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It’s easy for us to make claims about the authentic log cabin look you can achieve with our siding, but first hand before-and-after accounts by actual customers are what really tell the tale. Take, for example, Tom Court and his family, who decided on log cabin siding by Glu-Lam-Log when remodeling their home which is nestled in the woods, on Sand Lake, in northern Wisconsin.
The Courts’ home is actually a weekend getaway, but the beautiful location has them thinking of it as a potential retirement home, as well. “Sand Lake’s got good Muskey fishing,” admits Tom, “but when we go up there, we usually just end up relaxing and don’t fish much.”
The idea for remodeling the home grew out of a need for more space. The original structure had one bedroom, one bath, a kitchen, a living room, and a storage room that had been converted into a bedroom. “The kids weren’t very big fans of staying in the storage room, so we eventually decided to remodel the entire building,” says Tom. “We literally gutted the place, and changed everything.” The addition of a new wing on the home required new walls, doors, wiring, and plumbing. They also decided to look into log cabin siding to replace the original siding on the home and complete the project.
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Although it was designed for exterior use many people have found that log cabin siding is equally at home inside where it can be used to give a log accent to interior rooms.
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Disappointed that all the log cabin siding he found locally looked “fake,” Tom took to the internet. A search for ‘log siding’ led him to the Glu-Lam-Log web site, where he became intrigued by our Xtra Thick siding with splines. “The Glu-Lam siding just looked more realistic than anything I found locally,” says Tom In addition to having a slightly rounder profile than standard siding, courses of Xtra Thick siding are joined together using accompanying spline material that fits snugly into grooves that are milled into the siding. This allows the courses to butt together in a way that more accurately simulates the appearance of actual logs.Using the information request form on the site, Tom got in touch with Glu-Lam-Log. “Phil was really helpful, although I think I only actually spoke with him twice,” says Tom, referring to Phil Alman, co-owner of Glu-Lam-Log. “All other correspondence was via e-mail.” Both Tom and his contractor, Jeff Nelson, were amazed that they could actually purchase material through the internet and have the entire process go over without a hitch.
Tom had the siding delivered directly to a stain shop, where a protective wood finish was applied to the material prior to installation. “We applied multiple coats of a protective finish to both sides of the material, just like the manufacturer's instructions indicated.” After the siding was installed, they went over the entire structure with an extra coat of finish. Four years later, Tom tells us the finish has held up incredibly well. “We are very pleased. As expected, we’ll have to go over the sides that are most exposed to direct sun -- but all in all, it still looks beautiful!”
How is the siding itself holding up? “It still looks great,” Tom says. “There’s no shrinkage that I can see, and it’s all holding together nice and tight. We caulked all the corners, and they’ve held up great!”
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Hand-peeled posts and railings complement the log cabin siding and add authenticity to the makeover.
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To add an additional touch to the remodeling project, Tom took advantage of another option by ordering a hand-peeled, custom made post and railing set that Glu-Lam-Log sources from a local craftsman near their location in Western Montana. As it turns out, this has become the most special part of the project to Tom, who proudly tells us that he’s received many compliments on the hand peeled rails. “I drew up a sketch and faxed the dimensions to Phil. He took it from there, and I got exactly what I wanted!”
Final impressions, Tom? “I was really impressed with the coordination of everything – especially since it was arranged almost entirely through e-mail. The whole project took from September of ‘98 ‘til spring of ’99, but the outside only took about 3 months.” The pictures are worth a thousand words – the transformation of this little cabin on the lake truly exceeded expectations.
As log cabin siding becomes a more and more popular alternative for both remodeling projects and new construction, access to high quality products is more important than ever. “This project really illustrates the possibilities of using the internet as a medium,” says Phil. “We wanted a practical way to let customers know that we are not just a log manufacturer; we also offer high-quality log cabin siding. An informative, organized web site seemed to be a great way to go about it.” The extensive log cabin siding section of the site attracts potential customers from around the country who would otherwise be unaware of the options offered by Glu-Lam-Log’s log cabin siding. “We really feel that the web site captures the philosophy of our company and that internet inquiries receive the same prompt, courteous, personal response as a phone call or letter.”
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