Legends in the log.

• Author: Ajango, Deb
• Position: Log cabin construction - Special Home Section

In the search to build the perfect northern home, the timeless art of log cabin construction has nearly gone by the wayside, displaced by ever-changing, high-tech construction techniques.

But a few persistent logsmiths, like Arthur and Chris Mannix of Top Notch Log Builders in Talkeetna, keep the tradition alive, respected and in demand. For 13 years, the duo has built permanent homes and dream getaways for clients around the state, proving with their craftsmanship that today's log homes have advanced far beyond yesterday's crude, rustic wooden dwellings.

"There are a million (amateur builders) out there, but on a professional basis, there aren't many left," says Arthur. The brothers estimate that they are one of the less than 40 full-time log home builders currently working in Alaska.

The history of log home construction around the world is rich. Many homes were quality structures, evidenced by their ability to withstand the passage of time. "The Scandinavians built amazing structures," says Arthur. In Norway, log buildings still in use today have sheltered residents for more than 600 years.

The Mannixes admire the early Alaska Native and Russian log structures as well, but believe the quality of log home construction declined greatly toward the end of the 19th century. When traders, explorers and gold stampeders came to Alaska, their stays were short and their temporary housing structures were poorly built. As a result, most of the gold rush era cabins lasted less than 20 years, though a few of the better ones remain standing today.

To succeed in log cabin construction, the Mannixes blended knowledge from the past with modern building techniques. What separates the brothers from other log home builders, Chris says, is their focus on quality work. "We'll turn down quick and dirty jobs," he says. "We pay attention to details."

The two use round logs, for example, whereas most builders use two- or three-sided logs. Also, Arthur notes, "A lot of other log builders use fiberglass insulation between logs. We use a gasket system in conjunction with the fiberglass."

The Mannixes take a different approach to log notching as well. A good notch -- one of the most important and most noticeable features in a log home -- not only joins logs together, but also seals in heat and, more importantly, keeps out moisture. Using some of the old traditional tools of the trade, the Mannixes use "shrink-to-fit joinery" techniques, a more time consuming but...