Interview with Montana Tom

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Home Decor Interview:

Montana Tom

For anyone who has ever dreamed of building (or creating an addition) a log home, "Montana" Tom Heatherington should be the first person you consult with.

Tom's Log Home Directory is an outstanding directory of resources that will help you build your dream log home, and his popular �Log Home bLog�, which he posts on regularly, is another excellent source of useful information.

Even if you don't have the money or space to build a log home or addition, you can still achieve much of the same look through wise selection of rustic decor and furniture pieces. Tom can also help you with that, and his Log Home Store has almost everything you need for that.

In short, Tom is your man for all things log.

We asked Tom to answer a few questions for us that may be of interest to you, and we appreciate his doing so. Tom's passion and knowledge shine through, so please relax and enjoy as we pick his brain for a moment.

1. Hi Tom, thank you for time today and sharing your expertise on the log home industry. Please take this opportunity to briefly tell us about yourself, the services you offer, and the websites you write for.

I have been involved with the Internet business since co-founding one of America�s first ISP�s in 1993; a company named PICnet in Dallas, TX. After moving into our cabin in the woods, I decided to learn everything I could about log homes, and in this process the idea for an Internet website began to take shape.

What evolved was the Log Home Directory, which is now the largest listing of manufacturers, dealers and builders of log homes in the USA and Canada. In addition to this state-by-state listing of companies, we also have extensive information about related topics such as log home floor plans, green or sustainable building information, DIY tips, maintenance, financing information and even terms and definitions.

In addition to my personal �Log Home bLog�, I am a frequent contributor to other blogs such as Active Rain, Log Home.com�s community blog, Jim Young's Log Home Advisor and a few other industry related blogs.

2. While most of our readers probably do not own log homes, many of them are interested in rustic d�cor.

In other words, many people with traditional American homes desire the log cabin look, but don�t have the luxury of owning a log home. Generally speaking, what can traditional homeowners do to give their homes or living spaces that log cabin look without actually building a log cabin home?

Actually there are a number of creative ideas one can use to achieve such a look. Most people are not aware that �log siding� is a popular substitute for full-log applications. Log siding is often used with traditional log homes to cover dormers or second story outside surfaces to help address weight issues. This siding is also used inside and applied to studs or plastered walls to create a tranquil log cabin atmosphere. Once installed, the siding appears to look like a genuine full-log wall.

The next best thing is to choose furniture, wall treatments and d�cor pieces to create that rustic look. Log beds, tables, chairs or sofas combined with rustic accent pieces will make an ordinary room feel like a hunting cabin or lake house. The perfect place to find log furniture and thousands of rustic d�cor accents is online at the Log Home Store.

3. Something more within reach for readers would be building a log cabin addition to their homes. For people who pursue this option, what general advice would you give to them to make a log cabin addition blend in naturally with their existing homes.

Log additions are not the first thing that comes to mind with most people, but if done right, they can add a great deal of character to a home. Adding a log addition is the reverse of what has occurred in a historical context. In years gone by, log cabins built for protection from the elements, would receive room additions as the owners� family grew and more funds became available. It is a common site in some parts of the country to see a small log extension protruding from the rear of a modern stick-built home.

To add an addition using logs, you would first need to make sure that local codes or in some cases a Homeowners Association approve of such building materials. Providing that is not a problem, finding a builder that is familiar with erecting a log home is very important. Your average home contractor is not qualified to build a log home � find an experienced builder.

Blending your log addition with the existing structure can be done in a number of ways. The easiest way to achieve this would be to use the same color paint on the trim around windows, doors, fascia, etc. You can also consider painting the exterior of the logs a matching or complementary color as the rest of the house.

4. You recently refinished a deck for your home (the impressive pictures can be seen on your �Log Home bLog�). Now that it is done, what would you say were the major lessons you learned that you would pass on to someone else planning to add a log home deck? And for those not doing it themselves, what advice would you have as far as finding a good contractor?

Possibly the biggest question about building a deck on a log home or conventional home is the debate about which decking materials to use; wood or composites. Composites are man-made components that look like wood, but do not rot or decay the way in which wood does. If you want real wood, there are woods available that can last 50 � 100 years. To learn more about this option, see this article, �Building the Perfect Deck�.

When selecting a contractor, always ask for 3-4 (or more) references to accompany their bids. Talk to people who have used this company and ask as many questions as possible. Was the job completed on time? Was the quality of the finished work what you expected? Were there any surprises? Would you hire this company again?

5. In your experience, how have log style homes held up among the ebbs and flows of home decorating trends? That is, do you see log homes standing the test of time in terms of home buyers� ever changing tastes? And in recent years, have you sensed an uptick in interest in log homes, or has it leveled off?

The home building market in the United States is currently suffering a historical depression, but the log home segment is holding its own. Business is down from recent years, but demand for log homes overall continues to rise. The log home market in the USA has grown year after year and there are signs that the �baby boomers� will continue to drive this demand.

6. Without getting into too much detail, how would you rate the difficulty of maintaining a log home compared to today�s more traditional homes, especially those built within the past 10 years?

The maintenance required for a log home is not much different or difficult than what is required for any wood home. With the exception of �chinking� between logs (on some designs), a log home needs the same TLC and preventative maintenance as any other home. As an organic material, wood must be protected from the elements and insects. If well maintained, a log home can last for centuries.

7. Tom, thanks again for spending time with us today. Our last question is of a personal nature: when did you first develop your passion for log homes, and what in particular sparked your initial interest in this fascinating field?

Since my childhood and the hours spent amusing myself by building log cabins out of �Lincoln Logs�, I have always had an affinity for log homes. However, it took me five decades and a move to NW Montana before I finally realized my dream. Being an avid Internet business developer, it was inevitable that my love for the log home lifestyle would become a hobby and eventually a business. All one needs to do is browse through our Log Home Directory, read some of our log home articles and the �log bug� may also bite you!

We want to thank Tom again for taking the time out to speak with us at Decor Medley. We hope he has opened your ideas to log homes and rustic decor, and if that's your style, perhaps this will inspire you to take that next big step.

And if you do, be sure to visit Tom and all his websites. If there's a question you have, then someone else has likely asked it too, and Tom knows your answer. Check him out at:

-Log Home Directory
-Log Home bLog
-Log Home Store
-Tom's log home articles

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