There are a lot of claims about being a log home kit manufacturer, but knowing the difference between a broker and a manufacturer is important.
A log home manufacturer owns and operates the machinery that cuts your log home building materials. For those manufacturers belonging to the Log Home Council, like Appalachian Log Structures, we also provide quality grade stamped logs and timbers, as well as construction manuals, construction DVD's, on-site technical assistance and other such valuable services. A few of the manufacturers, like Appalachian Log Structures, have their own drafting departments where they focus on providing homeowners with specialized drawings on how the materials are to be assembled. Most manufacturers are very proud of their manufacturing facilities, and over the past 10+ years we've been offering Plant Tour/Seminars at our Princeton, WV facility, where we've hosted thousands of interested log home enthusiasts . These people (many of which are now homeowners) tell us that visiting our log home manufacturing facility made them feel secure in the fact that they knew who and where their dream log cabin was being produced.
When doing research for your log home kit, you'll run across a few log home brokers. Although advertised and promoted as a "Log Home Company" or manufacturer, log home brokers typically purchase the log home building materials from saw mills or sometimes from a log home manufacturer, or both! The materials are then re-sold to consumers as being made by the "Log Home Company". If you don't inquire, (or don't care), you'll never know who supplied and milled your log home building materials.
When its time to choose your manufacture/supplier - it's not a bad idea to visit their manufacturing facility. You can learn so much more about the company you are going to be dealing with, as well as see first hand the quality of the product you are investing in.
Knowledge is power - be sure to educate yourself on not only the quality of the log home components you are purchasing, but know who you are dealing with, and where the log cabin kits are coming from...the manufacturer or someplace else!
You are invited to our Spring Plant Tour and Seminar being held later this month. Contact your local Log Home Consultant to learn more. Sign up soon as seats are limited!