Frequently Asked Questions

• What kind of wood is used in Sing Logs?
• Will Sing Logs logs settle, shrink, or crack (check)?
• Why is there so much attention paid to stability and the lack of shrinking, twisting, and checking?
• What are the major advantages of quarter sawing?
• What log packages do you offer?
• Are your logs treated for decay and insects?
• How are the logs protected from weathering?

• What plans can I use?
• Does Sing Home have stock plans and /or home kits?
• Does Sing Home offer design services?
• Does Sing Home offer engineering services?

• Are Sing Log homes hard to build?
• Is a Sing Log Home difficult to maintain?
• Are Sing Log homes difficult to heat or cool?
• What kind of foundation is required?
• What kind of roof construction can be used?
• Where does the plumbing, heating and wiring go?
• Must (or can) interior walls be logs?

• Do you have a dealer in my area?
• How can a Sing Log Home provide more value at less cost?
• How much does a Sing Log home cost?
• I'm planning to build a Sing Home sometime in the next few years. Can I lock-in the current log price to prevent future price increase?
• Are Sing Log homes a good investment?
• Is financing available?
• Will I have difficulty with insurance?

Q: What kind of wood is used in Sing Logs?

 
The patented Sing Log system can use virtually any kind of wood at a reasonable cost, since we can use thinned and waste wood in our process. Pine and fir are the most economical, but the resistance to twisting, checking and shrinking imparted by the quarter sawn laminated system makes these logs equal to prime cedar in stability. We do offer cedar at a higher cost if that appearance is desired. The quality is in the cutting, and the vertical straight grain that results from the Sing quarter sawn method is generally considered to be the most handsome and desirable.

Q: Will Sing Logs logs settle, shrink, or crack (check)?

 
Wood, being a natural material, will always move and change with temperature and humidity, but only Sing Logs have been engineered to virtually eliminate shrinking, warping, and checking. The patented quarter sawn straight grain and laminated construction make the Sing Log the most stable in the industry. Sing Logs are also kiln dried to guarantee the maximum stability possible.

Q: Why is there so much attention paid to stability and the lack of shrinking, twisting, and checking?

 
It's simple! Logs that twist, shrink, or check will allow water to enter the gaps, thereby causing future maintenance problems. Damp logs will begin to rot and decay internally, at the same time attracting insects such as termites and carpenter ants that can't normally live in a dry log. Any gaps that appear in conventional logs must be cleaned and caulked, often every few years. Since a Sing Home has each layer glued and screwed to the next, the wall behaves like a single laminated beam, with no gaps or checks to cause problems.

Q: What are the major advantages of quarter sawing?

 
Quarter sawing produces vertical grain lumber with consistent grain orientation. They are dimensionally stable and show a minimum shrinkage and warpage. The lumber's ability to hold paints and stains is also enhanced. Please visit Sing Log's Manufacturing page for more information on quarter sawing vs. plain sawing.

Q: What log packages do you offer?

 
We currently offer three different packages: (1)Log Only Package, (2)Dry-in Package, and (3)Plus Package. For detail information on what's included in each package, please click HERE to visit the Sing Log System page.

Q: Are your logs treated for decay and insects?

 
Log homes are no more at risk for insect damage than conventional homes. Our logs are delivered untreated and kiln dried. If they are kept dry, there is no moisture to support insects or rot. In areas of severe insect problems, borate or other preservatives could be field applied in the interior cores during erection. All logs must be treated with an appropriate sealer after erection; otherwise precautions typical of your area should be employed.

Q: How are the logs protected from weathering?

 
Once the roof is on; use brush or airless sprayer to apply a UV and water resistant coating system. We recommend Sikkens® Cetol® exterior and interior finishes as they have been thoroughly tested and proven to be superior. An initial 3 coats are required, with a recoat every 2 or 3 years on southern and western exposures; 3 to 4 years on northern and eastern exposures. If your own site has heavy weather from a different direction, adjustments should be made.

Home Design

Q: What plans can I use?

 
We are able to work with any home design, either from other log manufacturers or from conventional plan books. It need not be a log home design. If you bring us a plan, we can estimate a log price. Our goal is to turn your dream into reality.

Q: Does Sing Home have stock plans and /or home kits?

 
Every Sing Home is custom designed. We do have a small collection of stock plans for you to jump-start the design process, but by no means your design is limited by these plans in any way. We can also modify and finetune stock plans that you purchased from other sources. We currently do not offer standardized home kits, though it is in the planning. Your custom design will be offered in Package of your choice, with various Options for wall, roof, and floor systems. Please see the Sing Log System page for details.

Q: Does Sing Home offer design services?

 
Sing Home has in-house design staff to provide you several levels of design /drafting services. We can either modify your existing design, work off a rough sketch, or start from scratch. A retainer is required to get the design process started. It will be credited towards the purchase of Sing Log Packages. Alternatively, we can also refer you to an outside designer who is experienced in Sing Home designing, or we can work with your own designer and provide him /her with the necessary information pertaining the Sing Log System.

Q: Does Sing Home offer engineering services?

 
Sing Home does not provide professional engineering services, but can refer you to a Professional Engineer or supply the engineering paper for your engineer's review. The building department in your municipality may not require your house plan to be stamped by an engineer, but with one, the approval process is usually quicker and easier.

Construction & Maintenance

Q: Are Sing Log homes hard to build?

 
In a word, NO! The Sing Log system does not require more than basic carpentry skills, along with some pure labor. Unlike most manufacturers, whose heavy logs require cranes and other specialized equipment to erect, Sing Logs generally weigh under 70 pounds each and can be moved entirely by hand. When compared to conventional framing, The wall construction process is also greatly simplified, since the exterior Sing Log has replaced the siding, sheathing, framing, insulation and the interior wall board at the same time.

Q: Is a Sing Log Home difficult to maintain?

 
There are many log homes around the USA that exceed a century in age and are still occupied. Like any other home, proper maintenance will greatly enhance the usable life. An initial application of a UV resistant log coating protects the logs from weather and provides any desired color. The flat faces of Sing Logs means there are no surfaces to catch dust on the interior, or water and dirt on the exterior. Other than the periodic recoating recommended by the finish manufacturer, occasional washing with a garden sprayer should be adequate to keep the exterior of your log home looking fresh.

Q: Are Sing Log homes difficult to heat or cool?

 
Logs contain millions of tiny air-trapping cells that are a natural insulator and the thermal mass inherent in log construction both slows the transfer of heat and stores it for slow release later in the day. Log homes are efficient to heat and cool, as well as minimizing the temperature swings typical of frame houses. Washington State recognizes log construction as exceeding the energy code requirement for walls. Comparative testing on identical houses has shown that log homes use less energy over a year than frame or masonry construction.

Q: What kind of foundation is required?

 
Local conditions and regulations will have the final say, but log homes can be built on any foundation: crawl space or basement; concrete, masonry, or wooden foundation; concrete slab; or posts and piers.

Q: What kind of roof construction can be used?

 
Any style of roof used with conventional houses can be employed with logs. It is more common in log homes to take advantage of high, cathedral style ceilings and open loft space as well as exposed timber framing. The Roof System Options page on this site lists a few common options offered through our Dry-in and Plus Packages. In addition, Structural Insulated Panel (SIP) has also been successfully used in conjunction with Sing Logs by many of our clients.

Q: Where does the plumbing, heating and wiring go?

 
Sing logs are the easiest to wire using the hollow cores as horizontal or vertical raceways, roughing in as the logs are erected. It is a simple matter to cut openings for boxes with a jigsaw or router. Plumbing is always best kept in interior walls anyway, and 2x6 stud 'wet walls' can handle any plumbing needs. Heating ducts can be likewise run in stud partitions or floor spaces.

Q: Must (or can) interior walls be logs?

 
For most suppliers, interior log walls may be required for structural reasons or else can add considerable cost if chosen as an option. With Sing Logs, interior partitions are the owner's choice. Please visit the Interior Wall Options page for common interior wall configurations.

Sales, Cost, Finance & Insurance

Q: Do you have a dealer in my area?

 
We have dealers in a few selected regions in the US. We mostly deal direct with our clients. Please contact us to see if there is a dealer near you. If you are interested in opportunities as a dealer representative of Sing Log Homes, please look at the Join Our Team page, or fill out the Trade Inquiry Form.

Q: How can a Sing Log Home provide more value at less cost?

 
Value begins with quality of the materials and no other log system can match the stability and straight grain appearance of our laminated engineered system. Generally, the cost of having a construction crew to build a Sing Log home is comparable to the cost of building a custom framed house of similar size and features, but there are steps an owner can take to reduce costs. Typically, more than half the cost of a home is in the labor and construction management. The Sing Log system makes it possible to save considerable money by investing time and energy rather than cash. Acting as your own General Contractor, hiring subs, arranging for permits and buying materials can save as much as 20 percent of the finished cost.

Q: How much does a Sing Log home cost?

 
Costs of construction can vary considerably due to many factors. Local wage rates, foundation type, and site conditions have a major impact, as does the amount of labor contributed by the owners. As stated above, if you have a contractor build your Sing Log home, the cost would be comparable to that of a custom frame-built home. You'll be able to reduce the cost if you choose to do part of the work yourself. In either case, with Sing Log Home, you will get a more solid house for your money.

Q: I'm planning to build a Sing Home sometime in the next few years. Can I lock-in the current log price to prevent future price increase?

 
We have a Lay-Away Program for our clients to lock-in the current log price. Lay-away interest free for the next three years, with a minimum 10% down and as low as 1% monthly payments. In fact, most Sing Home owners began their Sing Home projects this way. Please contact our office for details.

Q: Are Sing Log homes a good investment?

 
Since most log homeowners are building the home for the rest of their lives, log homes are not commonly available on the market, but studies show appreciation is equal to or greater than with conventional homes.

Q: Is financing available?

 
Most lending institutions will finance log homes- FHA, VA and conventional financing are possible. If you have difficulty, we can recommend some sources that specialize in log or owner-built homes. We highly recommend Timberland Bank. They are ready and willing to work with you on building your dream home.

Q: Will I have difficulty with insurance?

 
Most insurance companies will insure a log home at the same rates as conventional construction. An interesting aspect of log construction is that the heavy timbers resist combustion longer than a frame house where the fire can spread up through the stud spaces.