"Thank you for visiting our web site! Please take the time to explore the whole site as there are many very helpful sources linked here. The informtion you requested is on it's way!"
Mr. Lasko
Thank you for a very complete response. I am going to take your advice about a college education as I am going to go through the four year building construction course at Virginia Tech starting in Fall 2002. I still plan to attend the log building school either during a summer break or after I
graduate. You will probably be receiving "log specific" questions from me as I go through the four year program at VA Tech as you have by far been the most valuable source of information regarding log home building that I've found yet. Most of the other log builders and dealers either haven't replied to me or have been very brief in their responses. Once again, thank you very much for your input.- J. Wilkins
04/01/2002
Dave S., " Did'nt take one of his classes, having his classes build my home. Went down there to see how things are coming, very impressed with the quality of the work done by the students he must be doing something right, the quality was as good as I've seen anywhere, and I've been looking at handcrafted log homes for years. He's an excellant builder and must be a great teacher to produce students that can build with the quality of work I saw."
Dave
Westl Branch, Michigan
04/03/2002
Jeff B., " I have attended Lasko's four-week building course. I worked on Daves' (The buyer above ) log structure. I came to the class with absolutely no log home building experience. I only had some experience in handling saws. By the time I left the session, I had become farely proficient (I believe) at the procedure and cutting operations that were necessary for constructing a sound and tight-fitting structure."
Columbine, Colorado
05/08/2002
Joel A. Hey Bill, " We're starting small but I'm going to try to get a couple cabins done this summer to sell before attempting our house.
The Colorado class was great! The scenery was gorgeous and the accommodations were awesome. I learned so much from that class. I was glad that we got to actually start with the basics like peeling and log handling. It has really helped me as I've started to set up my log yard at home. There really is no substitute for practice, and we got plenty of that. There are so many nuances to putting up a log house that I can't imagine getting all that information by simply reading a book. I definitely want to come to a class where you focus on roof systems.
Well, gotta go. Give me a call some time.
Bagley, MN
04/05/2001
Tony Mark A. " hi bill , absolutely great to be hearing from you too !!!! I have been working very hard all the years since taking your class... it's amazing how many obstacles and life changes can come your way but i am still trying to hang in there and i do want you to know that your class really has changed my life. I always believed that i could build my own cabin and the reinforcement and teachings and support i got from you changed me forever. I rufuse to give up my dream and am actually on the verge of obtaining it all. i have since paid off all my outstanding debt , have my new property , the excavating , pole barn , garage foundation 80 ton of larch logs all payed for - don't owe anyone a cent !!! oh i even bought a old niagra mohawk ( electrical co. ) boom / crane truck for lifting my logs for me . It has about 75 foot reach , built a sweet set of log racks 24 ft long where i can load up approx 50-75 logs and easilly roll them one at a time into my pole barn and cut them on my saw. i have cut up to a 2,000 lb logs by myself in a t shirt and shorts without breaking a sweat. I definitely will send you some pictures from our class together along with some of my new photos for you to pass along to your new students. i am very lucky to have met you bill , my life is mush sweeter for it...... you are definitely " the man " !!!! Sounds like your family / girls think the same about you too......... the walk away mommy's and daddy's come and go but good men like you are remembered forever.... having you walk them down the aisle is something they will never forget. Tell andy congrats too for such great success If your ever up this way it would be great for you to stop by for a visit..... and hey ...mabye i could come and visit you sometime too , stop by and see your log village..... I'm about due for a nice long drive. perhaps you could help me with a little information on a nice place i could rent for the weekend , it would be a great surprise for my sweetie !!! and your new sweetie sounds great... i wish you all the best. some opportunities only come by once so don't let it slip by. sorry i gotta run...T. Mark A. Martville, NY 1-315-564-____ - home 1-315-626-____Keep me posted on your classes and travels , ........ - mark.
Martville, New York
..
Hey Bill,
How are things down south? The north country is awesome as usual.
I asked my insurance agent about insuring my log home once it's completed and even in the construction stages. She said that they do insure log homes but that it has to be done by a trained builder. She recently had a customer come to her after he built his own log house and he asked about getting insurance. Because it was a log home and because he had had no formal training in log home
construction the house was uninsurable. I told her about how I'd been to
your class and asked if my diploma would be sufficient proof that I know
what I'm doing. It will be!!! I never thought about this, but here's
another benefit from taking the class...... you can get insurance.
I do have a problem, however. I can't find my diploma. Yeah, yeah I know.
It should be on my wall. I don't need it right now, and I may find the
original before I need to use it. But if I can't find it, would you be able
to make me a duplicate? PLEEEEEEZE?
FYI.. My kids, wife and I have peeled 30 logs so far and we're getting
ready to grind the knots. You should see the pile of peelings we've got.
The kids are loving it. I made 9 draw knives from used chipper blades, so
if you're ever in the area I've got plenty of tools to keep you busy. :)
Well, gotta go. Let me know on that diploma thing. And let me know when
you're going to do the truss class.
Later,
J. Anderson
Bagley, MN
Bill
I need to apoligize for not getting back with you sooner.
Last week I was in Ontario on a fishing trip. I got to peal some logs. We pealed 30logs in a day and a half. It sure makes a difference when you cut
your logs in the winter and peal in the spring. It looks like I can get logs from north bay ont. for about 10K canidian plus trucking. The outfitter I fish and moose hunt with lives there and he knows the fokes that have the red pine.
I wanted to cut some notches but he wasnt ready yet.
I went to the log and timber show in Pontiac Mi. two weeks ago and met some fokes that could help me on my future building project and I had an opptunity to look at some handcraafter displays. I found that I liked the
log work that we did in our class better than what I saw at the log and timber show. I do don't think I have to convince you that I have a critical eye, comes from being an old tool maker, and I must admit you had me wondering when I
showed up for the two week class but by the end of the class any doubts I had about you and my self were gone.
Pat and I want to host a class next spring. If you are willing and aviable I would like to start the process. Let me know what you think. I plan to make some countersinking tools for the tennon cutters when I can get the right steel, I will send you one. I am gong to make a 2 inch and a
one inch cutter when I get a chance. Ive acquired material to make a drill guide and clamp for holding logs to put tennons on. I tried your cutter out in my lathe and it seems to work, its obvious I have a couple of bugs to work out. Ive been ordering planer blades off the web.
Let me know how it works.
J. Balmer, Michigan
Bill and Amy,
I have moved to Colorado. I am no longer a Bartender(for the moment). I am living in Eagle/Vail Co. I am working for Colorado Custom Log and Timber. Rick Karow is the President. I believe you registered him on your website. Everything is going well. I am starting off as the low man and that is sometimes difficult. Check out his website. I am not sure how often he updates it.
My experience with the Log Building School was a positive one. I learned that with efficient practices, a daily work plan, and hard work, productivity can remain very high and at the same time remain safe and fun. The amount of pride I felt was worth the effort!
Best of luck to both of you, and I will keep in touch.
If you are looking for a new and innovative way to build a log home or cabin, please read on.
After years of wishing and hoping, we finally found a way to achieve our dream, and what started out as a "log shack" evolved into far more than we ever expected. With the help of a friend and log enthusiast, we were able to connect with Bill Lasko and the Lasko School of Log Building. After a few visits with Bill for preliminary preparations, we located our logs on land not far from our intended building site. That was in January, and by June, we had them cut, peeled, transported and bunked next to our foundation.
Bill and a few students arrived in mid-June and the first logs were taking shape. For the first few days, Bill instructed his students in the art of log building, and in a few days students were moving rapidly in the construction with Bill looking over their shoulder offering advice and helping with technique when necessary. Safety was a high priority in working with chain saws, heavy logs, and other tools.
Bill's knowledge and teaching methods were paramount to fulfilling our dream. He pays attention to detail, fit and finish. He is dedicated to completing in a realistic time frame, and he has knowledge above and beyond the basic construction. Finishing and protecting
those logs was another of our concerns. Our finished product is beautiful (chink-style) and far more than our expectations, mostly because of Bill's experience and knowledge, as well as his ability to communicate. We would highly recommend Bill and the Lasko School of Log Building to fullfill your Log dreams.
Sincerely,
Rex, George, and Jim
Waunakee, Wi.
January 6, 2004
Mr. William M. Lasko
William M. Lasko School of Log Building Inc
P.O. Box 937
Franklin, IN 46131
Dear Bill:
You asked us to talk about our experience in hosting a log home class. As you know, we built a 30 x 40 full scribe log shell in Charlevoix, Michigan in June 2003. We believe hosting a class was the best motivating factor in speeding up preparations for and accomplishing the successful building of our log home shell.
As a husband-wife team we first took your basic construction class in Indiana approximately 16 months prior to hosting a class. This first class was essential in helping us prepare for our hosting experience. The class provided us with a clear mental picture of the log building process. After taking the class we knew we wanted to proceed with our log home project.
Preparations we made for hosting our class were: obtaining a boom truck, buying a commercial pressure washer with a turbo tip nozzle, providing facilities for students, acquiring logs, peeling and sorting logs, setting up our pre-assembly building site including temporary foundation and electrical power. In addition, we acquired the necessary tools both before and after our initial basic construction class.
We had an existing large, open area for our log building yard and we had previously built a 30' x 40' pole barn that contained water and electricity. The pole barn was used as a shelter for students. Water was necessary for supporting students who stayed on site and for peeling the logs with a pressure washer. Because we attended the first class, we knew how to set up our log building yard including building the temporary foundation and providing adequate electrical power.
There is a lot to learn about acquiring logs, such as where to locate logs, how to handle the contract for buying logs, handling and trucking the logs and delivery early enough to have time to peel the logs. We received only two-thirds of our logs prior to frost laws going into effect in Michigan which meant we had to wait until spring before the rest of the logs were delivered. It is very important to have the logs peeled and sorted prior to the start of the class. Having students peel logs during class only cuts into time that could be spent on building your log shell. We also had volunteers who helped move logs, pick up wood scraps and run errands.
One thing that we found very helpful was when you made a site visit about six months before our scheduled start date. You reviewed our building plans. We ultimately changed our building site location after consulting with you and you advised us where everything should be located on our building site. You helped us develop our list of logs needed. We also realized how much we had yet to accomplish and how little time we had left. After this consultation, we made a list of all the things to be done and tried to regularly complete tasks. It was helpful to be able to ask questions and receive feedback at any time by way of phone calls and e-mail.
We found you to be a knowledgeable log home building instructor with a real passion for his craft who was there to solve problems and help us make decisions. You provided a good balance between instructing students and hands-on log work.
Hosting a class made building our own handcrafted log home a reality. We realized labor savings by utilizing students and hosting definitely increased our odds of having a successful completed log shell. Over all, it was a fun experience with lots of comradery with fellow students and instructor.
We were lucky because we had talented, highly motivated students, minimal equipment problems and excellent weather.
Our goals were to be ready to build on our first day of class, to accomplish as much as possible during our class by making the best use of time with students and our instructor and to have the log shell completed by the end of our class.
We began researching building a log home about five years prior, we started building preparations early, we were organized and we were ready to go on the first day of hosting a class. We know that if we had not hosted a log building class through you, we would not have a completed log shell today. Thank you for helping our long-time dream of building a handcrafted log home a reality.
