Iron Mountain Air Lock Log Homes

AirLockHomes@TDS.Net or 360-231-4381

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An American Heritage -

          

            A Log Cabin!

 

Everyone wants a cabin or home in the hills, by a lake or stream, or just out in the cool fresh country away from the problems and pollution of the big city.  And, when we think of a cabin, we naturally thing of logs.  But how many of us have the time, energy and talent to build a cabin or home with native logs the way the pioneers did.  And how many of us are willing to accept the limitations an old-fashioned log cabin - constant maintenance and chinking, small size and poor design?

Air-Lock Logs are the answer.  They are real Lodge Pole Pine logs - not imitations or three-sided timbers from a sawmill - and most of the hard work has been done by modern, efficient machinery.  Construction has been simplified and improved so you can build your own modern, energy-efficient cabin or home.  You can build a better home than your grandfather did - much faster and more easily - with Air-Lock Logs.

THE STORY OF AIR-LOCK LOGS

You are invited to visit our Air-Lock mill in Thompson Falls, Montana and see the unique and patented manufacturing process.  First, the green log is stripped of its bark on a large mechanical peeler or lathe.  Then, a large drill bores a hole through the center of each log.  Only Air-Lock logs are hollow, since the 1920s when Art Clough invented the "hollow log". In 1930 we were awarded both United States and Canadian patents for this unique construction process.

People always ask us why we bore this hole in every log.  There are several reasons, but the most important is the advantage of better drying and seasoning.  It is common knowledge that wood shrinks as it dries, and a solid log must dry from the outside while the inner core retains its original moisture.  As the outside dries, it shrinks.  But the center of the log remains the same, and to relieve this differential shrinkage, large checks and cracks form.  An Air-Lock log is hollow and drying takes place from the inside as well as the outside of the log.  Thus, seasoning is much more rapid and even and the amount of checking and cracking is minimized.

 

  VISIT US AT THE

 CLARK COUNTY HOME & IDEA FAIR

APRIL 25, 26 & 27, 2008

BOOTHS 108 & 110

WE'LL HAVE THE AIR-LOCK LOGS ON DISPLAY

INFORMATION PACKETS AND FLOOR PLANS

WILL BE AVAILABLE.

The dead air space inside the hollow log is excellent insulation and helps explain why Air-Lock log homes and cabins are warm and snug even on the worst night of the winter.  In addition, Air-Lock logs are lighter in weight for handling and shipping.  This means that even a one or two man crew can erect much of the building without additional help.  And the hole provides a natural conduit to hide all electrical wiring.

The hollow logs are then sorted and stacked for air drying where the moisture content is reduced to acceptable levels (less than 15%).  The dry, seasoned log is next moved to large lathes where it is turned to the exact diameter required for any particular cabin or home.  The perfectly round log then rolls to a  machine that cuts a "tongue" in the bottom and a "groove" in the top of the log - another unique patented Air-Lock feature.  The tongue and groove helps insure a solid, weather-tight wall.

Each log is then cut to the exact length required for construction of a particular cabin or home.  "Saddles" are cut in each corner log with barrel saws of the same diameter as the log to insure perfect "Log cabin" corners  Sockets are cut into certain logs where log partitions intersect log walls.  Finally, each log is quality checked before loading and shipping.

In addition, most of the other log materials included with an order are also completely pre-cut and checked before delivery.  Most of the roof structure, including the log rafters, log beams, log purlins, log truss members and ridge, is pre-cut and ready for installation.  The same is true of the window and door frames, log loft beams, porch and balcony railings and log stairs.  Although some cutting and fitting may be required on the site, it is usually limited to a simple cut.

           Air Lock Log Homes

Please contact us at AirLockHomes@TDS.Net or 360-231-4381.