Frequently Asked Questions

1. What kind of logs do you use in your homes and timber products, and where do they come from?
• We use the finest quality fir or pine logs for all of our timber and lumber products. We purchase logs primarily from forestry suppliers in the Sierra Nevada mountain range – suppliers who have all demonstrated a commitment to sustainable forestry practices. This allows us to provide our homeowners with better quality timbers, while supporting the protection of our valuable forest lands.
   
2. What is included in the log home purchase?
   Our standard package includes the following:
• Handcrafted quality log home, system built in California for any climate.
• Exterior walls of Ponderosa Pine
• Log corner posts
• Full length logs with no butt joints
• Full log roof system of 14” (average diameter) trusses, ridge, and purlins
• Handcrafted log staircase and handrails
• Exterior doors
• Dual pane – Low-e (low emittance) windows (Marvin brand wood & fiberglass)
• Exterior log trim for windows and doors
• Roof rafters and sheathing
• Exterior log stain/preservative
• Free custom design assistance
• Complimentary site inspection
• Superior customer service
   
3. How do you control the quality of logs used in your log homes and timber products?
• Canavi Log Homes and Timber Products is proud to subscribe to the terms and conditions of the Timber Products (TP) Inspection, Inc., the largest wood inspection agency in the nation. Under the terms of our agreement, we have been qualified through training to grade-stamp all logs we use in our homes and timber products. We are required to maintain a 95% or better conformance rating, based upon unannounced inspections by TP.
  
  The TP grade-stamp on logs provides our Canavi customers with the assurance that logs chosen for their project have been inspected using high grading standards, and supported by a robust quality audit program.
   
4. Why do you build your log homes, combining half-round logs with standard two-by-six framed construction?
• About five years ago, we changed our log home construction methods, to adapt to the changing lifestyle demands of our customers. We heard consistent customer feedback that while they loved the look of a traditional log home, they needed the flexibility and convenience of a more modern framed house.
  
  We responded to the outcry to bring log home construction into the 21st century, by using new technologies to give our customers the best of both worlds. We were the first log home builder to use standard, two-by-six construction, while retaining the look and feel of a full round home. Our patented methods eliminate the need for chinking – a major maintenance issue for traditional log homeowners.
   
5. How do you handcraft logs for your homes and half-log timber products?
• All of our timbers are hand-cut to maintain the natural characteristics of each log. Logs are split lengthwise and attached directly opposite each other on wall sections to achieve a full-round look, with added flexibility and functionality.
   
6. How long will it take to re-assemble my log home on my property?
• We estimate 3 – 5 days for re-assembly of an average size home of about 2,000 square feet.
   
7. What does it take to add half-log timber products to my existing home?
• Our exclusive timber products are easy to install, using standard tools. Half-logs are attached to your walls, using existing wall studs. These are sufficient to support our half-log timbers. Our timber products can be installed on the exterior and interior of your home to achieve the look you want.
   
8. What if I’m not a do-it-yourselfer and don’t want to finish my log home on my own?
• At Canavi, we want to help you to have the building experience you’re looking for. We maintain a list of qualified contractors for you to use with confidence in getting any finishing work done. See our Log Home Resources page for more information.
   
9. What are the insulation values I can expect to achieve with my log home?
• Our two-by-six wall panels are filled with standard R-19 insulation, covered by a vapor barrier, and then completely sealed with caulk. This provides insulation properties that go well above what a full round log home can offer.
   
10. California can be a difficult state to build in, with varying permits, regulations, and restrictions. Are you prepared to help me navigate the “red tape?”
• Yes. We have been building quality log homes in California for 15 years, in some of the most restricted areas in the state, including the Lake Tahoe region. We will research and advise you of building requirements and permits needed in your area.
   
11. Do you build outside of California?
• Yes, we ship our homes worldwide.