Frequently Asked Questions

Yes.  Both owners, brothers Jay & Tod Parmeter and their families, live in Golden Eagle Log Homes.  Jay's family is living in the Shenandoah and Tod's family lives in the Ponderosa.

Once in a while the customer and salesperson or dealer rep just don't mesh or understand each other but you still want to buy a Golden Eagle log home. Please call Jay or Tod Parmeter and they will find a more compatible salesperson for you.

The evidence is that solid log walls have a slower fire spread rate than a stick built home, due to the mass of the logs. Example: which burns faster in your campfire, small pieces of chopped wood or big logs?

Full log walls offer thermal mass, which is a way of storing energy from the furnace or air conditioner. The log wall stores energy like a battery and releases it slowly.

Yes and we heat treat too!

The Fall Rush
The fall rush usually starts about August 15th and goes strong until Thanksgiving. In the northern states the ground starts to freeze by Thanksgiving and in Wisconsin, Michigan, and Minnesota when deer hunting week hits the world stops. It seems like all of the builders and subcontractors take that week off. So, if your basement foundation isn’t in by then prepare to dig in frozen ground. A tip to keep the ground from freezing where your basement will be is to put a 6” to 12” layer of hay (straw) over the area to be dug with a tarp over the hay. This usually works real good to keep the ground from freezing.

Winter
Why would anybody build in the winter you ask? Actually, the builders and subcontractors are less busy due to the fact that some customers believe you can’t build in the winter. The truth is homes are built all year long and the builders and subcontractors need work all year long too! For a winter build you need to get organized in the fall or late summer before the ground is frozen so you can get your perk test done and pull your building permits. It’s also the time to get the driveway in and have the electrical power run in too. Don’t skimp on your driveway, put in a wide, solid driveway. Yes, it will get torn up a little during construction but it can easily be re-graded when you are done. Delivery trucks and contractors getting stuck in your driveway are not good for morale. Make sure it is wide enough and tall enough for a cement truck. The more curves, the wider you need to make it. It should be 12’ to 20’ wide and clear tree branches 14’ up. You will also need to clear about a 25’ area around the foundation of the house for ventilation, and don’t forget to clear an area to stage materials. You will need a minimum of two to three thousand square feet for that.
Another term you will hear in late fall is capping the foundation. This is where the basement foundation is put in with just the sub floor system installed. This method keeps snow out of the basement and then the builder can shovel off the sub floor and begin building anytime in the winter or early spring.

The Spring Rush
It is human nature to procrastinate and say we will wait until spring to start building. That is probably one reason the spring is the busiest time of the year. Now let’s talk about road limits, or another term is posted roads. In northern climates the secondary roads are often posted to keep heavy trucks off of them when the frost starts to leave the ground. The road restrictions are usually on for 6-8 weeks. Keeping the heavy trucks off the roads when the ground is soft protects the roads. Road limits often keep concrete trucks and our trucks from making deliveries. Spring is usually March 21st, but with road limits and spring rains the spring starts sometimes turn into summer starts. Again, it is just best to start your building plans early. In the northern climates have your foundation poured in late fall so you can have your log home package delivered before the road limits are in effect in spring.

Yes, Yes, Yes!

We cannot even remember the last time somebody built a stock plan and didnt change something. We have designers on staff full time to help you get your dream log home designed the way you want it.

1. We use the word Hybrid when the timber frame home isn’t framed structurally with timbers. We can save our customers 30% or more when we engineer and build the home conventionally and then just add the timber or log accents for aesthetics.
2. We use the word Hybrid to convey customization. You can have anything you want; no boundaries with your Golden Eagle Timber Frame Hybrid home.

Yes.  We have trained over 2,000 builders across the world and have them in our records.

About seven times a year, we have builder seminars here at the Golden Eagle Log Homes corporate headquarters. These are one day seminars and reservations must be made. If you are interested, you can call 800-270-5025 and ask for Lynn at extension 178.

Yes, we always say if the builder is willing to learn, we can teach them how to build our homes. We have many builder training classes throughout the year. Our log homes are easy to build and our plans are very detailed.  If the builder has questions we have a help line that's open 6 days a week.

No. Because Golden Eagle provides only dry logs, the cabinets can be screwed directly to the log wall.

It takes approximately the same amount of time as a standard home. It takes about

• 3-4 months to build a 1,400 - 1,800 square foot home
• 5-6 months for a 1,800 - 2,100 square foot home
• 6-9 months for a 2,200 - 3,200 square foot home.

So, basically, it depends on how large of a crew your builder has and how difficult the house is to build, etc.

No. Your Golden Eagle log home will only settle about 3/8 of an inch. We are using very dry logs, so settling is not an issue.

Tell your friend you are not buying a handcrafted log; which will settle 3"-4"; but instead you are buying a Golden Eagle Log Home that does not have the settling issues.

Like any home the lifetime of the home depends on the care the owner puts into it. If you build it right, and properly take care of it, it will last generations.

In Scandinavia there are log homes that are more than 1,000 years old and are still in excellent condition.

First of all, imagine that on a Golden Eagle full log home, only the first floor exterior walls are full log. Gable ends, dormers, ceiling cavities, sub floors, garage firewalls, garage walls, and all interior partition walls are conventional 2 x 6 construction. So there are few actual full log areas. But in those full log areas we have two methods for running electrical wiring.

• On the "D" shaped homes you can hide the wires in an 8" tall baseboard and switches can be hidden behind the 6" wide door trim.
• On double round full logs we recommend drilling up as you build the wall. This can be done on the "D" full log too!

It is just an insurance policy. The trim hides it and it is insulated and flashed. so it is a good idea. Just in case, we also slot the window and door bucks. It's better to be safe than sorry later.

Great question! Both our full logs and half logs are up to 16' in length. Some companies only offer up to a 9' length. Shorter lengths mean too many seams in the wall.

Because you need it and you also need it for the upwards facing checks.

We know some log home companies probably can sell more log home packages by telling their future customers they don't need it, but that is not honest. We have had many customers come to us and buy tubes of Log Builder caulk for other brands of log homes because they were told they didn't have to have caulking.

Yes, we have done it many times for our past customers.

We buy direct from the manufacturers. Truckloads of lumber, OSB, shingles, windows, cabinets, stone, etc. are purchased to eliminate one markup in the buying process. The end result is a less expensive home for our customers.

1. You want a high quality log home package and don't want to overpay.
2. You want the most complete package and you don't want any surprises to pop up after it is too late.
3. You want the most complete package because you don't have a lot of time to waste shopping a hundred different stores.
4. You want a complete package, so all things fit and work together and if they don't it is our responsibility.
5. We are not high pressure, we aren't going to talk you into a full log if you really need or want a half log. We offer both so it is your choice.
6. You want dry logs.
7. You want to buy from people who care about your new home, appreciate your business and will service you in the years to come.
8. You want a log home company who can customize standard plans or draw completely new plans and not pay extra in the end for that. You want kitchen and bath designers on staff to help coordinate the finished project.
9. You don't want to be tricked by some slick salesman. You want to be told the truth even if the truth doesn't sound as good.
10. Golden Eagle is owned and operated by brothers Jay and Tod Parmeter of Wisconsin Rapids, WI, not some overseas corporation or conglomerate. We actually work 6 days a week at Golden Eagle Log Homes, we actually live in a Golden Eagle Log Home, and can actually be reached if you have a problem before, during, or after the sale.
11. We are flexible. If you want to deduct something out of our complete package, for example your brother is a cabinetmaker, we can deduct them and credit your account for them.
12. We listen to you, your needs, and wants. It is not about what we want; it is about what you and your family wants.

It is really simple, we listened to you, the customer. Here is how it happened and here is how we were able to accommodate our customers.

When we first started selling log homes, we also had a building center. We set up our first log model home in the parking lot of the building center and when potential log home customers came in and asked how much the log home was, we told them $22,000.00 and they said "Great! We want one!".

Then they asked does that include the kitchen cabinets, the bathroom fixtures, the fireplace, the closet shelving, the trim, and prehung doors etc.? And the answer at that time was no. We found people wanted the whole package, not just the shell. Because we had everything available in the building center to make it a complete package; we started to include everything in the package and the rest is history.

• With a "complete package" all the components will be compatible. Your doors, windows, cabinets, plumbing, vanities, etc. will all be the right size, right color, and will coordinate throughout the home.
• Speaking of windows, let's say you buy one house full of windows once in your life, or one kitchen once in your life and then you have trouble with them. Who do you think the manufacturer will help more? The customer who bought from them one time and will never buy again, or Golden Eagle Log Homes who purchases over 130 houses full of windows or 130 kitchens every year.
• With a complete package you will know what your total costs are.
• Our customers have an almost unlimited range of choices while choosing their package. Visit the Bertch or Homecrest Cabinetry websites just to see the kitchen and bathroom cabinetry available to our customers.
• With an incomplete package no one party will know the whole project and many things can get overlooked and forgotten until the end, then things get tense.
• Golden Eagle has customer service staff to handle any situation that may arise. A complete package from Golden Eagle Log Homes will simplify your life.

• Our Complete Package uses round log railings inside and out. We can substitute square, treated, balusters and posts on the exterior and square pine on the interior. This can save you hundreds to even thousands depending on how large the home is.
• Our Complete Package includes solid 6-panel pine doors and closet doors. We can exchange these doors for flat, hollow core, real oak or birch and save you hundreds of dollars or more. Note that years later you can easily upgrade these doors if you wanted.
• Our Complete half log home package includes authentic looking butt & pass, dovetail or saddle notch corners. You can use vertical log corners instead and save a couple thousand dollars or more.
• In our Complete Package we include our kitchen and bath cabinets with dovetailed, real wood, drawers. You can substitute a laminated particle board drawer and save hundreds.
• In our Complete Package we include stone up the entire chimney. Reduce the amount of stone to just the mantle height and put tongue & groove pine over the chase and you could save thousands in labor and materials.
• Do some of the work on the home yourself. Negotiate a reduced price from the builder for some of your sweat equity. For example you could clean up the jobsite inside and out daily, stain and caulk, put up the closet shelves, insulate, put on door knobs, paint drywall, etc. Talk it over with the builder and see what you can save. It could be hundreds, to thousands, of dollars!
• Add more drywall to your home wherever it doesn't matter to you if it's drywall or tongue and groove. Drywall costs less in material and labor versus using pine T&G.
• Downsize your home. Look at your floor plan. What rooms in the home are you really going to use and not use? Every square foot you can reduce will help the overall price go down.

Why wait if your kids are still living at home. Let them enjoy your new log home too! If you are near retirement age and the kids are gone, why not build it to vacation in now and retire later.

Here is a true story-
A young couple came in and we priced an Eagle II for them. After seeing the price they decided to wait to build so they could save some money. For three years they rented and were able to put $15,000 in their savings. But when they came back the price of the home had gone up $18,000, so all of the money they had saved lost all of its buying power due to inflation. Don't wait, let's get started today!

We are noticing the smaller local banks have been easier to work with lately. Contact your Golden Eagle sales representative and they will help guide you in the right direction. But please talk to local banks and credit unions about getting pre-approved to see what their qualifications are. If you were pre-approved a year ago things have changed and you need to get pre-approved again.

Yes, log homes appreciate much faster than regular homes, so they are an excellent investment. The sooner you build the better. Building costs, and interest rates, are low and builders are offering better rates right now!

Many of our customers create additional bedrooms in the basement. Larger windows, called Egress windows, would need to be installed to meet building code requirements. These windows not only allow natural light in, but also provide a fire escape.

Modern basements are insulated, warm and dry, have high ceilings, and with large windows or a walk out wall are cheery and comfortable.

• Professional grade kitchen appliances with warming and cooling drawers or even beverage and wine coolers.
• A walk-in pantry with lots of storage for food and small appliance organization.
• Finish your garage walls, floors, ceiling and add cabinets or storage systems.  You can even add a hybrid/electric vehicle charging station!
• Have your mantel and log posts custom hand-carved.
• Expand outdoor living spaces with optional radiant heat and a fireplace or maybe even a wood-fired pizza oven.
• Add a room for your hobby or just for your personal space.
• Consider a spa-style master bath with heated tile floors, towel warmer, and heated walk-in shower with no doors.
• Make your own electricity by adding a solar-panel shingle system, solar panels or wind sphere or windmill.
• Protect your family with an emergency back-up generator for storms and emergencies.
• Smart-wire your home for cable, internet, phone, speakers, home theater, alarm/surveillance, automation, web-cams, etc.
• Add more living space or a secret hideaway/safe room under the garage floor by using a spancrete floor system.
• Add toasty warm in-floor heating for every floor in the home, basement, garage and even the sidewalk.  They can be zone controlled for energy savings.  Or add solar hot water panels or an exterior wood boiler to be more green and energy efficient.
• Increase your wall height, add cathedral ceilings to rooms other than just the great room.
• Add a room for special sports equipment & storage like snowmobile clothing, ATV/cycle gear, hunting gear, etc.
• Theater rooms, arcade rooms, indoor pools, wine tasting rooms, indoor firing ranges, you name it and we can do it!
  

If you want to place an order for your new Golden Eagle Log Home package you need to know about our 10/50/40 payment schedule. Let’s use the typical $150,000.00 package example. Here’s what you need to know:

• The minimum down payment is 10% of the log home package price. To process the order, we must receive the 10% down payment of $15,000.00 from you (or your lender) in the form of a cashier’s check, wire transfer or cash. This leaves a balance due of $135,000.00, not including any change orders you may have.
• Golden Eagle Log Homes must receive a certified check or wire transfer for the amount of $75,000.00 (plus any change order payments that are due) at least three business days before the truck departs with your first shipment. This amount is 50% of your log home package proposal.
• When the "rough-in shipment" (exterior doors, plumbing fixtures, fireplace, split log, windows, etc.) is scheduled for delivery, Golden Eagle Log Homes must receive the remaining 40% due, which would be $60,000.00 (plus any change order payments that are due), in the form of a certified check or wire transfer at least three business days before the truck departs with your shipment.

If you will be financing your home, please contact your lending institution to confirm they will comply with the log home package payment schedule. Some larger financial institutions use title companies to disburse your money. Some title companies may hold (invest) your money for up to three weeks without paying subcontractors. One reason why Golden Eagle Log Homes can offer such competitive prices is that all our customers pay three business days before delivery. If your financial institution is unable to comply, we can help you find one who can.

No problem and the prices are comparable to regular homes. Be sure to take out your policy before any work is started on your property.

Talk to your agent because you want to protect yourself from liabilities such as curious neighbors falling into your basement, or worse. You should also make sure any and all sub contractors who will be working on your log home have a certificate of insurance. Don't be shy to ask. If they are reputable they won't mind that you have asked to see it.