True North Log & Timber Homes Blog

Through this blog we talk about everything about log home ownership, from dreaming and designing right through to maintenance. We hope you find this information helpful on your journey to living in a True North log home!

Some homes begin with a blueprint. A True North Log & Timber Home begins with a tree. Long before the first foundation is poured or the first log is placed, a journey begins—one rooted in craftsmanship, innovation, and a commitment to creating homes that will stand for generations. Whether it’s a cozy lakeside retreat or a custom estate designed around a family’s vision, every True North home follows a carefully refined process that transforms raw timber into a one-of-a-kind home. Want to see more? Check out our YouTube Channel! It......

07 August, 2026

Some homes are built to meet expectations. Others are designed to redefine them. Nestled along the shoreline of a pristine Northern Ontario lake, this extraordinary 14,000-square-foot custom residence represents what is possible when exceptional craftsmanship, innovative design, and a clear vision come together. Created specifically for the homeowners’ lifestyle, this lake house was never intended to follow trends or fit within a predetermined floor plan. Every room, every sightline, and every architectural detail was thoughtfully designed to create an experience that feels as remarkable today as it will for generations......

04 August, 2026

Is a Log Home Right for You? How to Decide if Log Home Living Fits Your Lifestyle   The Dream of Log Home Living   A log home isn’t just a house—it’s a lifestyle. The warmth of natural wood, the architectural character, the connection to nature, and the sense of retreat make log homes one of the most desirable dwelling styles in North America.  But is a log home right for you? From budget to design expectations to long-term plans, there are several key considerations to explore before beginning your build. This guide breaks down everything you need......

02 April, 2026

Healthy Homes: How Log Homes Help Your Family Stay Healthy  A Home That Supports Your Well-Being  Today’s homeowners aren’t just searching for beauty and energy efficiency – they’re searching for healthier living spaces. While conventional homes rely heavily on synthetic materials, chemicals, and airtight construction, log homes are built from natural, breathable wood that actively contributes to better indoor health.  From superior air quality to stress-reducing natural materials, log homes offer wellness benefits that traditional construction simply can’t replicate.  1. Natural Wood Supports Better Indoor Air Quality  Many standard homes contain manufactured materials – engineered woods, glues, paints,......

16 March, 2026

This image captures the top of a log wall during a True North Log & Timber Homes log stacking process. The red springs at the top of the wall are True North’s LogLock® Compression System, which is a self-adjusting locking mechanism. No maintenance or adjustments are required to achieve an air-tight log wall system. Introduction: A Log Home Without the Typical Log Home Maintenance  Traditional log homes are beautiful, but they’re also known for constant upkeep. Caulking, chinking, and adjusting for settlement are commonly required with most manufacturers. For many homeowners, the......

11 February, 2026

True North Quality: Why We Don’t Kiln-Dry Our Logs An in-progress image of a 10,000 sq. ft. log and timber home under construction in Sudbury, Ontario. Introduction In the world of log and timber home construction, few topics generate more discussion than kiln-dried logs. Kiln drying is often promoted as the gold standard for controlling moisture, minimizing settling, and speeding up the building process. While kiln-dried logs can be appropriate in certain construction methods, at True North Log & Timber Homes we have intentionally chosen a different path.  Our decision not to......

19 January, 2026

How-To: Design a Log or Timber Home with a Modern Feel This is the great room of True North Log & Timber Homes’s award-winning Colantonio Residence. This home celebrates clean lines, natural textures, and sunlight to create a grand space defined by timeless sophistication. Introduction Log homes have long been admired for their cozy ambiance, and deep connection to nature. But today’s homeowners often look to blend that traditional warmth with sleek, modern aesthetics. The result? A fresh take on log home design that offers the best of both worlds.  Whether......

26 November, 2025

How-To: Designing Your Home or Cottage with True North Log & Timber Homes This is the Northern Escape, one of True North Log & Timber Homes’ award-winning designs. Introduction Designing a custom log home is about more than building a house—it’s about bringing your lifestyle, dreams, and vision to life. At True North Log & Timber Homes, the process is as rewarding as the final result. With decades of expertise and industry-leading technology, True North makes it easy to turn your ideas into a stunning log home.  Whether you’re dreaming of......

16 October, 2025

 Remembering Steven John Wrightman May 7, 1962 — September 22, 2025 It is with great sadness that we share the passing of our dear colleague and family member, Steven John Wrightman. Steve spent 28 years with True North Log & Timber Homes as a Sales & Design Consultant. Throughout those years, he was not only a trusted professional but also a valued friend and colleague. His dedication, expertise, and commitment made him an essential part of our team. His loss is felt deeply by all of us. To thousands of......

26 September, 2025

Log Homes and Sustainability: Are Log Homes Better for the Environment? Introduction In today’s eco-conscious world, homeowners are looking for ways to reduce their environmental impact without sacrificing comfort, design, or lifestyle. Log homes are gaining popularity for their natural charm and sustainability benefits. Let’s take a closer look at the environmental benefits of log home construction. 1. Renewable Materials at the Core Log homes are built primarily from timber, which is a renewable resource when harvested responsibly. Unlike concrete, steel, or other high-energy materials, logs can be sourced from......

18 September, 2025

Meet the Three Generations Behind True North Log & Timber Homes Introduction At True North Log & Timber Homes, the strength of our homes lies not only in our craftsmanship but also in the foundation of family values that support every beam and board. Behind our award-winning designs and cutting-edge building systems is a close-knit family with a shared passion for excellence, innovation, and creating spaces that truly feel like home. A Vision Rooted in Family Founded in 1986, True North began as a dream shared by a father and......

14 August, 2025

THE BENEFITS OF WINTER LOG HOME CONSTRUCTION: WHY WAIT?   Building your dream log home is an exciting journey, and it starts with careful planning. Many homeowners aim to avoid winter construction due to common misconceptions about the challenges it presents. However, at True North Log Homes, we encourage you to consider the advantages of building your log home during the winter months. In this blog, we’ll debunk the myths and show you why waiting for spring might not be the best choice.   The Timing Matters Building your dream......

06 October, 2023

The Advantages of Slow Growth Winter Cut Logs   How do you build the best log home? Start with the best logs. We’re proud to build your homes with the highest quality wood species available. Not all wood species are created equal.  True North Log Homes will only manufacture our log home packages from one of two species of wood in order to offer the warranties we do. Eastern White Pine from Northern Ontario & Northern Quebec and Western Red Cedar from Northern British Columbia. That sounds impressive. But what......

02 February, 2021

How Does True North Join A Log End For End? At True North Log Homes we pride ourselves on our ability to manufacture a log home that requires no caulking or chinking—ever! What size logs do you inventory and how long a wall can you manufacture? This is a common question and there is a misconception that we can only manufacture a log wall as long as a log itself. The simple answer is here at True North we inventory logs 16′ and longer vs most manufacturers are 16′ and......

28 August, 2020

What is a Penta Post? The “Penta Post” is a five-sided post which joins a log wall system at any angle using True North Log Homes’ patented KeySpline® System. The term Penta Post comes from the Greek prefix penta-, meaning “five”, for its five vertical faces. We often use it as a structural corner to create prow-shaped fronts, turrets, and angled sections like the breezeway to a garage. The KeySpline® System Successfully joining a log wall system to a Penta Post is one of our proudest achievements. Our KeySpline® system......

22 March, 2020

Our Secret to the Perfect Dovetail Corner True North Log Homes uses the naturally occurring shrinkage of a log to its fullest advantage and make dovetail corners tighter. Our patented KeyLock Air Seal Corner® pulls the logs together. Over time the log shrinks towards the KeyLock®, ensuring an airtight seal. The KeyLock Air Seal Corner® eliminates air leakage and deterioration due to air and water infiltration, eliminating the need to continually caulk or chink your home. The absence of nails, screws or lag bolts in this joinery system is the......

01 March, 2020

Through the manufacturing and construction life cycle of your True North log home there are three types of drawings distinguished by their purpose and added layers of complexity as your log home develops....

10 December, 2019

There are many factors to consider when choosing log home manufacturer. We believe that the best customer is a well-informed customer. ...

22 October, 2019

Log Home Myths: Debunked! These are log home myths and misconceptions that we’re happy to clear up and debunk for you....

16 September, 2019

How are log homes more efficient than conventional homes? We’re asked this question all the time. Let’s start by talking about what R-value is, and why it doesn’t relate to log homes. What is the R-value of a log wall? R-value measures capacity of an insulation material to resist heat flow from one side of a wall to another. The insulation industry has done a really good job at presenting and supporting the importance of R-value, but this is only one part of energy efficiency....

07 August, 2019

True North Log Homes wins Four 2019 NAHB Awards A celebration of excellence and innovation We’ve recently been awarded four 2019 Jerry Rouleau Awards for Excellence by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). These awards honour “excellence and innovation in the design, development, lifestyle and marketing of housing,” according to the NAHB. True North’s commitment to high-quality deliverables is consistent from the log homes we build to our online presence....

09 July, 2019

Our fresh and exciting Model Home and Factory Tour has something for everyone. We personally invite you and your family or friends to visit us at our cutting-edge manufacturing facility in Bracebridge, Ontario, for behind-the-scenes access. In the end, you will understand how True North Log Homes will help you achieve the log home lifestyle without the maintenance....

04 June, 2019

What is a log home kit? Depending on who you ask, you will get a different answer. It’s imperative that, as a future log homeowner, you fully understand what’s included and that not all log home kits are created equal....

03 May, 2019

Log homes have been around for a very long time. There are log homes still standing which date back over 800 years! Living in a log home invokes a sense of calmness, peace and solitude that helps us escape—if only for a few moments. Thinking about building? Consider these benefits....

03 April, 2019

Designing a home can at times feel overwhelming, but here at True North we feel this should be an enjoyable process. The more time you give yourself the better!...

04 March, 2019

Introducing: The Cabin Series   We are excited to introduce our new line of log homes: the Cabin Series. With a significantly lower price point, the homes in the Cabin Series have preset floor plans without the added costs of engineering, design, and project management. These cabins were designed so you can apply for a permit right away and your home can be delivered in as little as eight weeks of purchase....

04 February, 2019

You’re an adventurer. You thrive for the outdoors and have a deep-rooted connection to nature. You’re looking for a rustic, traditional retreat with a modern twist. Or maybe you know that you just want to live off grid, in a small cabin in the woods. Maybe on a mountain or by a lake? You love the look, feel, and wonderful aroma of a log home. You desire the tranquility, luxury, warmth, energy efficiency, and peace of mind that comes with living in a log home without the maintenance. Ultimately, you need a milled log home company with a high standard of craftsmanship and professionalism to bring your vision to life. This is where we come in....

03 January, 2019
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