FAQ

We are located about 16 miles north of Asheville, NC in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains near a town called Mars Hill. We're right off the intersection of highways 23-N and 19-E, on California Creek Rd. A map is located on the Contact Us page.

Yes, you can order from us no matter where you live. We are competitive with companies located nearly anywhere else in the United States, and we can ship nationally or even internationally!

What kind of wood do you use for your log homes? Are the logs dry?

We primarily use eastern white pine. We have found it to be an ideal species due to ready availability, durability, and stability. Also, white pine is moderate in shrinkage (although all logs do shrink some) and takes a stain beautifully for an enduring appearance.

We also have other species of wood available, for those with specific preferences. Examples include cypress, western red cedar, and lodgepole pine. They tend to cost more, but we can still offer them at a competitive price over other suppliers.

Our logs are available kiln-dried or as 'good air-dry' which means they have been allowed to season naturally with a minimum of checking or cracking. Often, our air-dried logs have been on sticks seasoning for 12 months or longer.

If I have a plan of my own, can you produce a log home kit for it?

Yes, many of our customers have preferred a plan of their own. We have an in-house architect who can draw up blueprints for any design. Since we only display eight basic houseplans in our brochure, often folks do that. We don't try to fill a book with house plans for two reasons: 1. It adds needless marketing costs to everyone's home purchase. 2. If there were 200 plans in a book, most people are so individual in their needs and wants that those 200 wouldn't cover them all. What we do with our simple offering, is try to demonstrate a few of the styles out there, and leave the door open to you to design one that is uniquely YOURS.

I want a small cabin, simply as a retreat. Do you even want to sell to the little guy?

We certainly DO! We realize that not everyone needs a 3000 or even 5000 square foot log home, or they perhaps just want a smaller cabin for a getaway. So we take pride in saying NO sale is too small. Unlike the huge companies that fill the magazines with full-page ads, we know that your business is just as important as the large home customer. We supply the same high quality of service to any sale. In the same vein, we are fully capable of doing more than just a cabin. Some of our homes have been as large as any conventional home, but with the added features of ambience, esthetics, and comfort that are so inherent in a log home.

How do I go about buying my home from Tree Craft?

The first step is deciding the style or model. Next, contact us by phone and set up a time when one of our representatives can meet with you and help you plan the details of order, delivery, and construction. We begin the sale by having you secure it with a deposit. At that point, we set the production schedule and begin co-ordinating with your builder. If you need a builder reference, often we can help you select one that will be right for you. When the builder is ready for the delivery, we bring in the materials and provide on-site assistance in initial construction.

Can I build my log home myself?

Yes! Many of our customers are hands-on and prefer to make this a life experience; realizing their dream of living in a log home they have built themselves. It's not at all hard. With a basic knowledge of carpentry and a willingness to try new things, anyone can create as high quality a home as the professional. You enjoy the added benefit of significant cost savings along with that satisfaction that comes from doing it yourself. Our company takes pride in being there to help those who choose to take the construction on themselves, and we are always available for guidance.

If you choose to build your home yourself, and plan on financing it, there are certain steps you must follow in order to satisfy the requirements of your lending institution. The first step is to draw up a realistic estimate of the cost of materials and labor to turn-key (completely finish) your home. This estimate needs to include prevailing labor costs for your area, since the bank will want your loan to cover hiring any aspects of the construction you decide not to do yourself. Also, your materials list should be thorough, with no major omissions. So be certain you get it right from the start. We can assist you in putting a materials list together if you need help. You will be asking your lending institution for a 'Construction Loan' (click link for Q&A's on construction loans). After the home is finished, they will roll it over into a home mortgage. They will usually lock your mortgage rate in at the time of closing for the Construction Loan.

Also, an important step; you will need to purchase a Builder's Risk insurance policy from your local agent. This will protect you from risks such as sub-contractor injuries, theft on the jobsite, or many other unexpected losses. Talk to your agent about what will work best for you. Get that policy in force before any work is done on the site.

You must go to your local Building Department to purchase your Building Permit and Septic Permit, if applicable. Usually, they will require you submit a set of blueprints at this time. If so, we can provide you with them for a nominal fee that is refundable with the purchase of the log kit. They will want to come out to the site and help you lay out the footprint of the home, as well as tell you where you can put your waste system and well, if needed. Work with your local building department. They are your best source of information relative to your area in terms of laws, sources of sub-contractors, and even sources of some materials they may specifically require.

Once you've gotten these things done, you're ready to order your home from Tree Craft and start your foundation!

Again, remember that Tree Craft Log Homes Inc. will be there to help you at every step. We are always just a phone call or e-mail away.

How long does it take from the time I order my home til the time of delivery?

Often, we can fill your order in three weeks. It seldom takes more than six weeks. Prior planning is important to insure timely delivery of your material. Co-ordinate with us well in advance on your schedule and keep us informed of any changes in your status and we will have your material there when you are ready! Many customers make their first contact with us several months in advance of their planned construction date, refine their schedule as things progress, and place their order so that they are in our production schedule by making their deposit just before starting the foundation. Communication is the key.

Where can I see a Tree Craft Log Home being built or already completed?

It depends on your area. We have homes scattered all over the United States, and some will be within driving distance of your locale. We also have our model available to visit on an appointment basis here in Western North Carolina. If possible, we encourage you to

I live miles from your plant. What happens if I come up short an item from my kit?

Although rare, sometimes a shortage does occur. Also, occasionally an item will be damaged during construction requiring replacement. We've even had customers realize they needed some additional materials that were not part of the original kit.

When a current customer requests additional materials, for any reason, they are put on a priority basis and served first! If we have to motor freight it or hand deliver it, the material gets to you in a timely fashion. That is a part of our unique insistence that until a customer gets his house finished, he is the priority. Not future orders.

What is involved in maintaining my new log home? Is there a lot of maintenance?

Fortunately, with the advent of modern finishes and wood treatments, it is not necessary for your log home to be high maintenance. The exterior finishes and preservatives we offer provide the best treatment you can give your home, and follow-up maintenance is minimal, often done by the customer themselves without the cost of hiring a contractor to do it for them. The preservatives we offer make a risk of insect attack practically non-existent.

Also, for the current log home owner, we offer consultation and recommendations for renewing or re-finishing your home, to make it as low-maintenance as one of ours!