2013 Schedule

Now is the time to get on the schedule for this season. We still have start dates available this summer and fall but they usually go pretty fast. The cabin kits have been very popular and we are constantly improving the system as we get feedback from our kit builders. We are going to add several new plans this year, including two duplex plans. We also build from custom plans so if you have plans you want built, we can certainly build from them. If you have building needs this year; send an email or give us a call and we will start the process with you. The secret of happiness, you see, is not found in seeking more, but in developing the capacity to enjoy less. -Socrates

Spray Foam Insulation

We will be offering polyurethane spray foam insulation as an option for our cabins this coming year. Urethane cannot be beat for R-Value per inch and for insulating a home or cabin. At R-6.9 per inch as opposed to R-3.8 for fiberglass, it will pay for itself in a relatively short time, not to mention the air tight seal it provides. We will even be able to offer urethane on our remote jobs since we are able to break our equipment down to fit in a small plane or even an ATV trailer. Spray foam is significantly higher in price than fiberglass but the value is obvious when the temperature is below zero and you are using much less fuel than you will with conventional insulation. “In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer.” ― Albert Camus

2013 Pricing

We have always been a little behind the curve on our pricing. We had a very small price increase in 2010 but we have held the pricing since that time even though our operating costs have gone up significantly since that time. Unfortunately we have found it necessary to increase our pricing again effective January 1, 2013. The amount of the increase has not yet been determined but we will publish it on our blog later next month. Naturally, any contracts before January 1 will be kept at the current pricing so if you have plans to build in 2013, let us know so we can schedule you for the upcoming season.
Best Regards
Jay Friesen

The Free Cabin for a Family in Need!

Last fall we solicited submittals from folks that were in need of a home. We asked for a short letter describing the need and we had several stipulations. The building lot needed to be free and clear, the candidate must show the ability to finish the cabin and it must be a primary residence. We selected a candidate and started the actual building last week. We hope to do something similar in the future but we will use a different process to select the candidates. We have built free cabins several times in the past and we hope to do so in the future. We believe in helping our neighbor in whatever small way we can and I can say we have received much encouragement from our staff and customers. We will be posting updates on Facebook and on this blog. For unto whomever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more. LUKE 12:48

It's Here!

Winter is here, I guess we might as well accept it. For over twenty years we have had a very active winter building season. Many of our remote sites are much easier to access in winter so some winters are as busy as summer. If you have a remote cabin to build, let us know and we can start planning for it. Too often I would hear men boast of the miles covered that day, rarely of what they had seen. Louis L'Amour Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/l/louis_lamour.html#EHCKQMpwxQWgXjME.99

State Fair

Well, the State Fair was great! We had many past clients and friends stop by on the purple trail. Many interested parties also came by to get started planning for their future cabins. The Fair is a long term investment for us. Most people that meet us at the Fair are a few years away from building but it is never too soon to start planning. “Just when you think it can't get any worse, it can. And just when you think it can't get any better, it can.” ― Nicholas Sparks, At First Sight

Installing insulation baffles in your rafters

One of the most common questions I get is about insulation in the rafters. In order to keep air flow from the eaves to the ridge or vented attic space, you need to install baffles between your rafters to keep the insulation from lofting and blocking the air flow. We have created a video to get you on the right track. Hope it helps.

Summer at last!

The summer has been a busy one so far. We have projects in Homer, Delta, Fairbanks, Palmer, Trapper Creek, Soldotna and Talkeetna underway as we speak. We have been able to stay ahead of schedule and we're trying to keep that trend going. We still have start dates available later in the summer and fall so don't hesitate to contact us. Thich Nhat Hanh: “Every morning, when we wake up, we have twenty-four brand-new hours to live. What a precious gift! We have the capacity to live in a way that these twenty-four hours will bring peace, joy, and happiness to ourselves and others.”

Break-up

Well, the winter season is almost over. We still have a few projects on local lakes but we will quit driving on them in a couple of weeks.
The ground won't be completely thawed for another month or two but we are starting new work now.
We still have a couple of start dates in April and May which are traditionally slow because of road restrictions and break-up. Meanwhile, we are taking orders for kits to ship in May and June.



It takes but one positive thought when given a chance to survive and thrive to overpower an entire army of negative thoughts.
Robert H. Schuller Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/positive_2.html#AGkB0A5XIY2H1ZP9.99

Summer is coming!

We are gearing up for a very busy season this year. We have projects lined up in Fairbanks, Talkeetna, Delta, Homer and all points between so far. We still have some start dates available however, so don't hesitate to contact us.
We are in the process of developing some new plans this year as well and we welcome any suggestions.
We will be building the 'Free cabin for a family in need' in June and will be posting pictures on our Facebook page as we progress.








Happiness is like a butterfly; the more you chase it, the more it will elude you, but if you turn your attention to other things, it will come and sit softly on your shoulder ...


- Henry David Thoreau

A Real Winter Indeed!

Well, we are having a real winter this year. You hear everyone talk about how much colder it was back in the day but if you look at the actual weather data from the 70's, 80's and 90's, we had some warm winters back then too. When I came here in 1978, I was told that it was much colder in the 50's and 60's and I'm sure it was but this winter has been unusual in that we have a lot of snow and it has been real cold on top of it.
It hasn't slowed our construction down however. We have some of the best off road travel conditions ever.
We will be freighting for another three months or so, so now is the time to have us do your cabin or at least freight the material for a summer build.
See you on the trail!




The major difference between a thing that might go wrong and a thing that cannot possibly go wrong is that when a thing that cannot possibly go wrong goes wrong it usually turns out to be impossible to get at or repair.
Douglas Adams (1952 - 2001), Mostly Harmless

2012

2011 was a really busy year and 2012 is looking strong as well. Our website traffic has more than doubled since last year at this time so we are gearing up for a busy season. We have become known for our off road projects but most of our projects have some road access. Most of our clients are from Alaska but many are from the lower 48 and are building vacation homes and others are having us build their primary residence.
Now is the time to schedule for summer work. We still have a few start dates available for summer and fall work but they usually go pretty fast this time of year. We have many projects scheduled throughout the state for this year and we are scheduling some for 2013.
Thankfully, Alaska hasn't been hit as hard economically as the rest of the country and we have been able to keep all of our crews working throughout the downturn.
The cabin kits have become more and more popular and we are constantly trying to improve our product to make them easier to build. Most folks have opted for the built-on-site cabins but if you have the time, the kits are a good option.
We look forward to seeing you in 2012!




He has a right to criticize who has a heart to help.
Abraham Lincoln

Winter Conditions

Well, we have a normal winter on our hands. Traveling conditions are very good. We can access almost any off road site we need right now.
We are driving trucks and equipment on most valley lakes now and even the rivers are in good shape.
We've had enough snow cover to keep the frost from going too deep which makes it easier to do dirt work.
If you are interested in doing a project yet this winter we can most likely do it for you. We have several projects going now and we will be starting some new ones soon but we still have room for a couple more before break up.







Try to make at least one person happy every day, and then in ten years you may have made three thousand, six hundred and fifty persons happy, or brightened a small town by your contribution to the fund of general enjoyment.

- Sydney Smith

Free cabin winner

FREE CABIN GIVEAWAY WINNER
The “Free Cabin Giveaway” winner has been selected! We’d like to thank all entrants who took the time to explain why they felt qualified to win; and some were very close. However, our decision was based on several factors that made her exceptional. First, for privacy, her identity will remain anonymous.
At fifty-eight years old, she has lived in Alaska for over thirty years. Her husband of nineteen years was a disabled veteran; he died this summer. With one high school child still at home, it’s been very difficult to make ends meet with just a part-time job. It’s inevitable that she’ll lose her home because she no longer has the additional income from her husband’s disability from VA.
Our winner was able to buy an acre of land from some of the insurance funds, but is unable to completely build a cabin. This will not be a vacation cabin, but a primary residence. In addition, she does have the funds to do the finish the cabin.
Again, congratulations to our winner; not only someone in need, but who has suffered a great loss as well.

Jay Friesen,
Friesens Custom Cabins

Free Cabin

Only seventeen days before we make the selection for the free cabin. We have received many requests and we encourage you to write in for yourself,a family member or someone you know who is in need.
We are making plans to do another free cabin selection to anounce at the State Fair.
We haven't only received requests for the cabin, we have had folks write in that they want to help as well. Pretty cool!
Friesenscustomcabins.com/giveaway.HTML









A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject.
Winston Churchill

Winter

Well, it is here. Winter that is. Temperatures are dipping into single digits and lower in some areas. The lakes in south central are mostly still open or very thin but will be ready for travel by the end of November. We have been inundated with requests for off road work and we are gearing up.
Now is the time to give us a shout if you're interested in building this winter.

Winter season

We are now pulling out our winter gear to be ready when winter hits. The first few days of cold weather usually exposes any weak links. The snow machines and sleds all have to be inspected and repaired if they haven't been already. Somehow it is hard to make yourself work on winter gear when the summer season is so busy.
This winter looks like a busy one too and we are ready for it!






The price of anything is the amount of life you exchange for it.
Henry David Thoreau

Fall Foundations

The warm weather has extended our fall season by a few weeks. We are still able to put in foundations without dealing with frost. We are also able to pour without tenting and heating. We still have our freight boat in the water.
If you want to start a project yet this year let us know and we should be able to get it started.
We install wood, concrete and steel pilings all winter so we never stop building.





A fellow can΄t keep people from having a bad opinion of him, but he can keep them from being right about it.
Unknown

Family in Need

Our "Free Cabin to a Family in Need program" has generated a lot of interest. If you know of anyone in need, email us a message of their situation in 200 words or less so they can be eligible for selection on Thanksgiving day. A full description is on our October 1 blog and facebook post.







All generalizations are false, including this one.
Mark Twain

Cabin Giveaway

We introduced our Cabin giveaway to a Needy Family on October 1. We have had great interest in the program. I should have mentioned that since this is our first offering, we want to build this first cabin on the road system in Southcentral or Interior Alaska.
Perhaps we will be able to offer a free cabin to bush Alaska in the future but we want to do this first one in an area where we can drive from our Palmer headquarters to the site.

Thanks everyone for your understanding!



A good conscience is a continual Christmas.
Benjamin Franklin
US author, diplomat, inventor, physicist, politician, & printer (1706 - 1790)

Cabin Giveaway

We introduced our cabin giveaway program yesterday but neglected to mention that all submittals and questions must be sent to us via email. This will greatly expedite the process.
Thanks everyone!

Cabin Giveaway

Friesen’s Custom Cabins
Cabin Giveaway 2012


We at Friesen’s Custom Cabins are implementing a new program to help a family in need by providing them with a FREE CABIN valued at $33,000!After October 1, 2011, a percentage of each cabin that we sell will go towards the building of a cabin for a family in need. Upon completion of this cabin in June 2012, a plaque will be posted on the wall with the names of each person we built for from October 1, 2011 to June 30, 2012.
Entries must be emaied to us with a description of your situation or someone that you know in 200 words or less. The winner will be posted on Facebook and our Blog on Thanksgiving Day 2011. The following criteria must be met to be selected:
You must have clear title to the property, and be on the road system.
This is going to be your primary residence.
We need to have assurance that you have the means to finish it enough to be livable; since this cabin will be a framed in shell.
The Cabin will be an 864 square foot single level cabin with two bedrooms, one bath, kitchen etc. We will be providing the dried-in shell built on the selected site at no cost.
In an effort to show appreciation to our community, we look forward to making a small contribution to those in need. Good luck to All!

Best Regards,
Jay Friesen
Owner/General Contractor

Fall and Winter Season

The 2012 season is really shaping up to be really busy. We still have some start dates available for October and November. Since we were able to get some of our old crew members back we are able to handle more work than we anticipated.
We can pour sono tubes and put in pressure treated piling year round and we can do block and concrete slabs until about November first without doing too much in the way of heating and tenting.
Many of our off road projects are done after freeze up when the travel is easier across the lakes and rivers.
If you have project you want to discuss this year or in 2012, give a call or email and we'll get the process in motion.






The most merciful thing in the world... is the inability of the human mind to correlate all its contents.
H. P. Lovecraft

Cabin giveaway!!!

On October 1 we will be announcing the details of our free cabin giveaway. We will announce it on our blog and on Facebook. Stay tuned!

The 2011 State Fair

Well, it's over for another year. I'm speaking of the State Fair of course. We had a steady stream of traffic through our little cabin. Many of our past clients and friends of clients stopped by to say hi and it was really a great time.
Many new folks stopped by to check out our company as well and we will be building for many of them in the future.
The Fair is a long term investment. Many that see us for the first time at the Fair may be five to seven years away from building their dream cabin and we want them to know that we will be here waiting.




To find what you seek in the road of life,
the best proverb of all is that which says:
"Leave no stone unturned."
Edward Bulwer Lytton

The State Fair

The Fair has really been great this year. Hundreds of visitors and past customers and friends have stopped to say hi.
We have two days left and then it's over until next year. We were able to visit with a lot of folks who had never heard of us before and others who have been following us for years. Many people who come into our booth are friends of others we have built for and they are excited to get started building their own.
It is particularly satisfying to see everyone again some of whom I haven't seen for almost thirty years when I first got started in the business.







Any fool can criticize, condemn, and complain - and most fools do.
Dale Carnegie

It's Still Alaska!

A recent event reminded me why I live in this great state. One of our crew was delivering some materials to one of our projects in Chistochina on the Tok cutoff this past weekend when he blew out a tire. He had already had a flat on another tire so he had no spare. Able to find a friend in Slana for himself and his family to stay while we sent him a new tire, he waited. When he finally headed back to his truck to change the tire he found that the crew who was working on the road (CRUZ CONSTRUCTION), had jacked up his truck, pulled the tire, fixed the tire and put it back on the truck without so much as a note. We had to ask around to find who to thank.
Do you really think that would happen anywhere else? I already new CRUZ CONSTRUCTION was a great company but an act like this really shows they are much more. If you see the CRUZ crew working on the highway, give them a thumbs up, we could all learn something from them.


We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.

- Winston Churchill

2011/2012 Season

The Fall and winter season is starting to look busy for us again this year. We have a number of off road and road system projects in the works. We are going to be at the Fair from August 25 to September 5.
Now is a good time to start planning for Winter and next Summer. Let us know how we can help.






Boredom: the desire for desires.
Leo Tolstoy

The Alaska State Fair

We will be at the Alaska State Fair again this year. We will have many pictures and examples of our work. This is a good time to get aquainted and let us know how we can help you in your building needs.







A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn in no other way.
Mark Twain

Arctic Wings

Don Glaser has been taking us to remote locations for years. Don is one of the old time bush pilots and has seen Alaska as most of us never will. After flying well over half a century and many thousands of hours, he remains youthfully enthusiastic about flying and his attention to customer service is unmatched.
Don is so excited about flying you would think he just started and the newness hasn't worn off yet, but he has always been like that.
If you need float flying with a C-206 or PA-12 give Don a call at 495-3475, you are in for a real treat.

July 4th!

Among the barbecues and fireworks we often forget what we are actually celebrating. Our independence was bought and is continuing to be purchased with the blood of our soldiers, let's remember them!
Have a great Fourth!





Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom, must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it. ~Thomas Paine

Northern Pioneer Helicopters

Earlier this week we had Northern Pioneer Helicopters transport upwards of 50,000 pounds of building materials to one of our off road jobs and I was impressed. These guys are organized and did the job on time and on budget. They really know their stuff and I would recommend them any day.
Thanks Guys!




Madness is rare in individuals - but in groups, political parties, nations, and eras it's the rule.

- Friedrich Nietzsche

Planning for Winter Work

It may seem funny to start talk about winter work when the summer has barely begun. Now is the time to start planning for winter work. As soon as the lakes and rivers are frozen we will be starting our off-road work. Some years we were busier in the winter than we were in the summer which took us by surprise.
In South Central we can generally work all winter. It is preferable to do dirt work early in the winter before the frost gets real deep.
If you are anticipating a building project this winter, give us a call and we'll help with the planning process.






Joy can be real only if people look upon their life as a service, and have a definite object in life outside themselves and their personal happiness.
- Leo Tolstoy

It is on!

The summer season is going strong so there won't be much time for rest until Christmas. We currently have projects in Denali Park, Petersville, Chelatna Lake, Horseshoe Lake, Kasilof, Cooper Landing and Willow. We will soon be going to Seldovia, Tok, Eureka and Chistochina along with our local work.
We have a lot of highly qualified help which allows us to cast a wide net 'as they say'.
The Cabin Kits have been a real hit and we are sending them statewide.
We are always interested in looking at new projects and still have some openings for this season.







When one door of happiness closes, another opens; But often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one that has been opened for us.
Helen Keller

Full Speed Ahead

The summer season is in full swing now. Road restrictions are off and most of the frost is out of the ground. Some of the higher lakes are still frozen but we will be able to start soon on those projects.
We have projects scheduled all over the state but we are still accepting new work. Our kits have been a big hit and we have our delivery time down to one to two weeks on the smaller cabins. We have also worked out an agreement with one of our sub-contractors to do foundations for our customers who purchase one of our kits but don't feel comfortable doing it themselves.





It's easy to have principles when you're rich. The important thing is to have principles when you're poor.
- Ray Kroc

2011 Start Dates

Thanks to bringing back some of our crewmembers from the past, we are going to be able to offer a few more start dates this season. Up until now we were pretty well booked for the season but with the extra help we will be able to take on a few more projects.
If you have a project that you want done this year, we may be able to make it happen for you sooner than we thought. We still have some winter dates available as well.
Give us a shout and we'll see what we can do!





A table, a chair, a bowl of fruit and a violin; what else does a man need to be happy?
- Albert Einstein

A cabin of course!
-Jay Friesen

Remote Property

A lot of people call us for tips on looking for remote land in Alaska. I usually recommend Bernie and Barbara Vockner at Remote Properties. Just like we specialize in remote building, Remote Properties specializes in remote property all around the state. They are the most experienced team in this state when it comes to land in remote areas. Their website is excellent and easy to navigate. Check them out at http://www.remoteproperties.com/

New Kit Pricing

We have finally finished the Kit pricing for all of the cabins on our site except the Plan# 8 which requires a concrete slab.
All of thes plans can now be ordered in kit form.

FCC KIT Price List March 7, 2011
Plan #1 T1-11
16 x 20 640 sq ft. 12,644
16 x 24 768 sq ft. 14,944
20 x 24 960 sq ft. 18,394
20 x 28 1120 sq ft. 21,384
24 x 32 1536 sq ft 28,511
28 x 42 2352 sq ft 43,656
Plan # 2
16 x 24 768 sq ft. 16,576
20 x 24 960 sq ft. 20,719
20 x 28 1120 sq ft. 24,038
20 x 32 1280 sq ft. 25,239
24 x 36 1728 sq ft. 35,822
28 x 42 2352 sq ft. 48,839
Plan #3
20 x 24 1056 sq ft. 19,800
20 x 28 1120 sq ft. 22,787
20 x 32 1280 sq ft. 24,530
24 x 36 1728 sq ft. 35,884
24 x 42 2016 sq ft. 41,848
28 x 42 2352 sq ft. 55,660
Plan #4
20 x 24 1056 sq ft. 22,346
20 x 28 1232 sq ft. 26,070
20 x 32 1408 sq ft. 30,078
24 x 28 1456 sq ft. 30,828
24 x 36 1872 sq ft. 39,683
28 x 32 1920 sq ft. 40,627
Plan #5
16 x 24 384 sq ft. 12,529
20 x 24 480 sq ft. 13,794
20 x 28 560 sq ft. 16,094
24 x 36 864 sq ft. 23,034
24 x 42 1008 sq ft. 30,716
28 x 52 1456 sq ft. 44,366
Plan #6
20 x 24 960 sq ft. 21,040
20 x 32 1280 sq ft. 28,056
24 x 36 1728 sq ft. 37,493
24 x 42 2016 sq ft. 43,766
32 x 48 3072 sq ft. 66,691
32 x 54 3584 sq ft. 77,806
Plan #7
16 x 20 768 sq ft. 16,991
1 6 x 24 896 sq ft. 19,565
20 x 24 1120 sq ft. 24,460
20 x 28 1280 sq ft. 29,575
24 x 28 1536 sq ft. 33,980
28 x 42 2576 sq ft. 56,254
Plan #9
20 x 28 1120 sq ft. 25,602
20 x 32 1289 sq ft. 28,136
24 x 28 1344 sq ft. 30,713
24 x 36 1728 sq ft. 39,501
28 x 36 2016 sq ft. 46,084
28 x 42 2352 sq ft. 53,764

Summer Scheduling

The 2011 season is shaping up to be a real dandy. We still have some start dates available this season and we are scheduling some work for 2012.
Our kits have become extremely popular and we are currently building a new website for the kits to cut down the confusion between the built-on-site cabins and the cabin kits.
We are helping a number of clients right now with the financing paperwork for their construction loans. Please bear in mind that the average construction loan takes a month or two to process if things go smoothly, so give yourself plenty of time.







I cannot believe that the purpose of life is to be "happy." I think the purpose of life is to be useful, to be responsible, to be compassionate. It is, above all, to matter and to count, to stand for something, to have made some difference that you lived at all.

- Leo C. Rosten

Square footage costs

Frequently I am asked to quote the square footage cost of a finished home over the phone. Every time I have done so, I have been wrong. Usually too high or too low, never right in the middle.
At a home builder's seminar a few years ago, the instructor compared that question to 'how much does a bag of groceries cost'. In other words, there are a lot of variables. I know there is an average cost per square foot but I have never been able to pin it down.
A general rule of thumb in south central Alaska on the road system is between 100 and 140 per foot. (Once you get off the road the cost can be as much as 50 t0 75% more depending on location) Next you have to determine how to calculate the square footage. Do you include open areas and stairwells as living space, what about the garage if there is one, attic space, basements etc.? Is it on one floor or two? Is there city water and sewer or are you going to need a well and septic? The questions keep coming at you.
It is really best to get a firm quote based on a certain design. We can usually provide you with a quote within a few days if it is one of our designs or something close to it.





The problem with people who have no vices is that generally you can be pretty sure they're going to have some pretty annoying virtues.
Elizabeth Taylor
British movie actress (1932 - 2011)

Looking for land in all the right places.

If you are looking for remote or recreational property in Alaska I have a couple of recommendations for you. We have worked with both of these companies before and they have a vast knowledge of the state and many properties listed throughout the state.

Klaus Steigler- http://www.talkeetnarealestate.net/
Bernie Volkner- remoteproperties.com






One must have a good memory to be able to keep the promises one makes." – Friedrich Nietzsche

Planning Ahead

It seems like the financial institutions are slowly loosening up and loaning money again. Terms are going to be more restrictive and requirements more stringent but it is happening.
For planning purposes, it generally takes three to six months to process an owner/builder construction loan. It can sometimes be done in less time but it is normal to spend several months in the process.
If you want to build this year, now is a good time to start the process.







Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time, for that's the stuff life is made of.
Benjamin Franklin, 'Poor Richard's Almanack,' June 1746
US author, diplomat, inventor, physicist, politician, & printer (1706 - 1790)

Bringing em back!

We may be able to open a few more construction start dates this season. I have been approached by several past crew members about coming back and working with us this year.
These guys have built many projects for us over the years and know our system and quality expectations.
It is very difficult to hire new people and get them up to speed on how we operate and treat our customers. There are many qualified craftsmen out there but only a few have the do-whatever-it-takes attitude that we are looking for.
We haven't hired any new crew in quite some time, we just keep bringing them back whenever we can.




Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever. ~ Mohandas Gandhi

Pricing Updates!

We have updated our pricing recently. The increase on the cabin plans was 5%, however this will likely change in the next couple of months since our costs have gone up more than we thought since 2007. The garage plans went up the most after we found we were not even breaking even on some models.
Price increases are extremely unpopular. In hindsight, we would have been better off increasing the price slightly each year instead of doing it all in one season. I don't expect profit margins to stay on par with the past because the market is still in the doldrums but we do need to stay profitable to stay in business and take care of our customers for years to come.




An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest.
Benjamin Franklin
US author, diplomat, inventor, physicist, politician, & printer (1706 - 1790)

Plan #10 for 2011

This is our newest plan. We will be posting the pricing on this blog later today and on Facebook. We will also have a new page for it on the website.

A Shout out to The Webmaster

George Lochner at bygeorgecreations.com has been our webmaster since we started a website in the 1990's. Charles Lochner, George's brother designed our brochures before the internet was available.
George has been the best guy to work with on keeping our website tuned up. He always has great ideas and is very prompt about his work.
If you need a professionally designed website, talk to George, you won't be sorry.

Survival Tape

Today we had a broken and leaking propane line on our weed burner torch. I was looking around the truck and found the Survival Tape I bought at the Alaska State Fair. Since that was all I could find we decided to give it a try. To say the least, we were impressed!

Statistics

We have received our web traffic statistics for the past year. We had 20,000 visits, 250,000 page views in 45 countries, all fifty states and all Canadian Provinces. Naturally, most visitors are looking for ideas and only a small fraction will actually become our clients.
We have received so much interest in our kits from the lower forty-eight that we are working on a plan to accomodate our lower 48 friends.
Our main focus is building cabins on site here in Alaska but we have received a lot of interest in the kits.





If people are good only because they fear punishment, and hope for reward, then we are a sorry lot indeed.

- Albert Einstein

Repair Work

We receive many requests for repair work on remote cabins. Although we are not able to accomodate everyone; I try to either prescribe a solution or recommend someone who can do the work.
Don't hesitate to call if you have need of repair work. If we can't get to it, we can find someone who can or provide a plan of action you can do yourself.






He that falls in love with himself will have no rivals.
Benjamin Franklin

Susitna Energy

If you have lived in Alaska for twenty years or so, you will remember Mckay's Hardware in Anchorage. Mckay's Hardware was one of the old fashioned hardware stores that had everything, and I mean everything. I once searched every hardware store in Anchorage for a specific type of specialized lineman's pliers with no luck. I went to Mckay's and asked if they had the pliers and they asked me what color!
This was always the case, if you needed something, no need to shop around; just go to Mckays.
Well, if you are looking for specialized products for living in the bush or off the grid, Susitna Energy in Anchorage most likely will have what you need. Wood stoves, oil stoves, propane stoves, solar panels, windmills, inverters, generators, satelite phones and just about every other thing to make rural living comfortable.
We have dealt with Susitna Energy for many years and they are truly a pleasure to do business with.
Check them out at www.susitnaenergy.com or call them at 337-1300. You won't be sorry!



"We are all faced with a series of great opportunities - brilliantly disguised as insoluble problems.”
John W. Gardner

Ice Conditions

The weather this winter has made for excellent ice travel. We still have several start dates available before break up.
Many projects are much more cost effective if done in winter. Let us know if have building needs across the ice.








Most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.

- Abraham Lincoln

2011 Pricing

We posted on November 29th that the new 6% price increase would be effective on January 1, 2011. Due to the busy schedule, we haven't had time to do the updates yet so the pricing will remain the same until February 1, 2011. So far, noone has complained except our accountant.

2011 Forecast

2011 looks like a very busy year so far. We still have a few winter and summer start dates available. The ice conditions are pretty good so far, which enables us to start our winter work on schedule.
Our kit cabins have been more popular than expected and we will be adding more plans during the coming year.
As reported in the November 29 blog, there will be a 6% price increase on January 1.






Ordinary riches can be stolen, real riches cannot. In your soul are infinitely precious things that cannot be taken from you.
- Oscar Wilde

Merry Christmas!!

We at Friesen's Custom Cabins want to wish all a MERRY CHRISTMAS and a great NEW YEAR to come!

Ice Testing Video

Testing ice for thickness is a very simple process. Be sure you test in several different spots before you drive your vehicle on the ice. Be sure and watch for warm springs, creek outlets and inlets, and other areas of thin ice. Be sure and have at least 12" of good black ice for cars and pickups, 24" to 36" for larger rigs. Refer to the Blog dated 11/13/09 for the ice thickness formula put out by the Corp of Engineers. Above all, be careful!!

Pile Driver Extraordinaire!

We have built on many different sites over the years. Many times the only practical foundation is steel piling. When we need steel pilings we call Charley Ross at Pilings Plus.
If you are doing a project that requires steel pilings I highly recommend Charley. His number is 727-3027.
This particular project is on the Kenai in a flood zone. The only foundation that makes sense is a steel driven foundation.

2011 Pricing

Our prices have remained the same for the past four years. After reviewing our 2010 season, it has become obvious that we need to increase the price slightly to cover the ever increasing operating and materials costs.
We were anticipating a 10% increase across the board but metal roofing came down slightly this fall which enabled us to drop the increase to 6%. (Metal roofing is still approximately 50% more than it was in 2006) This increase will barely cover the increased cost of operations and definitely doesn't include any additional profit.
Not only has material increased in the past four years; workers compensation, liablility insurance, fuel and equipment costs have also gone up which really leaves us no choice in the matter.
The price increase will become effective January 1, 2011. Naturally, all projects contracted before that time will be locked in to the lower price.
We still have start dates available this winter and several available in the summer season.





I don't want to do business with those who don't make a profit, because they can't give the best service.
Lee Bristol

Thanksgiving 2010

Thanksgiving 2010
Everyone has heard all of the Thanksgiving cliches so there is no need to repeat them in this blog.
On Thanksgiving day take one minute (use a timer) and count all of the things you have to be thankful for. If you are an American, you can start with being thankful for our troops overseas who leave their families to fight and even die on our behalf. Then continue on to hands, feet, eyes, senses, air and the ability to breathe it. By the time a minute is up you will probably think of many more but if you can't that's OK, at least you made a start. In the worst of times there are always many things to be thankful for.
Many people have so many extreme problems that they really can't see their way to be thankful. It's not that they are unthankful, they just can't see through the fog of their misery. Remember, there are always people that are more miserable than you. Reach out to them with a kind word or a smile. It may do you more good than it does them.



Joy can be real only if people look upon their life as a service, and have a definite object in life outside themselves and their personal happiness.

- Leo Tolstoy

ICE TRAVEL

It looks like we will be traveling on the ice very soon. We normally shoot for driving on the valley lakes right after Thanksgiving but we will probably extend that a week or two. We should have pretty good ice for small vehicles in a couple of weeks.
Much of our work is done across the ice where it is impractical to do it in the summer. If we can drive across the ice to a building site, we don't have to charge extra for being off the road system and it makes things go very smooth.
If you have a project that is inaccessible in summer but driveable in winter; give us a holler and we can do it for you this season and have it ready for summer.




Generosity is giving more than you can, and pride is taking less than you need.
Kahlil Gibran
Lebanese artist & poet in US (1883 - 1931)

Kit Video Introduction

I have included an introduction video that comes with the power point presentation for our kits. We are continually trying to improve the presentation to make putting together one of our kits an enjoyable experience.
Please send any comments on how we can improve.

It's On!

It looks like winter is getting here, slowly, but it is coming. Soon we will be able to access projects that we couldn't get to in the summer.
I don't expect we will be able to drive on the local lakes or rivers until well after Thanksgiving.
We have a number of projects scheduled for this winter but we still have a few openings left.
A few tips for preparing your lot for winter building:

-Leave the snow on the lot and try not to drive snowmachines across the building site. This compacts the snow and allows the frost to go deeper into the ground, making it more difficult to dig pilings.
-Avoid scraping the organics off. The organic layer is a good insulator and helps keep the frost from going too deep.

These may seem like minor things but they make a big difference when it comes time to excavate.


He that lives upon hope will die fasting.
Benjamin Franklin
US author, diplomat, inventor, physicist, politician, & printer (1706 - 1790)

My First Cabin Repair Job

The year was 1978, the place was the upper Chitina River. I had been flown out to catch horses and repair the cabins at a hunting camp. Up until this point, I had never spent a day alone in my life so I didn't know what to expect.
My boss, Ken Bunch landed on an airstrip that I thought was a helicopter pad and told me this would be my home for the next few months.
A bear had recently torn up the cabins and out buildings. The doors had been smashed in and even some of the plywood had been peeled off the walls.
Most of the plywood had been flown in in 2 x 4' sheets which made it easier for the bear to peel it off, which he did.
The door was a hollow core door which probably felt as strong as toilet paper to the bear.
He had also gotten into all of the food in the cabin, making a huge mess.
Outside, he had bitten into the Blazo (white gas) cans draining them of there contents. I could never understand why they would bite a gas can.
Ken didn't give me much direction, he just wrote the names of the horses on the back of an envelope, Whitey, Blacky, Bad Eye, Friendly, Grey and so on. It was very easy to identify which one was which.
Before getting into his plane and flying off he pointed to a small cache platform in a tree and told me there was enough survival gear in the cache to keep me alive in case I burned the cabin down. "Keep you alive until I can get out and shoot you" he said with no hint of sarcasm. Then he got in his plane and took off. Here I was, an eighteen year old kid looking for adventure, never had spent a day alone in my life.
I first got started repairing the cabin. I found an old hammer with one claw, some used nails and an old hand saw with very dull teeth. Since I didn't have anything to campare it to, I felt fortunate to have even these simple tools.
To make a long story shorter, I fixed the cabin and made it liveable; at least until the bear came around again, but that is a story for another blog.





My life has no purpose, no direction, no aim, no meaning, and yet I'm happy. I can't figure it out. What am I doing right?
- Charles Schulz

New Kit Options

As advertised, we are adding new kit sizes and plans. Below are the new sizes for plans #1 and #5 six sizes for plan #2. These will be posted on our site very soon.

New Kit Options October 24, 2010
Plan #1
12 x 20- 9,120.00
24 x 32- 27,648.00
24 x 36- 31,104.00

Plan #2
16 x 20- 11,774.00
16 x 24- 13,871.00
20 x 24- 17,056.00
20 x 28- 19,398.00
24 x 32- 26,599.00
24 x 42- 40,729.00

Plan #5
12 x 20- 6,999.00
24 x 32- 19,200.00
24 x 36- 22,100.00



The meanest, most contemptible kind of praise is that which first speaks well of a man, and then qualifies it with a "but".
Henry Ward Beecher
US abolitionist & clergyman (1813 - 1887)

New Kits

Our kits are becoming more and more popular, especially for remote projects. We are introducing more plans and adding more options as well. We have developed a power point presentation for the kits that includes drawings, pictures, text and video. It is designed for someone who has no construction experience. So far we have had good feedback on the kits but we are always trying to improve our product and to include more sizes and styles.
We will soon be offering complete finish packages to include wiring, plumbing, insulation, wall covering, floor covering etc. etc. etc.
We are adding options as the demand calls for it and judging by the response we have had, demand is strong.
There is a four to six week lead time for the kits right now but we are trying to cut the lead time down to two weeks.
If you are in the market for a kit and you don't see it on the site; email or call us and we can get you a price on any size or style you wish.






Search others for their virtues, thyself for thy vices.
Benjamin Franklin
US author, diplomat, inventor, physicist, politician, & printer (1706 - 1790)

The seasons they area a changin'

We have become accustom to warmer temperatures over the years but 60 degrees in October still doesn't feel right. We all know that this can and will change very quickly so we might as well enjoy it while we can.
I hear people saying that it was much colder 20 years ago but I remember people saying the same thing over 30 years ago when I first came here. One thing for sure, 60 degrees in October feels pretty warm but I won't complain unless we don't have enough ice to drive on after Thanksgiving.
In our business, we look for ways to work with whatever weather we get, but sometimes you just have to stop and wait for it to change.
You can definitely count on change!



When you reach the end of your rope, tie a knot!
Thomas Jefferson

Shout Outs!

I am going to make 'Shout Outs' a regular feature of this Blog. Almost all of us experience extraordinary service occasionally or see a random act of kindness in our daily lives. Sometimes we don't realize how unusual it was until much later.
Naturally, we are more likely to remember negative experiences, but those comments will be reserved for private conversation.
Recently, I have been working with several parties who received their construction financing through First National of Alaska. The Loan officers I have been in contact with are Teo Ransum and Stacy Tomuro and they have been great to work with. Above and beyond good service, they have been extraordinary. They return calls very promptly and went out of their way to make sure things were going smooth. For Owner/builder financing information you can go to http://www.fnbalaska.com/373.cfm


Never miss an opportunity to make someone's day!

It's Over

The Fair is over and it was good! Scores of past customers came in to say hi. I tried to keep a log of all who came through but I soon lost count. After building between 500 and 600 cabins over twenty years, we have a lot of past customers.
We have had a booth at the fair many times but this year was different. We couldn't even keep up with the demand for flyers and business cards.
We want to say thank you to all who visited us and we look forward to doing it again next year.



I am not discouraged, because every wrong attempt discarded is another step forward.
- Thomas A. Edison

THE FAIR

The 2010 Alaska State Fair is almost a memory, albeit a wet one. Two more days and it is over.
Alaskans are a hardy breed, I can tell you that. They come to the fair no matter how cold and wet it is. They wait patiently in line for performances where they will have to sit in wet cold chairs with rain pouring (although the hosts were wiping the chairs with a shamwow last night, which was cool)
They are wet through and through yet they walk through the grounds like there is nothing to it. You don't hear any complaining either, they are more likely to say "Its Alaska, It Rains, It's Cold, It gets dark, get over it." Try that in California.
Having our booth here gives us an opportunity to visit with past customers which is great. Some go back over 20 years. It also gives us an opportunity to speak with new customers who will be building in the next 20 years.
Come see us at the Fair, we'll be there until closing on Monday, then it's back to the real world.

Winter and Spring

Once again the leaves are starting to turn and the pace of construction quickens to get everything done before the snow flies. We still have a few start dates available before freeze up but we build all winter so what’s the hurry, right?
We start doing a lot of our off-road building after Thanksgiving when the ice is thick enough to support vehicles and planes on a normal year. We can put in piling foundations year round so we never stop.
If you want to build next spring; now is the time to start the planning process. Sometimes the financing takes several months to go through. Spring and Summer start dates fill up pretty quickly so it is good to get the ball rolling early.




Behind every successful man is a surprised woman. Maryon Pearson

Winter and Spring Schedule

We still have a few start dates available before freeze up but now is the time to start thinking about winter and spring. As you know, if you read our blog very often, we do a lot of our off-road building in the winter. Things really start to get busy after Thanksgiving when the lakes are solid enough to drive and land on.
If you wanted to build this summer but just couldn't get to it; we can do it after freeze up.
If you are planning on building this coming spring, give us a call and we'll start the planning process with you so everything will be in order right after break-up.
We are usually putting foundations and garage slabs up until November 1 and sometimes a little after.



Success is simply a matter of luck. Ask any failure.
Earl Nightingale

FAIR TIME!

The Fair starts today! Our booth is right next to the one with the airplane, right down the street from the haunted house. We will be there to answer any questions and actually write estimates for you on the spot.
If we have built for you before, please bring a picture that we can post on the wall or just stop in to say hi.
If you are interested in building in the future, stop in, we would like to meet you and discuss your future plans.

Look forward to seeing you at the 2010 State Fair! Hopefully, we'll see some sun!

RAIN!

We have obviously had a very rainy summer so far in South Central. Rain affects our schedule in several ways and it is hard sometimes to explain that it isn't that it is uncomfortable to work in and we are a bunch of wimps. There are other aspects to consider.
It slows the pace down in rough framing when you have to slog through mud, change into dry clothes and work with heavy wet wood, it is also dangerous to walk on wet, narrow, slick wood. Especially when you are twenty or more feet off the ground.
The scheduling problems usually start with the dirt work. It is hard or impossible to excavate when it is really wet. The dirt turns to mud, equipment gets stuck or slides around, making it very difficult and slow.
When the dirt work gets behind schedule; we can't start the foundation work on time, which means we can't start the framing on time which means we are not finishing on time, which means we can't start the next job on time which makes people unhappy. When the sun does come out and dries everything out, we are still playing catch up on the previous job so we can get the schedule caught up, but the client gets frustrated because we aren't on they're job while the weather is good.
The only way to catch up the schedule is to work more hours or hire more people which comes with it's own set of problems. We normally elect to work more hours within reason.
Residential framing is hard work and the more hours you work the less efficient you become and the more likely you are to get hurt. Statistics show that efficency drops dramatically after eight hours and the injury rate goes up.
The bottom line is; we are trying to get back on schedule right now and we are actually very close to being right on so we feel pretty fortunate even if we haven't had much help from mother nature.





Don't go around saying the world owes you a living. The world owes you nothing. It was here first. Mark Twain

See Us At The Fair!!

We will have our display cabin at the Alaska State Fair this summer starting August 26. We will be on hand to answer questions and give estimates. We look forward to meeting you at the Fair. I'm not sure where we will be but we will most likely be on the purple trail over by the big barn.





If you want to feel rich, just count all of the things you have that money can't buy.
- Anonymous

Choosing a lot Part III

Choosing a lot Part III (Off road edition)

Choosing a lot off the road system is much the same as any other lot but there are a few more considerations due to access. Many people think that off road lots are going to be a lot less expensive than lots on the road system but this is not always true and the cost of building is going to be much higher.
If you want to get away from the crowds you almost have to go off the road system and even then you are likely to have some neighbors.
Some things to consider:
-What kind of access is there to your lot? Boat, Snow machine, ATV, Aircraft, Ferry, etc.
-Is there year round access?
-If the access is too difficult, are you really going to feel like visiting the cabin often?
-What about emergencies?
-Is there drinkable water available?
-Is the property in a flood zone? Many river lots are susceptible to flooding. Flooding can change channels and cut the property in half or erode the usable portion away. (I know, it happened to me)
-Is there permafrost in the area? This doesn't have to be a deal killer but you need to be aware of it.
-What is the weather like in the area? Are you going to have to worry about being weathered in for weeks at a time or spend your vacation time waiting for the weather to clear to get in or out?
-Is there heating fuel (firewood) available or are you going to have to haul propane or fuel oil?

All of these questions are to make you aware of things you may not have thought of, they are not to discourage you from making the plunge into remote property.



Discaimer: The advise in this blog is strictly informational and is not to be taken as anything more than a Builder's Opinion.


'Be yourself!' is about the worst advice you can give to some people.
- Tom Masson

Choosing a lot Part II

Choosing a lot Part II

Now that you have narrowed your search down to a certain area you can start getting more picky about individual lots. Make sure the lot is buildable and there are no encroachments by adjoining lots ie. septics, storage buildings, well, old cars etc.
Ask yourself some hard questions: (These questions are for lots on the road system)
-Is this lot steep?
-Are you going to have to build a long driveway?
-Is there electricity nearby, if so, how far away?
-Is the lot big enough to get the separation between your well and septic or between the neighbors well and your septic?
-If it is a lake lot; is there enough room to build and still have the required setback? Don't let anyone tell you that you can get a variance to build closer to the lake because it is unlikely.
-Is the lot swampy, if so, is there enough dry ground on the lot to build on. Many lake lots are wet but they are still buildable with some expensive dirtwork. If the lot is questionable, have an excavating contractor look at it with you to determine the cost for making it buildable, he will also be able to determine whether you have space enough for well and septic separation. Waterfront property is so scarce now that it is often worthwhile spending some money on making it buildable. If you don't have an excavation contractor, we can provide you with names in your area.
-Does the neighborhood agree with you. If you see crime tape and a condemned notice on the house next door you might surmise that there is illegal activity going on.(This is more common than you might think)
-Will the ground perk ok for a septic system?
-How deep are the neighbors' wells?
-Has the lot been surveyed recently? You want to be sure of your corners.
-Are there obstructions that will block the sun for three months in winter? This may not be important to you but you want to think about these things before purchasing.
There are many more questions to ask so try and cover all the bases.

More in Choosing a lot Part III (Off road Edition)


To discover the truth, ask the very old or the very young.
Wally Hickel 1978

Choosing a Lot Part I

Choosing a Lot Part I
Choosing a recreational lot can be a very divisive issue in a family. Mom wants a cabin with all of the amenities and some reasonable shopping nearby, Dad wants a remote cabin on a great fishing river only accessible by parachute. The kids? They want to go water skiing and snowboarding with no break between. Of course, I am being very stereotypical and perhaps even a little sexist, but it only goes to illustrate that finding a perfect recreational lot is very difficult; throw cost into the mix and you have a real dilemma.
Compromise is the operative word here. Decide what activities you most enjoy as a family and start planning. Now you have to refine your search.

• Do you want to be road accessible or off the road system?
• If you decide to be off the road system, you need to decide what access you are willing to deal with. Boat, Snowmachine, ATV, airplane, helicopter etc. (Remember, building off the road system will be much more expensive depending on how far and ease of access)
• Waterfront will be harder to find and more expensive.
• View lots are also going to be expensive but easier to find, depending on the view. Every lot has a view of something but you may not want a view of the neighbor’s collection of wrecked cars.
Once you have decided on the area you want to be in; the search begins. Most people drive all the roads in the area to determine where they would like to be or perhaps where they don’t want to be.
You can start by looking for “For Sale” signs and asking around the area. You can go to the borough office and look at the maps to find out who owns any property you think you might be interested in. Many owners have long since left the state and might be interested in selling. I can’t tell you how many times people have come to us to have us build for them on a lot they found in just this way. There are many ways to find an owner but sometimes it isn’t easy. Many lots sit vacant for years because the property is tied up in probate or other legal issues. The easiest way to find out about the status of a property is to go to the borough office and find out who the legal owner is and perhaps write a letter expressing your interest.
Another way to find property is to log on to the Alaska real estate Multiple listing site. http://www.alaskarealestate.com/ This is a very powerful search engine that can help you refine your search.
Craigslist also has many properties listed for sale by owner. http://anchorage.craigslist.org/
Alaska list is another great option. http://alaskaslist.com/1/posts/12_Real_Estate/0/



Looking at these sites will give you an idea about what is available and what the costs are likely to be and you might even find what you are looking for right away. My advice is to take your time in your search, you will find things about certain areas that you might not like and other things about other areas that you didn’t know about. (To be continued in choosing a lot part II)






Kindness is more important than wisdom, and the recognition of this is the beginning of wisdom.
- Theodore Isaac Rubin

Fall Schedule

This season has been extremely busy but we are always looking for new opportunities.
July, August and September are scheduled pretty tight but late September, October and November still have openings for starting work.
A lot of people think of the construction season as the summer months only. To us it is construction season year round.
If you are planning a project for this year and think you are running out of time; you are probably not out of time since we can start most projects at any time of year.
We usually start transporting materials to remote sites right after Thanksgiving when the ice starts getting thick.
Our kits are produced year round as well and we are usually about four weeks out on them depending on the size and complexity.



"Freedom is not worth having if it does not include the freedom to make mistakes". - Mahatma Gandhi.

Independence Day

July 4th is the biggest weekend of the summer. It is easy to forget why we celebrate this day. It is more than barbeque and fireworks. Many have died to buy this freedom we so casually enjoy.
Take a moment and reflect on those who bought this freedom with their blood.



"The cost of freedom is always high, but Americans have always paid it. And one path we shall never choose, and that is the path of surrender, or submission". - John F. Kennedy.

The Railroad Job

The Railroad Walk
We were building a cabin on the Alaska Railroad north of Talkeetna in the winter. I had gone in on the train to get the crew started and needed to get back to town to take care of some other business, so I decided to walk the eighteen miles back to Talkeetna instead of waiting until the next day to catch the train.
I calculated that I would walk four miles an hour so it would take four and a half hours. It was about five o’clock then so I would be in Talkeetna at 9:30 or at the worst 10:00 PM. So off I went.
There are mile markers on the Alaska Railroad so it is pretty easy to determine your speed and my speed was slow. I thought I was seeing things when I had only covered two miles in the first hour. Granted, walking on the snow on the railroad tracks was uncomfortable but I didn’t think it was slowing me down that much but the next eight hours proved to me that railroad walking was indeed slower than any other walking I had done.
I finally arrived in Talkeetna about one in the morning to find that I had left my lights on in my car and my battery was dead and I was dead tired. I went into the bar to see if I could find someone to give me a jump. One guy said he didn’t want to risk doing damage to the alternator in his new truck but another couple was getting ready to leave and they agreed to help me.
The man was drunker than his female companion so she drove their old truck to my old car to get it close enough to jump. The man was directing her to the car with wild gestures and yelling at her until she stopped everything and gave him a definitive middle finger to which he responded violently and ran up on her as if he was going to hit her. I ran over and split them up and told them I would find another way, thanked them for the help and headed into the old hotel and asked for a room, I would deal with the car in the morning; I had had enough adventure for one day.



No act of kindness, no matter how small is ever wasted.
- Aesop, Greek fabulist

Remote Estimating Part 2

(Continued from June 22, 2010)

We finally got back to camp and I started investigating the old cabin that needed to be jacked up to put a new foundation under it as well as a new roof and many other improvements. By now it was getting late and I knew I would be here for the night so I relaxed and allowed myself to enjoy the evening. A small argument broke out between a member of our camp and the neighboring lodge from whom we got our electrical power. The next door lodge shut our power off until an agreement could be worked out. For a few minutes I thought a brawl was going to start but it was soon smoothed over and it was bedtime.
The next morning I did some last minute figuring before the plane came to get me and soon I was on my way back to Aleknagik.
I got to my plane a little after noon and was soon heading to Illiamna to get fuel. At Iliamna I found that Lake Clark Pass was choked up with weather so I would have to wait until it cleared up which it did in only a few hours and I was on my way again. I made it through the pass and headed up Cook Inlet until I reached a solid wall of clouds that I couldn’t go around so I landed on a beach strip close to a little camp called Shirleyville. I knew nothing of Shirleyville but I found that they housed oil company people and other workers who were in the area and I was able to buy a meal and hang around for awhile watching TV until it was time to go back to the plane about a mile away.
I took everything out of the plane to make room to sleep and went to bed and slept fitfully even with the wind rocking the plane all night.
The next morning the weather had cleared so I took off early and flew home, landing uneventfully at my home strip as my wife and two kids raced out to meet me. What I had allowed one day for had taken three and we didn’t even get the job. The homeowner sold the property and that was the end of that.


You can't do anything about the length of your life, but you can do something about its width and depth.
- Shira Tehrani

Remote Estimating Part 1

Remote Estimating
I received a call from a past customer in 2003 who wanted me to give him an estimate on building a new lodge/cabin and repair an old log cabin at Lake Nerka north of Dillingham in the Tikchik Lakes system. No problem, I would fly down, take a look at the site and come home, no problem.
I made arrangements for a jet boat at Lake Aleknagik to take me up the Agulowak River to Lake Nerka or Second Lake as it is called by the locals.
I figured I would leave the home strip at 4:00AM, fly to Aleknagik, arriving at 8:00 AM, taking the jet boat to Agulowak, arriving at say…10:00, look at the jobsite, go back to Aleknagik and be in the air heading home by no later than 5:00 PM, stop for fuel in Illiamna along the way but still arriving home by 11:00 PM or midnight at the latest. A long day to be sure, but doable.
I got in the air by 4:00AM and had flown through Lake Clark pass with good weather until I got to the Nushagak River near the village of Ekwok. The weather here was much lower but I flew on, knowing I was pretty close to Aleknagik. As I got closer to Aleknagik, the weather got even lower and I was getting low on fuel. I didn’t have enough fuel to go anywhere if I got to Aleknagik and couldn’t land so I turned around and flew back to Ekwok and put some gas in the plane that I had brought with me.
I finally landed at Aleknagik at around 9:00AM; Later than I wanted but still not too bad. I asked around to find my jet boat driver and located his office down on the lake. He wasn’t there yet but would be there shortly so I waited for a half hour or so until he showed up. Unfortunately, he was having trouble with his Jet boat so he would fly me to the Agulowak in his Turbine Otter for the same price. That was great! I would make up for some lost time right?
We landed at Agulowak and I was introduced to the homeowner and his friends that were there for fishing and the first thing he wanted to do was take me fishing for Arctic Char, after all, this place is one of the hottest fishing spots on earth. I was on a mission to estimate a job so I really didn’t want to fish at the time. I had several projects all over the State and I didn’t have time to smell the roses, at least not at that time. We went fishing.
The Char were hitting so hard that you couldn’t keep them off your hook. I’m not a sport fisherman so I was really doing nothing to entice the fish on my hook but you literally couldn’t keep them off. I politely reeled in fish after fish, all the while my mind was on getting back to camp to do my estimating.

(to be continued)





"An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest."

Benjamin Franklin

Swamp Builder

It was early in 2000 when I was contacted to build a cabin for some folks in the Susitna Duck flats. I agreed to do the project without a site visit first. Not a good idea.
I flew down with the owner in his Cessna 185 on amphibious floats and landed on a small lake near the building site. We couldn’t taxi all the way to the shore because the lake was too shallow so we had to wade from the plane to the shore. The first thing I noticed was the smell. It had the rotten egg smell of stagnant water and bird poop. (Thousands of noisy seagulls inhabit the area.)
The building site, as it turned out, was at least 100 yards from the lake and it was all swampy trail. The cabin we were to stay in had large holes in the roof but there were areas in the old shack that were dry and it was slightly better than a tent so what the heck.
We contracted with Rust’s Flying Service to fly the materials. Since I knew a lightly loaded 185 couldn’t taxi to shore, a loaded Turbine Otter wouldn’t even get close so I sent down some Styrofoam float logs so I could build a raft to shuttle material from the plane to the shore where we could pack it another 100 yards to the building site.
I went out on the first load to build the raft and get ready for the following loads. We basically had to unload in the middle of the lake and unload the plane onto the raft, push it to shore, unload it and push it back to the plane for another load. This took some time but by the end of the day we had material on the shore.
Paul Holmes and I were going to do the actual construction so I agreed to pack material while Paul did the building, at least for the first two days. If you’ve ever packed moose meat through a swamp, you can imagine what it was like packing a cabin through the swamp. It took two full days to get the material to the building site. Paul worked in his bare feet because It was so muddy on the ground that it was making a nasty mess on the floor. We both slept well for those four days despite the bugs, noisy birds, mud and the rain but we got it done.
From this job we were able to develop better estimating procedures for hand packing materials in a swamp. Up to that time I didn’t really know how to estimate the cost for building so far from the lake in the swamp. Now I do, but there hasn’t been much call for cabins on the duck flats lately.




. The only job where you start at the top, is digging a hole.
- Anonymous

Facebook

Trying to keep up with the culture isn't easy for an old guy but thanks to my daughter, Andrea, we now have a Facebook page.
We are trying to keep it current with Wall Posts several times a week and regular updates.
It is amazing to me how many of our past clients have contacted us through the Facebook page.
I am still learning my way around this medium but why not join us?





I have been through some terrible things in my life, some of which actually happened.
Mark Twain

Interesting Requests

Over the years we have received many requests that were out of the ordinary. Any reasonable request can be accomodated here as long as we are reasonably compensated for it.
Most requests have to do with using alternative access, not damaging trees, parking, set backs and the like. Rarely would we decline a request from a client.
One request was so ridiculous that we actually had to laugh it off, literally.
In the mid 1990's a fellow called and talked to Gwen, my wife, about building a remote cabin. "No problem, that's what we do."
"This site is very remote and I don't want anyone to know where it is." He stated.
"OKAY" She replied, knowing there was more.
"I want to blindfold the crew so they won't know how to find the place when they are finished with the project."
...Long Pause...
"Sir, I can tell you now that my husband will not be submitting himself to being blindfolded for any reason, sorry!" End of conversation.
We all got a pretty good laugh out of this one and it continues to get a chuckle every time I tell this story. (Whenever I come across someone who hasn't heard it from me already.)




I am not discouraged, because every wrong attempt discarded is another step forward.
- Thomas A. Edison

Summer is Heating Up

The summer season is upon us. 2010 has already been a very busy year so far and our summer season is very busy.
The cabin kits have been very popular and we are working on adding more sizes and styles as requests come in.
If you have ideas on different sizes and styles of kits, please let us know. Your input is valuable for us in deciding what products to offer.
We still have start dates available this season depending on your location and the size of your project.





Always do right - this will gratify some and astonish the rest.
- Mark Twain

ACCESS HORROR

Access Horror
We had contracted to build a cabin at a popular lake near a remote village in Southwest Alaska in 2004. We had flown the material down in a DC-6 with Northern Air Cargo and it was sitting at the airport waiting to be transported three miles to the jobsite. The only problem was, we had no legal access to the building lot. This was not divulged to me before contracting the job which was my own fault, I hadn’t asked.
When I called our customer and explained him of our predicament I was told that that was my problem. That much was true, it was definitely a problem. The building site was on a lake with public access so I knew we could do it, but it would definitely take a huge bite out of our profit.
I ordered some Styrofoam float logs and had them flown down so we could build a raft. Now you can see where I am going with this. We wound up floating all of the material from the boat landing to the lot, unloading it and carrying it to the building site. This wouldn’t have been so unusual if we had known about it ahead of time and could budget for it.
So, if you are doing a remote project and I am asking a few questions about the site that seem ridiculous, you will know why. There are always surprises but we try and keep them to a minimum. We do operate on the premise that once we contract for a project, the price will not change if we find we neglected to do our due diligence and the conditions are not what we expected. It is our responsibility to check out the site if we are concerned about conditions.
Most people are very honest and forthright when they give us the information on there building site so it hasn’t really been much of a problem. I am proud to say that we have never asked for more money due to “unforeseen conditions.”


You can tell more about a person by what he says about others than you can by what others say about him. ~Leo Aikman

New Requirements for Owner/Builders

In the past year and a half or so, we have seen a definite change in the market. I have noticed that the lending institutions have become very skittish about loaning to Owner/Builders. Most are not loaning unless there is a General Contractor involved. This defeats the purpose for most owner/builders because they wanted to build their home themselves and not use a General Contractor.
In years past we were always building for owner/builders and there was no problem borrowing the money. The banks now want to have a general contractor on the project before loaning the money and the General Contractor has to be on the approved list of contractors for that institution.
We are offering our services to Owner/Builders so they can get the financing. We still do the dried-in shell and even the wiring, plumbing, insulation and sheetrock if necessary but the Owner/builder takes care of the rest with our help selecting subcontractors and products. We are on board to satisfy the bank and keep everything on schedule. We will be recommending sub-contractors to do the work that you can't do or don't have the time to do. Most importantly, we will be helping you with the paperwork which can be daunting if you have never done it before.







Promise only what you can deliver. Then deliver more than you promise. ~Author Unknown

Pending Price Increase

We have experienced a significant spike in material prices in the past few months. Sheet goods like OSB (Oriented Strand Board) which we use for sub flooring, roof sheathing and some wall sheathing, has more than doubled in price. Metal roofing has also jumped 15 to 20%. We are hearing that the earthquake Chile is responsible for the increase in material prices. Lumber is a commodity, whenever there is a large demand somewhere in the world, the prices go up.
We haven’t had a price increase in over three years and have seen our materials creep up over that time. Unfortunately, we are being forced to increase our prices 5% just to offset the increase in material costs.
This is never an announcement we like to make because many people have already budgeted for their home or cabin and 5% can push them over the budgeted amount. I anticipate the increase will take place June first unless we have a dramatic lowering of material prices in that time.

When you come to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on. ~Franklin D. Roosevelt

TREX

Trex Products
We are going to be offering Trex decking on our price list in the next week or so. We have been using the Trex product for over six years and we wanted to be sure we liked the product before we started offering it as a regular option.
We like it! More importantly, our customers like it. There were other companies producing synthetic deck products and many of them had a hollow core and didn’t hold up well. Trex has a solid core and has held up extremely well and requires no maintenance.
Most people don’t know that Trex is made from plastic grocery bags and recycled wood. In fact, Trex uses approximately 70% of the recycled grocery bags in the United States. The plastic is mixed with a wood sawdust to make an indestructible decking product.
It holds up to cold weather or warm weather. The color stays intact for years and it is very easy to clean, it doesn’t cup, warp or split and the surface is non-slip.
We haven’t found a downside except that it is more expensive and heavier than wood. Within a few years it will make up most of the decking in Alaska.
We will have the pricing posted on June 1 with several colors to choose from.



Never miss an opportunity to make others happy, even if you have to leave them alone in order to do it. ~Author Unknown

Off Grid Living: Solar Edition

Many of the cabins we build are off the electrical grid so it only makes sense to discuss the inovations in Solar, Wind and Water power.
For most locations in Alaska, solar power will be the most practical for electrical needs. Wind power is a viable option in many areas and there are more and more practical wind power systems on the market.
The key to alternative power is learning to manage and maximize efficiency in your electrical use.
If you only need to run a few lights, TV, stereo, water pump and a computer, you can get by comfortably with a simple 12 volt system.
If you want to run more appliances and have all of the comforts of home, you will want an inverter that will convert 12 or 24 volts to 110 just like city power.
If you want to go all electric with 220v capability, electric fridge, electric oven, freezer etc. you are most likely going to need a 48 volt system with large batteries and a sizable inverter system. These applications are normally for lodge use and will require the use of a generator system as well.
You will want to get a couple of solar panels and batteries to start with and my advice is to keep it simple until you learn what your needs really are.
For all of your off grid living needs you can visit Kirk and his staff at Susitna Energy Systems in Anchorage. Kirk not only supplies alternative energy supplies to others, he uses them himself at his remote cabin.

www.susitnaenergy.com
2507 Fairbanks Street
Anchorage, AK 99503-2821
(907) 337-1300


“If I had eight hours to chop down a tree, I'd spend six hours sharpening my ax”
Abraham Lincoln

LOG vs FRAME I

In the early 1980's I was introduced to log building when I was an apprentice to Paul Smith in Cooper Landing. I soon became a purist of scribe fit log building; looking down my nose at factory turned logs and conventional stick framed homes.
Now, a quarter century later, I realize there is room enough in this world for all types of homes and one type isn't necessarily better than the other depending on what location on earth it is located.
Here in Alaska and in other northern climes we value homes that are energy efficient and easy to maintain. Perhaps the most efficient homes are the sod houses that the Eskimos lived in for thousands of years. They are weather tight, easy to heat, built with local materials at low cost and are very low maintenance. Naturally, we have become accustom to our modern conveniences and most of us aren't willing to give them up to live in a truly green home.
Since we aren't willing to live in sod houses, we are left with wood as our primary material for residential housing. We do see some concrete homes and even some steel frame construction, but wood is still king in homebuilding.
I am often presented with the question; which is better, log homes or conventional frame construction. I love this question because it gives me an opportunity to display my vast knowledge and make people think I'm really smart. The answer is easily answered with a question. 'Which one do you like best?' or 'How much money have you got?'
The title for this blog is Log vs. Frame as if it is a title fight or a court battle. Believe it or not, people frequently do plot one against the other like one is better than the other.
In the words of the infamous Rodney King. "Can't we all just get along?"

A Framing Nailer for All

Everyone who has ever built anything with a hammer and nails can appreciate the ease and speed of a framing nailer. Up until twenty years or so ago; you had to purchase a compressor, hose, fittings and a nailer to get set up for air nailing.
If you are building one of our Kits, I recommend you purchase a Paslode Cordless Framing Nailer. Everything you need comes in the handy carrying case. You don't need a compressor, hose or anything else.
The framing nailer is powered by a battery to activate the firing mechanism and a butane cartridge to provide the power to drive the nail. We have been using them since the early nineties and have had great success.
True, they aren't quite as fast as pneumatic nailers and you have to pull the trigger for each nail but it is literally ten times as fast as the fastest hand nailer.
The downside is that the battery and the gas cartridge need to be kept warm during winter work. Our solution is to keep an extra battery and cartridge in an inside pocket close to the body.
The nailers are under $400 and can be had at AIH, Home Depot, SBS, Lowes.........
The time you will save will amaze you and there are many nail sizes etc. to choose from..





"Oh, wouldn't the world seem dull and flat with nothing whatever to grumble at?" W.S. Gilbert

'Glu - Lam Humor'

We were building a cabin on Nancy Lake in the late 90's. The site wasn't road accessible so we had to take all of our material by boat to the shoreline and haul it up a steep hill to the building site.
I had hired two young fellows to carry the materials up the hill which was quite a task. When I got to the site to start building, I noticed two 5 1/8" x 12" Glue Laminated beams still at the waters edge. Instantly I new what had happend. The boys found the beams to be too heavy. True, they were 18' long and they were heavy, but I figured they could have carried them with a little effort. OK, a lot of effort.
I called them on the cell phone to ask why they hadn't taken the beams up the hill, I got the answer I had anticipated. " Those beams were just too heavy". I wasn't thrilled about it but I knew I was going to have to take the beams myself if they were going to get up there.
I hoisted the first beam on my shoulder and slowly started trudging up the hill. Wow, this beam was even heavier than I thought. By the time I got to the top of the hill I was breathing harder than if I had attempted a four minute mile. It seemed like my mouth wasn't quite big enough to take large enough breaths. One down and one to go.
On the second beam I went a little slower but the same problem arose at the top of the hill: I just couldn't catch my breath. Finally, both of the beams were at the top of the hill and I was quite proud of myself and I called the boys and told them that I took the beams myself just to rub it in a little.
Later that night when I got home, Gwen, my wife wanted me to hear a message she received on her cell phone. "You want to explain this?" she asked. The message started out with extremely heavy breathing and continued with heavy breathing for a minute or two which seemed a little long for an obscene phone call. Then it hit me.
I had accidentally hit the cell phone recall button in my pocket while hauling the beams and had called her phone and left a message. She looked at me after I explained and said one word sardonically. "Sure"



Experience is simply the name we give our mistakes.
- Oscar Wilde

Porcupines Like Trex?

We have been hearing reports about Porcupines and trex. We would really appreciate any feedback.
It is pretty well known that porcupines like to chew on anything that contains salt or glue. They really like unpainted T1-11, mainly because it contains glue. Canoe paddles and wood hand tools are also favorites as they contain salt from the users sweaty palms.
There have been reports of porkys chewing on plastic culverts and trex decking. Since these products cannot be painted, other measures have to be taken if the problem persists.
If you have pictures of porcupine damage, particularly damage to trex decking and other synthetic products; we would like to post them for our readers.


Make failure your teacher, not your undertaker. - Zig Ziglar

More Cabin Tales

We had contracted to build a Uyak bay on the west side of Kodiak Island. A landing craft had been hired to haul the material which amounted to almost 50,000 pounds. My crew was on board and the boat was on the water for eight or nine hours when I got a phone call from Kenai Supply in Homer.
Kenai Supply was our supplier at the time in the mid nineties and we had always experienced excellent service from them. "Jay, I hate to tell you this, but we forgot the glu-lams on the Kodiak order." My heart quickened as I immediatly got on the phone to a friend in Kodiak to see if he knew anyone who could take the glu lams from Kodiak city. He didn't. I then called around to see if I could find anyone to take the beams. I finally settled on All West Freight in Sterling. 'Wild Bill' owned the company and he came by his name honestly. Bill agreed to take the beams in his Sky Van but since they were 20' long he wouldn't be able to close the back door.
I took the beams from Palmer to Sterling and loaded them on Bill's plane and we headed for Larsen Bay. When we got there I had to hire a truck to take the beams down to the bay, hire a boat to haul the beams across the bay, and pay the crew to haul them up to the building site. By the time we got the beams delivered they cost
2000.00 each compared to 300.00 at the lumber yard.
I guess it is true that you learn more from your losses than your wins. You would think that after a few projects like this I would want to give up. Well I thought about it a few times but couldn't bring myself to give up the exitement. Or, more likely, I don't know how to do anything else. In any event, we've learned a few things about building cabins over the years but we still get a surprise once and a while and that keeps it exiting.




No act of kindness, no matter how small is ever wasted.
- Aesop, Greek fabulist

Building Season 2010

The 2010 building season has taken us a little by surprise. We have committed much of the summer and some of the fall of 2010 and the winter of 2011 looks like it will be busy with off road projects.
We still have some open dates for this season so don't hesitate to call.
Pricing has been very level for the past year until the past few weeks. We have seen metal roofing products shoot up 15% and lumber prices are very likely to follow. This means we may have to raise prices for the first time in almost four years. I am not sure when this will happen and we will hold it off as long as we can.
Financing institutions have lightened up a little since last year which helps when you're trying to get a construction loan.
All in all, 2010 is shaping up to be a good year for building so let us know what we can do for you!


There are no classes in life for beginners: right away you are always asked to deal with what is most difficult.Rainer Maria Rilke