,
instead, we decided to take a new attitude and simply make this
one Our Best Ever: Best Workshops, Best Seminars,
Best Entertainment, Best Food, Best Trade Show, Best Auction
and the Best opportunities for suppliers to showcase their servic-
es and products to the best gathering of big-wood builders ever.
And did we mention to Best Fun youve ever had and been
able to write off!
We know we have the Best Location, as no venue is more rep-
resentative of this conferences theme TELLING OUR STORY
BUILDING OUR FUTURE. We will be housed in North Americas
largest and most historic log structureto look back on the
craftbut this conference will be dedicated to our industry mov-
ing forward. The latest tools and jigs, the newest techniques, and
the state-of-the-art software and legal contracts are just some of
what youll experience at Montebello.
The Conference and AGM is the opportunity for like-minded
professionals to dene and establish the future of our craft and
The Poor-Mans
Round-Log Hundegger
Higgs Murphys Higgy Jigger is a setup that ts
on an ordinary bandmill track. It incorporates an
indexing head, a tail stock and a Makita chain
mortiser to make what I call the poor mans round-
log Hundegger!
This low-cost setup will be used to fabricate log
components at the pre-conference Montebello
gazebo workshop. Workshop participants will get
to use the Higgy Jigger and several other great
tools for boosting productivity. The Montebello
workshop will also feature production roof layout
and cutting techniques in both square timber and
round log. Opportunities like this are rare!
I LBA CONFERENCE 2 0 0 6
industry. We look forward to seeing new and old faces, and we
welcome your contributions and participation at Montebello
2006! Indications are that we will enjoy a record attendance.
Reinvest in your business by learning something new, getting
reinvigorated and growing and improving your bottom line.
Celebrate some of the greatest contributors to our industry
and association. Join us in recounting our 33-year history. One of
our own will receive our greatest expression of admiration. But
there may be some surprise awards too! Superb photos will com-
pete for recognition for the Picture Perfect Awardselect and
send us yours! And meet the designers and architects who awe
us with examples of their ne log homes.
We are a new, enthusiastic Conference Committee and we
pledge to create an experience that you will never forget.
Whether you follow the 1. Hands-on (Efficient Building Practices)
conference path or the 2. Business (Improving Your Bottom
Line) path, or a mix, we guarantee a rewarding experience.
Great pre-conference courses being planned:
Laser layout techniques with Pat Clark: trusses and more
Log grading certication
Computer design training
Construction details (a new book!)
Construction contracts that work
New ILBA job-costing software LogHelper, designed for log
building. CautionThis program can lead to greater prots!
We are building a structure that will stay on the Montebello
estate
Log Games A few twists to the tradition, and even more fun
to watch
1 Efficient Building Practices the Hands On
Conference Path:
Moisture Content How to get it down
Log Home Finishes corn husk blasting strippers applica-
tion preparation professional methods maintenance
Tech Talk John Boys will host this favorite with a few twists
Higgs Murphy demonstrates the Poor Mans Hundegger!
Due Diligence Health and Safety Program, WCB/OSHA
requirements fall protection systems
Tractor-mounted folding crane that really works
Window and door installation techniques, hands-on, in detail
Stair building for log homes
Complex joinery in timber and in the round the details from
an expert
Tool sharpening Presented by an expert and new sponsor
2 Improving Your Bottom Line the Business
Conference Path:
Marketing/sales seminar track lead by an acknowledged expert
Negotiations and closing the sale when to say nothing at all
A new job-costing software LogHelper, designed for log
building. CautionThis program can lead to greater prots!
Contracts to build that keep all parties on the same team
Insurance Errors and omissions Liability : learn what you
really need
Running a lean and protable manufacturing operation
Finding and keeping excellent employees Employee termina-
tion Nitty gritty advice for you
International Codes Council (ICC) A report on the proceed-
ings and discussion about the grading and construction manu-
al
Log Standards The Committee will propose a revamp that
moves us all forward
Marketing and Sales A panel of successful log and timber
builders will lead a group discussion for builders who plan their
businesses for greater stability: How did you do it?
Whats in the future of handcrafted log building will there
be a Hundegger for Log Homes?
This year well have group and individual photos that will
make it into your photo album. So show your face at Montebello
April 6 9, 2006!
Please send additional suggestions for presenters or additional
seminar/workshop opportunities to Brian Lloyd at bg_lloyd@hot-
mail.com
Conference Organizer
The Montebello Conference Committee is looking for proposals
from people, perhaps an ILBA member, to be a paid Conference
Coordinator. Please contact Brian Lloyd for more information
250-549-3545 or bg_lloyd@hotmail.com
This will be the Best Gathering
of Big-Wood Builders Ever!
Brian Lloyd
ABOVE AND LEFT The Chateau Montebello
I LBA CONFERENCE 2 0 0 6
Mira Jean Steinbrecher
Mira Jean Steinbrecher, AIA, has worked
in the industry since 1990 when she was
hired as staff architect for a Canadian
handcrafted log building company. In
1991, she established Jean Steinbrecher
Architects, a rm specializing in the
design of log & timber buildings. A for-
mer ILBA officer and design columnist for
Log Home Living magazine, she continues
to serve to the industry through teaching
and the written word.
Chris Dancey
I used to spend time in my south west
Ontario woodlot wondering how to make
it a place to live. The red pines my par-
ents planted hinted at the possibility of
building a log home, but I had no idea
how to begin. When I learned about Allan
Mackies school, I knew I had to take a
course in building with round logs. That
was 1988 and my life has included log
building ever since.
Currently, Im the Manager of Commu-
nication for Dietrichs North America. We
sell and support 3D CAD/CAM software
for wood construction. With input from
the log building industry, Dietrichs pro-
grammers developed the capability of
designing with round tapered logs and
now many of our clients are designers,
architects and builders, who work with
round logs. Intimate knowledge of log
building is denitely an asset.
My use of the computer is for commu-
nication, which often includes creating
the Dietrichs ads, so my Honors Degree
in Fine Art and the year studying design
are helpful.
Following university, I began my rst
company and most of the past 30 years
Ive been self-employed. Even now, Im
also operating a certied organic farm
and promoting the use of natural building
materials, such as industrial hemp, straw,
wood chips and shavings, clay and lime.
Ive never wanted to be normal, so
hanging out with other creative risk-tak-
ers, like the members of the ILBA, is very
satisfying. Im happy to say that as a
woman, Ive never felt I dont belong.
Susan Witter
Off in the wild hin-
terland of northwest
Washington state,
Susan pulls Timber
Framers Guild stuff
together.
Publications like
Scantlings, the
conference pro-
ceedings, and the
second Joinery and
Design book, and
short pieces such as
the candidates
statements, all fall within her area.
It is quiet and isolated, but she nds it
fun to hear from new Guild members, all
excited about this new group theyve
found, and from those old hands running
things behind the scenes.
Women in the Industry
by Cathy Hansen
Yes, there are many of us in the industry. There are many companies
that are solely owned by a woman, and many husband and wife teams.
So we thought in this issue we would feature some of the women who
are actively involved in the log building industry.
Here are a few
reasons why we
have log building
standards
UPPER LEFT The result of lack of overhang,
the exposed logs rot away over time.
UPPER RIGHT Imagine cutting the bottom of
the truss out! This kind of poor building
practice still exists.
BOTTOM Second oor T & G oor boards
are exposed to the weather and more
deciencies. Unfortunately this was only
one of about ten structures in a row built
in this fashion at this site. Again we
stopped into assist these non-ILBA
members with a some log building
standards education.
can say were denitely used for a particu-
lar project (logs, hourly-wage labor, labor
paid by the foot or by the piece, sales
commissions, steel, transport); plus
2) All your indirect costs, also called
overhead, (insurance, tools, equipment,
fuels, office expenses, waste, repairs,
wages paid by salary, telephone, advertis-
ing, computers, a prot, and so on).
Cost is what you pay to build a log
shell for a customer; and Price is what
the customer pays you. This article is
about getting an accurate handle on your
costs. Pricing is a very important aspect of
getting jobs, but with limited space, Ill
stick to costing for now.
But, let me just emphasize the obvious:
the price a customer pays you must be
equal to, or greater than, your cost. And,
therefore, knowing your cost accurately is
essential to prevent you from selling too
low and losing money.
Lineal Foot
At the heart of this costing method is that
the lineal foot of log shipped is our basic
unit for costing. (Of course, you can use
lineal meters instead of lineal feet.) The
lineal feet of logs shipped is equal to
the total of all the logs that you send on
trucks or in containers to build a particular
shell. Lay every log for a shell package
out, every post, wall log, purlin, truss part,
joist, rafter, ends touching ends, in a
straight linethats the lineal feet of log
shipped.
We have found that lineal feet (LF) of
log is a better measure of cost than either
weight (no matter whether you use
pounds, metric tonnes, or whatever) or
volume (whether you use cubic meters,
board feet, cubic feet, truckloads, or con-
tainer loads).
Lineal feet works whether the logs are
green or dry (costing by weight would
not work well here). And LF costing works
for us when the shell uses a mix of diame-
ters (small for pole rafters, large for walls,
and so on) costing by volume would
not be as accurate for that sort of job that
uses a mix of diameters.
Lineal foot costing, when you consider
it, just makes sense because it ts a lot of
what we do and what we pay for. After
all, when you are buying logs, you dont
call the logger to order 3400 square feet
of logs, you buy 65 logs 45-feet long for
a job. Or you know how many lineal feet
of log t on one truck and you order 3
truckloads in order to get what you really
want, which is 2925 lineal feet for this
job.
Your cost to peel logs is directly related
to how many feet of logs go under the
drawknife, not how big or small the house
oorplan is. Your cost to scribe logs, your
cost to notch and groove logs, your cost
to transport logs all these are closely
related to the lineal feet of logs that are
being processed by you from raw material
into ready-to-assemble log shell.
You know me, Im the guy who is into
the craft of handcrafting. I have spent a
couple decades working on tools, tech-
niques, and teaching others the craft. My
business plan was: seek out different and
challenging projects that made me learn
with every job.
We are craftsmen, but we are also pro-
ducers turning raw materials into n-
ished product each year. And it is worth
considering the productivity of even one-
man yards in terms of a quantity of raw
log turned into log home shell. We are
processing trees at a certain cost to create
a value-added product that has a price. I
guess Im just saying the obvious: we are
craftsmen and we are businessmen.
Most of our business costs are very
closely related to the quantity of logs we
process, and I really cant think of many
log building costs that are closely related
to the square feet of log shell size. And
yet, many of us have been using square
feet of oorplan to estimate our produc-
tion costs, and help determine our prices.
But, as I will soon show, there is a huge
difference between square-foot-costing a
1400 SF house and square-foot-costing a
4400 SF house. If you have one price per
square foot for the shells you sell, then
you may make a good prot on some
projects, but Ill bet you lose your shirt on
others.
(Lineal foot costing works best if you
usually use about the same diameter log
for your homes. If, however, for one job
you use 14-inch logs and for the next job
you use 23-inch logs, then you should
probably be costing your shells by the ton
(or the cubic meter), not the lineal foot.
Since many log home companies tend to
get comfortable using about the same size
log time and again, lineal foot costing
works well for them.)
Your Cost Per Lineal Foot
How can you know what something will
cost to build if youve never built it
before? Yet this confronts us with every
customer who calls inas an industry lots
of us rarely build the same house twice.
We give prices for things weve never
done, and thats risky. We must minimize
the risk of an error in costing.
You have to rely on your history, which
means you need to have some basic
records going back more than one job.
The better your records are, and the
longer your history, the more accurately
you will know your cost.
I am not talking here about reducing
your costs. That is certainly important, but
right now you must know what your actu-
al costs have been recently (no matter
whether you think they are too high or
just right!).
Use your nancial records from last year
to determine your total costs. You may be
able to use last years tax return to get the
numbers you need. If not, then start mak-
ing a list of all your direct and overhead
costs.
Next, look at your bottom line: were
you happy with last years prot? If not,
then how much extra income would
you have needed to have been happy?
(Be realistic!) And, if you did not pay your-
self (or your spouse) a salary, then youll
need to decide what you were worth to
the business last year and add that on,
too. Add those three numbers together
total business costs plus prot correction
(if needed) plus unpaid salarywell call
this your annual corrected costs.
Now, gure out how many lineal feet of
log you processed during that same peri-
od of time. This is not the quantity of log
Costing Log Home Shells
from page 1
you purchased, it is the quantity you shipped out of your yard
processedanother way to think of it is it is the amount of log
you sold. Divide the annual corrected costs by lineal feet of
logwork sold, and you have your cost per lineal foot.
We use lineal feet of logwork shipped, or sold, rather than total
quantity of logs purchased for one simple reason: its a more use-
ful way to cost a house quickly and accurately for a customer.
Heres what I mean: a customer brings you a sketch of a house
they want. While he sits there, you do some measuring and nd
that his design has, say, 3560 lineal feet of logs in it. That is, you
are going to try to sell him a shell that will have 3560 lineal feet.
Multiply 3560 times your cost per lineal footnow, size him up to
guess how much above cost your price should bequickly you
can give him a good ballpark estimate of the price for his cocktail-
napkin sketch of his home.
Whats My Cost PLF?
I have not told you my cost per lineal foot, or even a range of
possible North American costs PLF because you do not need to
know them. You need to focus on your cost per lineal foot,
because you must run your business, and make your sales, using
sale prices that are not below your costs.
Sure, it would be nice to know the competitors costs! But if
your costs were legitimately higher (or lower) than mine (your
logs cost more, or labor cost more, or fuel cost more, or your yard
rental cost more, insurance rates are higher, or your transport
costs are higher, etc), and you ignored this, and just beat my
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price, and won the job, then youd be in
big trouble. Congratulations, you got the
job and now youre going to lose
money! You must know your costs, not
mine, or anyone elses.
Obviously, knowing your costs is a great
rst step to reducing your costswhich
can sure help you be competitively priced
and boost your prots. Reducing costs is a
good subject for another article, but is not
the critter I am chasing here.
Size Counts
Log homes with smaller oor space cost
more to build per square foot than log
homes with larger oor space. Size
counts, when costing handcrafted log-
work.
Three examples are shown in Figure 1.
All example plans have 9-foot tall full-
scribe-t log walls, door and window
openings that suit the size building, one-
story only, and a log post-and-purlin roof
system adequate for support.
First, a 40 by 60 that has a total of
2400 square feet of living space. This log
shell kit would ship about 2360 lineal feet
of logs. Next, a mid-sized 30 by 38 with a
total of 1140 square feet. This log shell
would ship about 1670 lineal feet of log
package. Finally, a small cabin, 20 by 24
with a total of 480 SF living space that
would ship about 1000 lineal feet of log-
work (Column C shows lineal feet of log
shipped for each shell).
Lets say that I sell log shells for $45 PSF.
So, the larger shell Id sell for $108,000,
the medium shell Id sell for $51,300, and
the small shell Id sell for $21,600. These
prices are all just the square footage of
each shell times $45.
But how much am I getting paid by the
lineal foot of logs I have processed? In the
bigger shell I am being paid $46 PLF
(rounding to nearest dollar); the medium
shell is bringing me $31 PLF; and for the
smaller shell I get $22 PLF (see Column
D).
Umm, do you see the problem? The
small, medium and larger shells all sold for
$45 per square foot, thats my price! So
everything should be okay, right? But Im
being paid $46 for every lineal foot of log
I ship for the 2400 square foot shell, but I
only get $22 PLF for the 480 square foot
shell. Im being paid half as much for
every single foot of log that I nd, buy,
transport, peel, move around the yard,
lift, scribe, notch, insure, gasket, transport,
and assemble!
I paid the same price for the logs for all
three projects, I paid the hourly staff the
same to scribe and cut, I paid the peelers
$2 per foot, I paid almost $3 per gallon
for fuel, my insurance is not lower when I
build small cabin shells than when I build
larger shells. It is difficult to nd savings
that could explain a drop in my cost of
52% (from $46 to $22 PLF). I might be
able to nd a cost savings of 5% or 10%
because of shorter logs being used for the
smaller shell, but a 52% savings? No way.
I may think I am selling all my homes at
the same price, $45 PSF. Actually, I am
selling smaller cabins at half-price, and I
dont even know Im doing it, and I am
losing money every time! Ive got to make
a change to my costing method before I
go broke.
If you sell your 2400 SF shells at $45
per square foot, and make a tidy prot
doing it, then your losses on smaller shells
are indicated by the numbers in Column
F. The small cabin, that I thought I
priced well at $21,600 ($45 PSF), actually
should have been priced closer to
$46,000 (and this is more than $90 per
square foot).
Why Does This Happen?
Big buildings get more usable square
footage of oorplan per amount of exteri-
or wall used. You cannot escape itit is a
fact of geometry.
Draw a small square and mark each
edge as 10 feet long. It has 100 square
feet and uses 40 lineal feet of wall.
Draw another square and mark each edge
as 100 feet long. It has 10,000 square feet
of area and uses 400 lineal feet of wall.
The large square encloses 25 square feet
for each lineal foot of wall, but the small
square encloses only 2.5 square feet for
each lineal foot of wall.
You get ten times the bang for the buck
in the big building. Oversimplied exam-
ple? Yes. But I hope it grabs your atten-
tion, because it is really important. Size
counts. No one builds a log home shell
that is 100 by 100 with no interior walls,
I can hear you say. True. But youd have
to add in 3,600 lineal feet of interior walls
(about 32,000 lineal feet of log!) to make
the larger shell have the same LFPSF as
the small shell. Try drawing in another
3,600 lineal feet of wall inside the 100 x
100 buildingit wont t!
Large buildings are cheaper to build PSF
than small buildingsask anyone in the
shed, pole barn, or warehouse construc-
tion business.
Roofers price by the square foot of roof
they cover, not by the square foot of the
buildings oorplan. Sheetrockers price by
the area they need to cover in sheetrock,
not the square footage of the buildings
oor. Stonemasons price their work by the
face foot which is the surface area of
Figure 1
Three log home shells priced by the Square Foot (SF), and then converted to nd the
price they would bring you per Lineal Foot (LF). If $46 PLF brings you a prot, then
Column F shows your loss on the other two jobs. Column G shows density of log
in the design, low numbers indicate the design is more efficient in log use.
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wall (not oor) that they are covering
with stone.
Log railing producers often price their
product by the lineal footnot by the
square foot of deck they enclose. And log
builders who supply log railings with their
homes often switch from square-foot cost-
ing for the log home shell over to lineal-
foot costing for rails. Square foot of oor-
plan does a poor job of accurately indicat-
ing your real cost for all your projects. It
can work for your sweet spot of size,
but if you take on smaller projects, then
you are taking on big risks.
The Next Step
These have been simple examples to illus-
trate the problem of relying only on
square-foot costing. Your next step is to
look at least two past projects you built
(but the more you can look at, the bet-
ter). Choose one that was smallish, and
one that was largish in square footage.
For one of these you should feel or know
that it was protable.
Count up the total lineal feet of logs
shipped for each project, and make a
table like the one shown above that will
compute your cost per square foot and
cost per lineal foot for each project.
You already know what you should be
getting paid per lineal foot (you gured
that at the start of this articleits your
total business costs, corrected if needed,
divided by the total lineal feet of logwork
shipped during that same time period).
Now how do these two projects measure
up to that number? What can you learn
from this? Print a copy of the results and
tape it to your desk, use it for computing
your cost when estimating future projects.
Our Experience
Natural Log Homes has been using per-
lineal-foot costing for about 4 years. We
have not yet had a project that didnt
work better with PLF costing than with
PSF costing. In that time, our projects
have been as small as 120 square feet and
as large as 4,200 square feet.
We have been able to really study the
work process in our yard, man by man,
and step by step. We track each step of
processing a log from bark-on, to assem-
bled on the foundation. Some things we
stopped counting because we found they
were not helpful (one of those was the
number of pieces of logs that were being
handled for each job).
We track weekly progress on all jobs,
and we separately track each jobs prof-
itability, so we know which jobs we did
well (and which, not so well) on. We build
a wide variety of stylessimple and com-
plex plans, loads of trusses and only
purlins on 2x posts, complex oor systems
and 2x joists, and we have found that per-
lineal-foot costing is still our most accurate
measure of time and prot.
We still estimate each new job on a
spreadsheet that counts every hole to be
drilled, every notch scribed and cut, every
joist attened, every door and window
cut, and so on. But our cost per lineal foot
varies surprisingly little from job to job.
The tendency is always to say, oh, but
that Deer Pond house it was so complex,
it cant cost the same PLF as that simple
4-wall cabin for Mud Lake. Well, take a
good look at those jobs, and I think you
may be surprised. Logwork is logwork, no
matter how big or small, simple or com-
plex, and we now have great condence
in the per-lineal-foot method of costing
our shells.
Lineal Foot Per Square Foot
LSPSF
A good gauge of log home design and
cost efficiency we call lineal feet per
square foot. This is the number of lineal
feet of logs used in the house divided by
the total square footage of living space in
the plan. It is a measure of the density of
logwork in a design, and of log building
efficiency, it varies from about 0.6 (very
efficient) to over 3.0 (not very efficient).
(Figure 1, Column G shows Lineal Feet
Per Square Feet.)
A house that has 3.0 lineal feet per
square foot uses a lot of logs (for example,
6000 lineal-feet of logs shipped for a 2000
square-foot house). More efficient designs
provide 2000 square feet of living space
with only 2000 lineal feet of logs (which is
1.0 LFPSF). One-third the amount of logs
used to make the same living space.
Large homes can have LFPSF amounts
of less than 0.6. Compare this with a 14
by 20 cabin that has more than 2.0 LFPSF
no matter who builds it, or what its
design. The lower the number, the more
efficiently the design uses logs.
Heres a good way to picture this: lets
say you have 2000 lineal feet of logs in
the yard that you want to use up on a
spec house shell. You could build a 2200
square foot log shell (0.9 LFPSF) or you
could build a plan that is only 1100
square feet (1.8 LFPSF). Which design
should you use for your spec house?
Well, try to sell those homeswhich one
will bring you more money? I think we
can all guess the answer to that question.
This, once again, shows why square
footage is not a good measure of cost for
log shells of varying size and complexity
why would you charge less for a 1100
square foot shell than for a 2200 square
foot shell if you had to process the exact
same quantity of logs (2000 lineal feet) to
make each of them? They should both
cost you about the same to buildbut
thats not what per-square-foot costing
would tell you! By the square foot youd
think it cost you twice as much to build
the bigger house.
Customer Still Asks for PSF
It is a sort of industry standard question:
How much are your shells per square
foot? If the customer has no design yet,
then tell them: efficiently designed log
home shells we sell for around $XX per
square foot. This shows you are not
avoiding the PSF priceyoure being
upfront and honest. And right from the
start it shows that design-efficiency
impacts nal price. It sets the stage for
you to help show them the efficiency of
their design (when they have one), and
the reasons behind the price of their shell.
If they come to us without a design,
and have indicated that they are very
cost-sensitive, then I recommend they
consider a very efficient and attractive
design like Four Peaks which has a lot
of log bang for the buck. I drop in the
key word efficient, along with the sizzle
words attractive and bang for the
buck. And every word is true, and so
comes across as genuine and helpful infor-
mation.
Educate & Involve Your Customers
in Costing
Once the customer has a design they
want you to price, gure the lineal feet
that you will ship in the package, use your
cost per lineal foot, add on more, if possi-
ble, and give them the ballpark gure. We
do many ballpark costings in 30 minutes
or less because we only need to estimate
the lineal feet of logs in their shell, not
count every single hole drilled and bevel
cut.
Every time you give a ballpark cost, also
calculate the LFPSF. And always give the
customer both the ballpark dollar price
and tell where their design falls on the
efficiency scale. This keeps reinforcing that
price and efficiency go hand in hand.
They will quickly catch on to your
explanation. It is far better to educate
your potential customers about design
efficiency than it is to say, yes, I know I
said $45, but your cabin is small so itll
cost you $75 PSF. That kind of news,
right before you want them to sign on the
dotted line, will lose the job. To the cus-
tomer it sounds like a bait-and-switch.
Use LFPSF as a sales tool. Lineal foot
per square foot is the log builders miles
per gallon. Use it like that for cost-sensi-
tive customers, use it right from the rst
call, and use it every time you discuss
prices, and they may think youve given
them the secret to log shell pricing!
All that said, I do not like to answer the
question so how much are your log
homes per lineal foot, if it comes too
early on, because it means that I may
leave money on the table later, which
I dont like to do. When it comes to the
nal, rm quote price, we run the whole
project through a detailed spreadsheet
that counts everything we do and takes us
several hoursand I tell the customer
that.
Let Your Competition Get the
Unprotable Jobs
Just because you now have a costing
method that you can rely on does not
mean that every customer will buy their
shell from you. Knowing your cost is
essential because it keeps you from losing
money on each job. But knowing your
cost does not guarantee youll sell homes,
or guarantee you will be protable.
If another log builder will build their
900 square-foot cabin for $30 PSF, well,
you probably should let them. You must
let go the jobs that you gure will lose you
money, and in some markets the percent-
age of unprotable jobs that are offered
to you is quite high. It is good business to
pass on unprotable jobslosing a bad
job not only helps you, it also hurts the
competition, and both of these are good.
In fact, the more
unprotable jobs
your competition
gets, the better it
is for you!
It is the jobs
that you know will
be protable that
you must ght to
get. Being good at
business does not
mean winning lots
of workit means
getting the jobs that you need and that
will make you a prot.
And, knowing your costs accurately and
quickly and upfront is essential to know-
ing which jobs to ght for, and which jobs
to let go early on. Maybe the only thing
worse than signing an unprotable job is
spending a lot of your time courting a
customer and then signing his unprof-
itable job!
Thanks to Rob Lipps, who helped with this
presentation and these ideas at the
Parksville ILBA conference.
Why choose Dietrichs?
http://user.dietrichs.com
www.dietrichs.com Toll Free inquiries
w.dancey@dietrichs.com 1-877-877-0086
FOR S ALE FOR S ALE HELP WANTED
C L A S S I F I E D A D S
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Specialty Tools; peavies; cant hooks; lifting tongs;
log dogs & cleats; log horses; water stones;
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MAFELL planers, saws & chain mortisers; MACKIE
log building books & videos. FREE 32-page
catalogue
MAGARD VENTURES LTD, 8365 Domagala Road,
Prince George, BC, Canada V2K 5R1
Tel: 250-962-9057 Fax: 250-962-9157
Attn: Maurice Gardy
Awesome Boom Truck for Sale All-wheel
drive Oshkosh with turbocharged International
DT466 diesel, big oat tires up front, 5 speed
with 3 speed transfer case & full power steering.
Tube steel bed custom built for hauling logs,
custom made loader. Lemco with 26ft. squirt
boom & stainless steel jawed continuous rotation
bucket. Used as all around yard machine for
unloading trucks & shell building, and delivering
and assembling cabins in mountain sites.
Grapple allows safe one man operation. Had over
$40,000 invested in new engine set up, loader
and bed. $17,500 includes fresh batteries & tires.
Call Bryan or Ed
303-449-1336 or email ed@timmerhusinc.com
1999 Heartwood Band Sawmill Model
310 Electric Never been used 6 inch Double-
Cut (cutting travel speed up to 3 feet per
second). Requires 600 V. 3 Phase Power. Eighty-
eight feet of track. Operator travels with mill
head along track. Numerous track-mounted
hydraulic log handing systems and full
programmable computer controlled set works.
(We purchased 2 and only set one up for use.)
When purchased in 1999 value exceeded
$80,000.00 Canadian. Asking $65,000.00
Canadian. Moose Mountain Log Homes Inc.
Please arrange for an appointment to see the
twin unit in operation. Link to this model at
Heartwood Saw: http://www.heart
woodsaw.com/Model_310.html
Toll free 1-877-932-3992
One 1979 S688 Bantam 20 Ton Rough
Terrain Crane for sale, $30,000 Canadian or
$21,500 US. Presently stationed in Illinois. Very
Good Condition, 60 foot hydraulic boom or 80
foot with jib. Very fuel efficient 453 Detroit.
Should provide many years of trouble free
service. Call 1-877-932-3992.
We have for sale beetle kill, dead
standing, Lodgepole Pine house logs, saw
logs, big dead timber and rewood. D-log kits, 2
sided log kits, and peeled logs also available. We
can deliver to almost anywhere in the U.S. Please
call for more info and a price list. Willow Creek
Logging 970-887-2396 or email
dPetras8angels@yahoo.com
For Sale: Diamond Willow pieces range in
size from 3"-6" diameter and 3'-7' in length.
Great for crafting unique railings, posts, and
furniture. Cost $8.00/LF + (size and character
dependent). Call Peter at Sperlich Log
Construction Inc. 250-838-7455 or email
sales@canadianloghouse.com
1975 S-588 Bantam 18 Ton Rough
Terrain Crane Very good condition, 72 foot
hydraulic boom or 92 foot with jib. Is rated to lift
1610 lbs. at an 85 foot radius or 4700 lbs at a
50 foot radius. Very fuel efficient 453 Detroit.
Should provide many years of trouble free
service. Presently located in Cochrane Alberta.
$32,500 Canadian plus GST if applicable. Moose
Mountain Log Homes Inc. 1-877-932-3992
Pristine Log Homes can offer Certied Heat
Treated or Certied Kiln Dried logs/timbers. We
can also supply the logs/timbers to save you
trucking costs. Call Pristine for further
information at (250)547-2400.
HELP WANTED
Experienced Log Crafters Moose Mountain
Log homes Inc. currently has two full time long
term positions open for experienced log
handcrafters with dual US and Canadian
citizenship. Join a leading edge, quality oriented
company that has been in business for over 25
years! Please phone 1-877-932-3992 or
email: info@moosemountain.com
Wages, earnings based on experience.
Log Home Apprentice Wanted Experience
required. Howard Williamson, Custom Log
Homes Ltd., 3030 40th St. S.E.
Salmon Arm, BC, Canada V1E 1X7
Phone: 250-832-3690
Email: cuslog@airspeedwireless.ca
www.customloghomesltd.com
Need Two Log Builders for Permanent Full
Time Work. Required Now.Located in Quebec.
$18 to $28/hr + benets; depend on experience.
Join Us and Enjoy Quality Building and Complex
Roof Structure. Call Jean or Nancy Rodrigue at
819-832-2167 between 6 to 8 pm EST.
Motivated individual with construction
experience, graduating top of the class from
the University of Wisconsin-Stout with a Degree
in Construction looking for a position within the
log building industry that will allow me to grow
into a management position. Very determined,
self-motivated and willing to relocate. Can be
contacted at the following: Josh Peck, 29003
Long Lake, Danbury, Wisconsin 54830 Phone:
715 (259-3220) peckjosh@hotmail.com
Experienced full-scribe log builder and
log peelers wanted for year round, full-time
work. Big White Pine logs. Good working
conditions, minimal travel, good pay and
benets. Rural and beautiful Northern Vermont
near Connecticut River and White Mountains of
New Hampshire. 3 hours from Boston, Montreal
and coast of Maine. Outdoors oriented person
with good woodworking and math skills. To
apply send or email resume and references. The
Wooden House Co., Ltd., 3714 North Rd., S.
Ryegate, Vermont 05069 Phone: 802-429-2490
email: john@woodenhousecompany.com
Lead Timber Framer Two Dog Timberworks
is looking for an experienced TFer with at least 3
years full-time, professional experience. Must be
able to demonstrate experience with Western
softwoods, layout on dimensional & organic
material, cutting prociency, machinery
maintenance, job leadership, and strong raising
know-how. We are a smaller innovative company
that strives to attract challenging projects all over
the country. See our work at
www.twodogtimberworks.com. Join us in the
beautiful NW corner of Washington State and be
a part of a great team that loves what we do! Pay
D.O.E., full benet package, rewarding work.
Contact Laurel or Pete Slisz at (360)-366-5350 or
e-mail us at info@twodogtimberworks.com.
Apprentice Timber Framer Two Dog
Timberworks is looking for an Apprentice TFer.
Must have general woodworking experience
and a solid working knowledge of hand and
power tools. We are a smaller innovative
company that strives to attract challenging
projects all over the country. See our work at
www.twodogtimberworks.com. Join us in the
beautiful NW corner of Washington State and be
a part of a great team that loves what we do!
Pay D.O.E., full benet package, rewarding work.
Contact Laurel or Pete Slisz at (360)-366-5350 or
e-mail us at info@twodogtimberworks.com.
Help Wanted Motivated individual with
construction experience, graduating top of the
class from the University of Wisconsin-Stout with
a Degree in Construction looking for a position
within the log building industry that will allow
me to grow into a management position. Very
determined, self-motivated, and willing to
relocate. Can be contacted at the following:
Josh Peck, 29003 Long Lake, Danbury, Wisconsin
54830 Phone 715 (259-3220) or email
peckjosh@hotmail.com
C L A S S I F I E D A D S
Log Builders and Timber Framers
Wanted We need 4 to 5 log home builders
and/or timber framers at our plant in Chilliwack,
BC. We will be busy for the whole next year.
Please contact us via email at cancedar@shaw.ca
or phone 604-836-8315 and ask for Gerhard.
Experienced Log Home Builder or Fitter
required now, for full time year round position.
Wages depend on experience. Please send,
email or bring resume with references to
Whitevalley Log Homes Ltd., 77 Cochrane Road
Cherryville, BC V0E 2G3
Phone and fax: (250)547-6666
Email: whitevalley@paralynx.com
Experienced Log Builder Wanted for
permanent full time position. Send resumes with
references to danielalbert@coyoteloghomes.ca
or fax 613-756-6186. See our work at
www.coyoteloghomes.ca
CONFERENCE ORGANIZER
The Montebello 2006 Conference Committee is
looking for proposals from people, perhaps an
ILBA member, to be the paid Conference
Coordinator. Please contact Brian Lloyd for more
information 250-549-3545 (west coast time
zone) or email Brian at bg_lloyd@hotmail.com
ANNOUNCEMENTS
I L B A B A R GA I N B I N
Bids are being accepted by the ILBA for:
Education:
Training program certicates for:
Log building at Del Radomskes Okanagan
School of Log Building (50% off of tuition fee)
Log building at Pat Wolfe School of Log
Building (100% of tuition fee)
Timber Framing at College of the Rockies
(50% off of tuition fee).
Chinking Product: Gift Certicate for 2 ve
gallon pails of Weatherall 1021 Textured
Caulking
If you are interested in purchasing any of
these items, contact the ILBA office at
1-800-532-2900 for further details.
Free Trees! The Assistant Chief of the city of
Detroit (State of Michigan) Steven K. Leggat is
looking for an individual or company who
would be interested in taking (for free) about
80,000 trees (and about another 150,000 trees
in the next few years) within the city of Detroit.
The city has maps of the location of the trees.
Interested parties can contact him and he will
connect the parties to the appropriate city
office. The contact information is: Steven K.
Leggat, Assistant Chief, City of Detroit, Building
& Safety Engineering Housing Inspection
Division, Coleman A. Young Municipal Center,
2 Woodward Avenue, Suite 412, Detroit,
Michigan 48226. Phone: 313-224-3155. Fax:
313-224-2745, leggats@bsed.ci.detroit.mi.us,
www.ci.detroit.mi.us
The College of the Rockies is a learner-
centered institution. We invite all qualied
applicants who value high quality program
delivery and customer service excellence to
apply for Term Full-Time Timber Frame
Program Instructor (December 28, 2005 to
April 4, 2006)
Duties: The successful applicant will be required
to deliver a 12-week Timber Frame program at
the College of the Rockies Kimberley Campus
starting January 9 to March 31, 2006. The
program involves both theoretical in class
instruction and practical hands on application in
the construction of 2-3 class projects and
raisings. In addition to instructional duties, you
will be required to review and expand on
existing curriculum and learning outcomes;
oversee the purchasing of supplies and materials
required for the various class projects, and liaise
with the community, industry, and the Timber
Framers Guild.
Qualications: Along with a thorough
understanding of the construction trades and
related equipment, you will have a minimum of
5 years experience in the Timber frame and log
building industry (preferably working on a
variety of projects and in various capacities).
Good communication, interpersonal, computer
and organizational skills are essential. Previous
teaching experience, Red Seal carpentry
certication or European equivalent and CAD
experience are assets.As an employee of the
College of the Rockies the successful candidate is
expected to be a lifelong learner who continues
to develop his/her skills to help the College meet
HELP WANTED ANNOUNCEMENTS
the needs of our students and our other valued
clients.
Salary: As per the Faculty Salary Schedule
($4,055.50 to $6,104.75 per month) dependent
on qualications and experience
Closing Date: November 30, 2005
Interested persons should submit their resume
of qualications and experience to: The Human
Resource Development Department, College of
the Rockies, Box 8500, Cranbrook, BC V1C 5L7
Condential Fax # (250) 489-8206.
Please quote Competition #05 FA 37.
Please ensure your covering letter and resume
clearly provide demonstrate related
qualications and experience as selection for
interview will be based on the information
provided.
We thank all who apply and advise that only
those selected for further consideration will be
contacted.
EVENTS AND TRAI NI NG
March 27, 2006
Training the Log Builders of
Tomorrow
16-week entry level class, starts March 27,
2006
www.okslb.com
Contact Del Radomskes Okanagan School of
Log Building International at 250-765-5166
or email: info@okslb.com for more
information.
April 6 9, 2006
ILBA 33rd AGM and Conference
Montebello, Quebec
ANNOUNCEMENTS
April 6 9, 2006
Montebello, Quebec
April 6 9, 2006
Montebello, Quebec

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Experience the joy of building
community through craft
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education inspiration
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www.TFGUILD.ORG
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BRITISH COLUMBIA
tel: 250.372.3373
fax: 250.828.6848
toll free in BC: 1-800-663-6432
mel@waysidepress.com
PROUD TO SERVE
THE INTERNATIONAL
LOG BUILDERS
ASSOCIATION
Celebrating our 30th anniversary in 2005
R.C.M. CAD Design & Drafting Ltd.
Exclusively designing log homes
& Post and Beam since 1994
Bus: (604) 702-1188 Fax: (604) 702-0022
E-mail: rcmcaddesign@shawbiz.ca
Web Page: www.loghomedesign.ca
Check out our Web page to learn about us & our product
Ann Miks, Administrative Assistant
ann@logassociation.org
International Log Builders Association
P.O. Box 775
Lumby, British Columbia
V0E 2G0 Canada
800-532-2900 toll-free
250-547-8776 phone
250-547-8775 fax
FOR MORE I NFORMATI ON
How to get Log Building News
Log Building News is mailed to all ILBA
members. Articles, photos and letters are
welcomed. The deadline for LBN 58 is
December 10, 2005.
If you submit articles in Microsoft Word
on CD or by email, send them directly to

the ILBA office.
Back issues of Log Building News are
available from the Association office.
Call 800-532-2900 to order.
Copyright notice
Log Building News is copyrighted in
Canada and the United States. Express
written permission is required from the
ILBA and, in some cases, from the author,
before any article or photo can be
photocopied, distributed or republished.
Contact the ILBA office for details.
Disclaimer
The views and information expressed in
articles and ads appearing in Log Building
News are those of the authors of those
articles and ads. The International Log
Builders Association assumes no responsi-
bility for the accuracy of the information
contained herein and does not edit or
investigate any article or ad for that pur-
pose.
Log Building Standards
The ILBA Log Building Standards, the
building code for handcrafted, scribe-t &
chinked log homes are available online at
the ILBA Web site, www.logassociation.org
and can be downloaded to your computer
at no charge as an Adobe Acrobat PDF
le.
Advertising
Log Building News welcomes advertisers.
Please contact the ILBA office for deadlines.
Advertisers can send completed ads as:
Press optimized PDF format with fonts
embedded
QuarkXpress format (Mac preferred, but
PC is acceptable) with screen and printer
fonts, images, and graphics included.
PhotoShop (7.0 or below) or Illustrator
(10.0 and below) EPS les.
300 dpi greyscale TIFs or high resolution
JPGs
Microsoft Publisher les must be convert-
ed to PDF format with fonts embedded.
All greyscale images should be scanned at
266 or higher and be in JPG or TIF format.
Black and white line art should be sent in
TIF format scanned at 600 dpi or as
original art for scanning.
Submissions can be made on Zip disk,
CD-ROM, oppy disk or via email. Com-
pressed .sit, .zip or .sea les are acceptable.
Editorial copy can be sent as Microsoft
Word, PDF or QuarkXpress documents, or
saved in text only format (.txt) from any
word processing program.
Contact the ILBA for other digital le infor-
mation by email: info@logassociation.org
Log Building News is a great way to con-
tact the best log home builders. The ILBA
is the largest group of builders of hand-
crafted log homes in the world our
members made well over $250 million of
logwork last year. Please contact the office
at 800-532-2900 for an advertising speci-
cation sheet and ad rates.
Joining the ILBA
Membership in the International Log Builders
Association is open to any interested person.
Members get a copy of the ILBA Log Building
Standards, one year of Log Building News, member-
ship certicate, voting privileges, discounted confer-
ence registration, a listing in the Annual Directory, a
copy of the Association Constitution and Bylaws,
use of computerized help wanted and work wanted
ads, and all ILBA mailings and notices. Company
memberships have additional benets. The ILBA
accepts Visa or MasterCard. For more information
on dues and member benets, please call the ILBA
office at 800-532-2900.
President
Ed Shure
ed@timmerhusinc.com
Vice-President
Pat Clark (Montebello pre-conference)
pclark@aboutmontana.net
Clerk/Secretary
Vic Janzen (LBN, Ethics)
vicjanzen@uniserve.com
Treasurer
John Boys (Finance*, Ethics)
logworks@uniserve.com
Directors
Egils Artmanis
egipapa@msn.com
Sjoerd Bos (Finance, Log Building Standards*)
sb@sansin.com
Robert W. Chambers (Log Building News*)
Brian Lloyd (Ethics, Montebello Conference*)
bg_lloyd@hotmail.com
Jean Rodrigue (Montebello Conference)
j..rodrigue@sympatico.ca
ILBA Board of Directors
(Committees in parentheses; * indicates chair)
Coming up in the January/February issue
More Tech Talk
(contribute your ideas and photos today)
Report from the EU Conference in Riga
Election Results
Exciting Montebello News
SUBMIT YOUR ARTICLES TODAY WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!
I N OUR NEXT I S S UE

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NEWS

SeptemberDecember 2005 Number 57

with Sansin Timber-Tec.

on CD or by email, send them directly to

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