Hochstetler Log Homes

The Hochstetler Difference

We are confident you'll find, from start to finish, a Hochstetler log home offers one of the highest quality and value combinations in the log home market. Here is why you should go with us:

  1. You Are Buying Mill-Direct. Since you are buying directly from the manufacturer you are getting more for your money. Also, you're communicating with the people on the front lines in making sure you get the finest quality material and home design available.
  2. Grade Certified. All logs and beams are carefully inspected and graded in accordance with the rigid standards of the Log Home Council. Simply put, you can pay more... you won’t buy better
  3. Precision Milled. Our state-of-the-art Yates Planer (log cutter) enables us to mill logs and beams to tolerances of .01 of an inch. This results in tighter fitting, more energy-efficient logs and easier, timesaving installation.
  4. Kiln-Dried. Our standard logs are air-dried first to take advantage of the slow drying process, and then are finished drying down to 18% in the dry kiln to give you the best log possible.
the hochstetler log home difference

Our Energy-Saving, Weathertight System

The tongue-and-groove system has been around for years. What makes our system superior to most is the quality of the logs and the precise fit. This is the reason Hochstetler log homes are so energy-efficient. And builders really appreciate the tapered, self-aligning tongue-and-groove which makes stacking logs much easier. Even inexperienced builders have little trouble!

Take a closer look at some interesting facts:

  • Logs are natural insulators
  • Forget R-values, think thermal mass
  • Unlike man-made insulation, logs insulate by thermal mass, which simply means they "store" heat and release it later

Additionally, the National Institute of Standards reports that log homes use less energy.  Consider:

  • Spring/Fall usage is 46% less
  • Summer usage is 24% less
  • Winter usage is unchanged

Energy-wise, it pays to consider a log home!

the hochstetler log home difference

The Selection of Log Species

The selection of log species is based on several factors such as personal preference, site location, and cost.

For instance, Eastern White Pine is an excellent choice for most areas because it offers a high R-value at a low cost.  Its ease of installation and low shrinkage also contribute to its popularity. Our Eastern White Pine is harvested north of the Ohio River, assuring you a top-quality northern species, an outstanding value for the money.

White Cedar is a versatile all-around choice and is among the highest in R-value of any species commonly used for log homes. It is also decay and insect resistant. Our White Cedar comes from Michigan.

Red Cedar and Cypress are both particularly well-suited for extremely humid areas such as Florida and Louisiana because of their natural resistance to decay and insects. Both have a lower R-value than White Pine or White Cedar. Our Cypress comes from the deep southern coastal regions of the United States and Red Cedar from the West Coast.

In addition to these species, we can also supply Yellow Pine and Aromatic Cedar, among others.

Whatever your choice there are several steps you can take to preserve the beauty of your log home. Designing your home with large overhangs (at least two feet) and covered porches to shield it from the sun's rays is always recommended. It is better to use White Pine with large overhangs than spend money on more expensive logs like Cypress or Cedar with small overhangs.

Always use a quality finish that allows the logs to "breathe." This permits moisture to escape and minimizes "checking." A good finish also contains a UV guard and is long-lasting (3-4 years for southern, full-sun exposures and 6-8 years for northern) Beware of cheap finishes which may last only a year or two.

hochstetler log home wood species

Standard Log Profiles

Hochstetler’s standard log profiles include “D” log, “Double Round”, and “Square” in your choice of Eastern White Pine, Northern White Cedar, Western Red Cedar and Southern Cypress. We can also custom-design variations of these such as the lapsiding profile. 

How do I decide which logs are best? The 6" thick logs are least expensive, generally $4,000 to $6,000 less than 8" for the average size (2,000 sq. ft.) home. However, the 8" thick logs offer better insulation and are usually a wiser choice in northern climates.

hochstetler log home wood species

Corner Joints

The choice of corner joints is more a matter of individual taste, but is somewhat determined by log profile. The "Saddlenotch" joint, for instance, is available on the Double Round log and the "Dovetail" on the Square log. The "Butt-and-Pass" is the simplest, most economical joint - and is suitable for any profile.

No matter what your choice is, you can rest assured that each joint, combined with our tongue-and-groove log system, will provide you an incredibly strong, stable wall - and a beautiful home.

corner joints at hochstetler log homes