We offer Hearthstone subcontract log and timber frame services. Click here for more information on Hearthstone.   Mountain Construction Company has decades of experience in Log Home Building North Carolina. Since 1982, we have worked as Cabin Builders in NC and luxury North Carolina Timber Frame Builders in the High Country.  If you are looking for North Carolina Custom Home Builders that can build a gorgeous luxury home using natural elements and NC Green Building techniques, we are the company for you.  Browse our site and learn more about our services and reputation as NC Custom Home Builders.  We offer services in Boone NC Construction as Boone NC Builders and Boone NC Remodeling as well.  We work in all areas of the High Country and invite you to inquire about New Home Construction NC in Boone, Banner Elk, Blowing Rock, Linville, Lake James and East Tennessee.  Part 1: Front-end planning and design/detail concerns that should be incorporated into your new home. Part 2: General list of typical Maintenance chores and other concerns. Part 1: In the planning phase make sure that you put large gutters on your specifications sheet for the builder. We live in an area where there is a great deal of rain. Large gutters help to control water flow away from your log walls. You will want to have sufficient roof overhangs to protect the wood siding. If it is a smaller home and only a one story home you can have 18" to 24" roof overhangs and not have the roof look like a top hat. If it is a large home with more vertical log walls exposed to the sun and rain, a large roof overhang can be accommodated - as much as 36 -48 inches. Think about the function (to keep the home dry) and the form (how the roof over hang looks. Timber Outriggers can visually diminish the appearance of a large roof over hang. Make sure your builder includes window flashing and deck flashing. If water gets behind the window trim, this can, over time rot out the log. Also if water gets behind the deck band, the bottom log can rot out. The deck, as a rule, should have about a six-inch step down from the house. The doors onto the deck should have a professionally installed flashing pan in order to keep rain and snow from undermining the bottom log below the door. All exterior grades should slope away from the house and there should be no logs or other wood siding within 12 inches of the ground. NOTE: THERE ARE MANY OTHER INCLUSIONS THAT YOU WILL WANT TO CONSIDER. PLEASE SEE OUR GREEN BUILDING PAGE FOR SOME MORE IDEAS! Log Homes require regular maintenance in order to prevent damage from insects and moisture. Our mountain environment gets an unusually high amount of moisture from rain and snow. << back to top Part 2: If you have a "second home" log home, your visit to your vacation home should be all about relaxing and having fun. The best way to escape to your beautiful log home, or second home in general, is to not have much work to do on it when you get there. In order to enjoy yourself, you should always make sure that a little routine maintenance is performed. By following these easy steps you should be enjoying yourself in no time. If your primary home is a log home, following this list can assist you as well. Water Damage Check: During the fall and spring seasons your gutters should be checked for debris from your surrounding trees. A clogged gutter can lead to blocked downspouts, which overflow onto your logs causing them to rot. If you do not have gutters, we suggest that you consider getting them. Once or twice a year you should walk around the house and check to see if the log ends remain wet after it rains when the adjacent logs are dry, this is a sign of rot. If you take a hammer, gently tapping it and it sounds like a melon or drum, you should contact us. Always make sure there is positive drainage of surface water away from the foundation of your home. Inspecting Your Roof: You should occasionally look for loose tiles and shingles. In a metal roof, look for loose screws, or loose metal. You should always clean the gutters every chance you get. A good way is cutting a plastic two-liter soda bottle to scoop things out. Trim Plants Close to the Home: You should take the time to check for tree limbs and shrubs that are too close to the home and trim them so they are not scratching the logs. This can cause the finish on the logs to erode. Check for Spots Vulnerable to Insects: If your log home has a wood-burning stove or hearth make sure your wood pile is located away from the home, and off the ground. This keeps the pile dry with no insects living in the firewood. Clean the Logs: You should wash your house. The cleaning solution you use depends on the brand of sealer on your logs. You never want to use bleach to clean your home. This can harm your home’s finish. A regular cleaning will go a long way in making your home looking its best for years. Professional Help: Most people can handle the majority of the maintenance themselves, but sometimes you should leave the job to the experts. These cases are for significant amounts of damage or things that might be unsafe. Insufficient gutters, flashing and/or sunlight can cause the logs to mildew and rot. If your log home has become damaged over time, we can help. For a nominal fee, we can provide you with a thorough analysis of your Log Home repair needs, and an estimate for the completion of the work. << back to top The deck logs on this home had rotted over the years. The deck posts had to be replaced. Some logs could be saved by scraping the rot out and filling in the gaps. Our crew hand-peeled locust trees to use on the deck. Replacing deck posts Standing deck posts Deck posts and rails completed. The walls on this log home were bowed out from improper engineering during original construction. We placed 8” x 8” posts on each side of the walls and brought the walls back in line. We also did a whole-house remodel on this home. To Get Started Now Please contact our office to see our work. You can reach us by phone at 828-963-8090, email us, or use our online information request form to let us know how we can serve you!