Budget Busters & The Benefits of Building With Oak

A: Kitchens. People go all out with these very elaborate kitchens and then they never cook! That can blow your budget completely. Also, when it comes to some of the insulated foundations for your basement, that could be a drain, too, if you never spend any time down there. Only put the money into the foam basements if you’re going to finish it out.

And one more thing, I’m not a proponent of the big-name window companies because the quality of the windows doesn’t reflect the price. What you’re really paying for is how the window is put together. You can save a lot of money by looking at the smaller, family-owned window manufacturers. 

Q: Speaking of family-owned manufacturers, how did Gastineau Log Homes start?

A: My dad had a sawmill since before I was born, so I’ve always been around wood. Growing up, I wanted to be an architect, but I soon discovered I couldn’t do the math. I had always been enthralled with the construction industry, but I wanted to manufacture something, too. At that time, there were no log home manufacturers in the Midwest and no other companies were using oak, even though oak was traditionally the wood of choice for building because of its natural resistance to insects. We started on October 1st of 1977—we’ve been going for 30 years. We ship houses to all 50 states and 11 counties and we’re the largest producer of oak log homes in the world.  

 Oak log homes have a beautiful grain and color. Photo: courtesy Gastineau Log Homes

Q: What are the benefits of building with oak?

A: My personal opinion is the beauty of the logs. The interior of the heartwood, the grain, the color and the knot pattern are just so stunning. And, living in a log home, that’s what you have to look at every day, so it’s really important. From a technical standpoint, oak is a hardwood and one of its big advantages is that the sapwood, or outer layer, is very narrow compared to its heartwood layer. This means we’re able to cut off the sapwood and your entire home is built of heartwood, which is the part of the wood that’s resistant to insects. Also, it cuts very cleanly and screws together tightly.

Q: Some people perceive oak as an expensive wood. Cost-wise, how does oak compare to other species?

A: Well, that’s one of the reasons we’re located in Missouri. We couldn’t be cost competitive if we were in North Carolina or Pennsylvania, where oak is at a premium. In Missouri, we have an oak forest covering the state. It’s made up of smaller trees that aren’t large enough to sustain the cabinetry or furniture industries, but they’re perfect for building log homes. So that’s why we’re able to sell our logs at a lower cost than some companies sell their pine.

Another questions I get is, are you ever going to run out of oak? We’re growing 35 percent more oak per year than we’re cutting in this state. And oak naturally regenerates. Because of the acorns and the way they naturally propagate, you don’t have to replant them. 

Q: Do you have any advice for our readers on how they can stick to a budget?

A: One thing is that people get carried away with the details. Put your money into the things that cannot be replaced later; in the building materials of the house. You can always go in and change out the light fixtures and countertops and hardwood floors. Things like the logs can’t be replaced. Our standard log is 8 inches thick. Most companies offer a minimum of 6 inches thick. For a couple thousand dollars more, you get all the additional energy benefits of two extra inches of thickness. And you can’t update that. I’ve seen people spend $25,000 on a metal roof and then buy 6-inch logs. They end up sacrificing the actual quality of the home for style.

Also, the most economical house to build is a square house. The more corners you have, the most expensive it will be. Keep the house a rectangle and you’ll save in materials and construction costs. 

Q: One thing people say about oak is that it weighs a lot. Is this helpful or hurtful in your business?

A: To me, that’s an advantage. Who wants a light house? You want a house that’s sturdy. If you were in a hurricane or a tornado, what kind of home would you want? Tannins and the density of the wood cause the heaviness. That’s what makes it such a good building material. Plus, we tell people that we don’t sell it by the pound.