The first shipment from Golden Eagle arrived as scheduled a week ago. Since then the contractors have been working on framing in the basement. You can see their progress in the images below.

The family signed a contact with Coffen Construction two weeks ago. The big news is that Coffen Construction is scheduled to break ground on the foundation next week. The constructon calendar is also starting to take shape. The family put their first deposit down on the logs and scheduled delivery for December 10. If everything goes according to plan, the log raising should be the week of the 10th.

The family has been poring over the Golden Eagle selection booklet nearly every day. After changing their minds numerous times, they have decided to go with green for the exterior options, including the garage door, roof, windows and soffit/facia.

All of their options are pictured below.

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Roofing:

The family chose Chateau Green

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Garage Doors:

The family chose green

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Soffit/Facia:

The family chose Hartford Green

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Windows:

The family chose Alpine Green

Golden Eagle provided the family with a selection booklet. The booklet contains images of the options for the interior and exterior options the family has in designing their lakehouse. A few decisions were easy for the family to make.

For the walkout, foundation and fireplace, the family chose the Bailey's Harbor field stone option, though the Teelin Bay (also pictured) was a close second.

The family also chose the silver options for the hearthstone. (The Terra option is also pictured below.)


The family was also quick to decide they liked the hand-carved posts by Mayne Workshop Carvings offered by Golden Eagle. They decided to put one raccoon in the loft, one raccoon on the first floor, and a bear in the basement by the bar.




The family also decided they want to work with Mayne Workshop to design a custom mantel.

Golden Eagle's Selection Booklet contains 74 pages of options and the family has only made decisions through page 10. As they make more decisions, they will be posted. Stay tuned.

The family has received the appraisal of their lakehouse and approval from the bank to move forward. Now the family will start working on bids from the construction company to make sure they match the amount financed. On a recommendation from Golden Eagle, the family has contacted Coffen Construction. The family will likely go with Coffen Construction but is waiting to sign any contracts until the initial bids are received.

The family has started another important process in their pursuit of their lakehouse. They have submitted their blue prints to the bank and the bank's appraiser. The appraiser will take about two weeks to determine the value of the home based on the blue prints, details of the home and comparable homes in the area. This appraised value will then be used to finalize the construction financing.

Once the construction financing is finalized, the log package can be ordered from Golden Eagle and construction can begin. The family is very anxious to break ground.

More questions were posted about the advantages of split log construction, energy efficiency and hybrid options. The family shared some of the same questions and sought the answers from Golden Eagle.

Split log has numerous advantages over full log construction but probably the most important to the family is the options it provides for windows.Windows can be placed closer to the corners of the house because of increased structural integrity. In full log construction, windows must be at least 2 feet from the corner of the structure. Split log can support windows as close as 6 inches from the corner. This allows more and larger windows to be used.

A Golden Eagle representative explained that full log and split log construction are about equal in energy conservation. Full logs have thermal mass. The loss of thermal mass in split log is made up in R-factor or the insulation in the walls.

Also, Golden Eagle employs a very loose definition of hybrid. A Golden Eagle representative told the family that hybrid can mean what the family wants it to mean. If the family wants it to mean a combination of split and full log, it can. If they want it to mean a combination of timber frame and log construction that is possible. It can also mean conventional construction with log accents. The family got the impression Golden Eagle is offering the hybrid option as a way to offer the family and all its customers basically as many options as they can.

After receiving advice from a Golden Eagle engineer, the family has changed their mind on using 10x10 full log construction. Based on the renderings and floor plans, the engineer recommended that the family use Golden Eagle's 10 inch split log system for construction. This will provide more structural strength for the exterior walls. This is especially important because of the large walls of windows the family has incorporated into the design. The family's sales consultant has assured the family that the home will still maintain the full-log look.

Using split log construction also has a benefit beyond structural strength. The family now has the option of choosing the finish for all of the walls. For the exterior walls, the family can choose split log to look like full log construction or they can choose from drywall or tongue & groove pine.

The family is now faced with a laundry list of options and decisions. Despite the misconception that a complete log package limits choices, Golden Eagle has provided the family with the opportunity to choose nearly every detail of their lakehouse from door knobs to countertops and window colors to stains.