The first step in building your home is to decide what type of home would best suit your needs and then choose a plan. We have many one and two story plans to choose from, or you may want to alter one of our plans or custom design one yourself. Custom cutting to fit your specifications is our specialty (at no extra charge).

After your plans have been finalized, StoneMill will dovetail notch the corners, groove all logs for Styro-Seal insulation, and hew or plane your logs and beams to your desired log texture. Massive roof rafters or deluxe roof trusses with collar beams are also cut to complement homes with exposed roof systems. Ornate beams and rafters are also available.

After your contractor builds the foundation and floor system, StoneMill will deliver the logs to your site. If you choose StoneMill to erect your log package, we will send our skilled erection crew with the logs to unload the delivery truck on site. We will immediately begin erecting your log package on the finished foundation and floor system. All log package prices are quoted unerected. Erection charges are based on the travel time and distance from our plant in Knoxville, TN.

Almost all of our log packages are erected by our skilled crews, since they have the necessary equipment and experience to do a sound job. During manufacturing, all logs are pre-drilled so that all the wiring can be done after the logs are erected. Some of the logs are quite heavy since we never splice wall logs under 40' in length. Erection of the logs and beams with Styro-Seal insulation installed usually takes from two days to a week depending on the size of the log package.

Complete blueprints, cut plans, and a comprehensive construction manual will be included should you choose to do the erection yourself. A trained supervisor can be contracted if you feel that you need a little help in getting started properly. The cost for this supervision is on a per job/cost basis.

After the logs have been erected upon your foundation, your contractor will finish the house to your specifications. Building time and costs are usually less than for conventional construction.

You may want to let your logs have additional curing time to dry, thus enhancing the insulative properties of the logs. With the Styro-Seal insulation system, you and your family can move into your home during that time, and chink over the Styro-Seal later. The new chinking materials are ideal for use with the Styro-Seal system. Chinking comes in many colors: Light Mortar Grey, Medium Grey, Tan, Sandstone, Brown and White. Return to top.

Getting Started

I. Select a floor plan
A. Standard StoneMill model
B. Modification to standard StoneMill model
C. Custom design

II. Obtain a free log package proposal
A. Standard materials proposal
B. Shell erection / delivery proposal
C. Dry-in proposal

III. Obtain blueprints of your selected design
A. Standard blueprints: $200.00 first set, $100.00 each additional set
B. Custom blueprints: $1,500.00 for plans 2000 square feet or less, plus $.75 per square foot for plans over 2000

Note: All blueprinting costs are put toward the purchase of your StoneMill log home.

IV. Obtains estimates for completing the project
A. Take StoneMill proposals and blueprints to a local general contractor for an estimate on completing your home.
B. For customers acting as their own general contractor: obtain material and labor estimates to complete the project from local building supply companies and subcontractors, respectively.

Note: If you are purchasing StoneMill’s dry-in service, please call your representative for a list of the required dry-in materials. Submit the dry materials list to your local building supply for a cost estimate.

V. Obtain financing from a lending institution
A. Obtain a construction loan from a lending institution. This will allow you to draw money to cover your construction costs as you complete the project.
B. Obtain permanent financing for when the home is completed. The permanent financing institution will pay off the construction loan and transfer the loan into a conventional mortgage.

Note: To apply for financing – provide final blueprints, completed projected cost estimates including StoneMill’s proposals, and appropriate personal financial information to the lending institution. Other information may be required depending on the loan institution.

VI. Sign StoneMill Log Homes proposal
A. Mark all StoneMill materials & services that supply to your project, and fill in the amount at the bottom of the proposals.
B. Read the reverse of all StoneMill Log Homes proposals.
C. Sign and date the proposals, and return white copies to StoneMill Log Homes with deposit.

VII. Payment Schedule for StoneMill Log Homes and Creekside Construction
A. For Customers Financing their Log Home Package
1. A 10% Deposit on Materials/Delivery to StoneMill and a 10% Deposit on Labor to Creekside with Signed Proposals Freezes your Package Price for 18 Months
2. Bank Letter – Your Lending Institution will Provide StoneMill and Creekside with a Bank Letter Confirming the Remaining Materials and Labor Balance. Receipt of Bank Letter Guarantees your Position on our Priority Schedule. Your StoneMill Sales Representative will provide you with the Sample Bank Letters at your request.
3. The Remaining 90 % Materials/Delivery Balance will be paid to StoneMill upon Delivery of the Package to the Site, and the Remaining Labor Balance will be paid to Creekside upon completion of the Contracted Shell Erection & Dry-In Services.

B. For Customers Not Financing their Log Home Package
1. A 10% Deposit on Materials/Delivery to StoneMill and a 10% Deposit on Labor to Creekside with Signed Proposals Freezes your Package Price for 18 Months
2. An additional 40% Deposit on Materials/Delivery Guarantees your Position on our Priority Schedule.
3. The Remaining 50% Materials/Delivery Balance will be paid to StoneMill upon Delivery of the Package to the Site, and the Remaining Labor Balance will be paid to Creekside upon completion of the Contracted Shell Erection & Dry-In Services.

VIII. Move from priority to manufacturing schedule by completing the following items
A. Sign and return approved blueprints with window and door rough openings
B. Sign and return all pertinent contracts and contract provisions
C. Complete Access Road, Foundation, Sub-floor and all Porch Deck Footings


Note: Please contact your StoneMill representative for updates on our current lead time.

IX. Delivery
A. Resolve any problems identified during jobsite inspection and assure site is prepared per inspection guidelines
B. Deliver non-StoneMill conventional materials on site prior to Creekside’s arrival
C. Provide StoneMill with documentation of required Builder’s Risk Insurance


When the aforementioned steps have been completed, you will be ready for StoneMill to begin construction of the log shell. This list of procedures may vary with each homeowner, but it is designed to help you in the construction of your dream home from StoneMill Log Homes.

If you need any help in getting started, we will be glad to assist you in any way we can. Return to top.

Custom Designing Your Own Home

StoneMill Log Homes specializes in custom-built log homes. Approximately 75% of all the log homes we sell are custom cut packages. And as a special service to you, we provide all custom cutting of log packages at no extra charge. Return to top.

Styroseal Insulation

Better Between-Log Insulation begins with Styro-Seal

StoneMill Log Homes was the first in the industry to introduce a special notch and seal insulation system into log structure designs. This seal helps prevent air infiltration between logs and chinking and provides extra support for log walls. Three inches of nontoxic rigid E.P.S. is inserted into this unique groove cut into the top and bottom of each log. After the drying-in period of your home, chinking is then applied over the Styro-Seal for an extra tight seal between the logs.

Permanent Flexible Chinking is the Finishing Touch

Chinking is the exterior material applied to both sides of the Styro-Seal to further bond and insulate between the logs. Many quality brand chinking materials are available for today's log homes in a variety of colors.

Permanent flexible chinking bonds directly to the wood and Styro-Seal. It looks and feels like old fashioned mortar, yet is flexible and follows the settling movement of the logs without cracking. It is permanently waterproof and suitable for all climates. Return to top.

Online Manual

Our online manual is currently under production. It will be available to you in the near future. Return to top.

Services

Creekside Construction is a sevice provided by StoneMill Log Homes. Return to top.

Types of Logs

Hand Hewn or Hand Planed smooth logs are your choice. We offer these choices of texture at no added cost to you. Hand hewn provides an authentic hand crafted look and feel, or hand planed for a smoother surface that is easier to stain. Stop by a StoneMill office today and compare which texture or combination of textures is right for you.

1). HAND HEWN: Applied by hand in the traditional manner using a carpenter’s adze also known as a foot adze. StoneMill’s craftsmen hew against the wood grain bringing out the rustic beauty of each timber.

2). HAND PLANED: Applied using a hand planer to follow the natural contour of each individual timber. This finish is commonly used on interior walls, allowing for easy stain application. Return to top.