Coffen Construction Blog

Having been in the building industry over the last 30 years, there has not been many changes to zoning laws that are in favor of the home owners.  That was until now!  On April 2, 2012, the governor of Wisconsin, Scott Walker signed into legislation a change to the recently enacted ruling titled “NR115″ which now gives the state uniform control over lakefront properties., rather than individual counties or townships.  What does that mean for you the land owner?  It means now that the county can no longer put restrictions on properties with n the county, that are greater, or more restrictive then that of the state.  This is a win win for all. 

Now the landowner, can develop that existing home into the home of their dreams, without being limited to a small percentage of it’s value, or square footage size.  The county and townships will also win by have properties increased in value, which will  consequently increase the taxable value, bring more revenues for both.

This is a very hot item currently, and the new rules are being written and drafted as this post is being written.  We will be meeting with county zoning officials later in this week to get the latest details of these changes.  If you’d like to learn more about what you will be allowed to do with your home?  Or would like one of our design specialists to come out and discuss your ideas?  Please call now to set up that appointment.  (715)-356-3302.  Or visit our contact page and someone will reply to your email.

The home show season is well upon us.  I know we talked about this already.  but this is very important to us!  Our weekends are spent traveling to cities throughout the upper mid-west to meet people like you.  People who are interested in learning more about today’s recreational home building trends.  Be it super insulated walls and ceilings?  Energy efficient heat systems.  Or simply the rustic beauty that goes with a log or timber frame home.  People who like to visit nature, take a paddle in your canoe on a quiet north woods lake.  Or bike on one of the many trails our forests have to offer.  Or even never leave their cabin.  Instead, just sit by the cozy fireplace, reading a book with the windows open, listening to the loons call out on the lake.

Can you picture yourself here? 

If so, please come by the next Lake Home and Cabin Show in Schaumburg, Il.  And talk with Mike or Jan at the Golden Eagle Log Home booth.  Between their years of log home building experience, and knowledge of the north woods.  They’ll be able to answer any of your building questions.   Whether it’s a log cabin, or a maintenance free, rustic retreat?  They’ll be able to help you.

Call us at 715-356-3302 for more information.  Or click here.

See you soon.

Thank you all for stopping by our booth at the recent show in Madison.  We hope you left there with gained knowledge about your lake property, and some of the options that are available.  One thing we saw for sure, is the renewed interest in not only new construction, but  improving or updating your current lake property.   With our partnership with Golden Eagle Log Homes, we can offer options to upgrade your existing home by “wrapping” your existing lake home with split-log siding to give you the look and feel of a log home with having to tear down your existing home.  Or by added some stone or log features, you can create the new “hy-bred” look also.  And this also allows you to work within the parameters of restrictive zoning issues on lake front property.  At Coffen Construction, Inc. we are experienced with all area counties zoning rules and set backs as well as the states new NR115 WDNR waterfront regulations.  Please feel free to call or write us if you’d like information on your specific property.  Or if you would like to schedule a site visit by one of our project managers.  Please fill out a request for information here.

One of the best ways to learn about the building contractor you are putting your trust in to build your home, is to visit their model home.  At Coffen Construction, Inc.  we not only have a beautiful model home for you to see.  But we also have a long list of clients whom we’ve built homes for that allow us to use their homes to showcase our work to potential buyers.  Though usually these are by special appointment only.  Sometimes we set up a day long open house event, that allows you to see a few different homes in one day, each with it’s own unique designs and characteristics.  And also, allow you to interact one on one with the home owner to ask them questions about us, and about the home buying and building process.

Another way to meet your contractor, is to visit a local home show.  These are usually held in the slate winter or early spring in most cities.   This year, Coffen Construction, Inc. will be teaming up with Golden Eagle Log Homes. com at 2 venues in the upper mid west.  On January 27th- 29th.  We will be at the Lake Home and Cabin Show in Madison, Wisconsin.  This event is held at the “Alliant Energy Center” on Madison’s south side.  The other will be the Lake Home and Cabin Show at the “Schaumburg  Convention Center” in Schaumburg, Illinois on March 16th – 18th.

You can always check our home page, “upcoming events” listing for the next open house or home show we’ll be at.

Thanks, and we’ll see you at the show.

Hello again,

With the new year fast approaching.  Lets look at some of the trends we are seeing in new home construction.  First we all know people are more money conscious then they ever have been.   And Coffen Construction, Inc. recognizes this with home design and construction.   We have streamlined the building process so our clients can get the most for their money.  We can do this with our 30+ years of experience and  using quality materials ands qualified sub contractors for every step of home building.

So lets talk about these trends….

Homes are getting smaller.  We are seeing clients focus more on amenities, rather than size.  They like to use higher end cabinetry, wood flooring, heated ceramic tile floors in baths.  And so on.  We also see the creation of outdoor living areas.  Screen porches, outdoor patios with cooking areas.   Some are even going with a 3 season room, fully enclosed and protected from the elements, yet open and airy enough to still feel like you’re outside while  reading a book and listening to the loons on the lake in front of the fire place. 

Let the experts at Coffen Construction, Inc. help you design a home specifically for your land while keeping your budget and features in mind.

Another trend we see is use of a basement or lower level as living space now.  You no longer have to think a the basement only as a place for the furnace or washer and dryer.  It can  become part of the living area.  With an open stairway design from the main floor, you can create the feeling of being part of the rest of the home.   You can also create extra sleeping areas with a walk out, or perhaps a window well to allow egress out of a bedroom.  This is also a common place for that rec-room or bar you’ve always dreamed about.

So now that we have you thinking about using more space for less!  Give us a call at 715-356-3302 to talk about your ideas.  Or send us  an email, and one of our design professionals will get in touch with you shortly.

Did you know winter is the best time to build your full log home?  Why?  Typically in the northern climates of the United States.  It’s colder with less humidity.  And it snows, but doesn’t rain.  This means your logs inside moisture content can stay within the 18- 20% (+/-) range.  And isn’t exposed to added moisture from rain.  This also is the times that most logs are harvested from the woods for use not only in log homes, but for dimensional lumber which is used in other areas of the home such as floor framing, interior walls, and roof.  These logs will also be milled for use in tounge and groove paneling, wood doors, window manufacturing and trim moldings.  These days, there are many environmentally friendly ways to harvest logs such as  use of machines and trucks powered by bio diesel.  Also, traveling only on ground once it is frozen  to prevent unnecessary soil erosion.  Selecting only mature trees, leaving the younger ones to grow and regenerate new growth.  And always replanting of areas once harvested.

Here is a photo from early 1890 that shows the method used to carry  logs for lumber the local mills.  Not only did they use horses, they also would roll logs to rivers or lakes, then float them to the nearest saw mill to be made into lumber.

In most cases, the ground work to building a home will be done in the fall before frost sets in.  Like clearing the land, digging and pouring the basement, then  back filling for construction.  Coffen Construction, Inc. can take care of all of these items for you.

Most log home plans usually only take a week or maybe two to erect the log walls, then another for completing the roof.  Once the roof is on, your logs should again be exposed to additional moisture before they can be stained in the spring once the temperatures are again above freezing.

More on exterior and interior stain in up coming posts.

Are you are thinking about building a log home or a log sided home in Northern Wisconsin .  Or maybe you already have an existing home and are looking to update it, to create that cozy log home feel?  We would like to invite you to tour our model home.  Please stop by  Coffen Construction’s , Golden Eagle Log home model.  We are at 7563 Hwy 51  just 3 miles South of Minocqua, Wisconsin.  We are open 6 days a week, give us a call to set up an appointment. (715)356-3302. Or email us.   While here pick up a free full color plan book full of floor plans.   We are a General Contractor and a family owned business that has been building dreams for people just like you for over 70 years.   Give us a call or stop by and say hi!  Even if you are driving up late and we are closed, we leave the lights on so feel free to peak in the windows!  If you can’t stop by, just log on to our website and request a free plan book to be mailed to your house.     We are looking forward to helping you out with your dreams to have a cabin in the woods or a lakehouse in the area. 

We travel throughout Northern Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Michigan’s upper pennisula.  Golden Eagle Log Homes carry a large variety of full log and half log profiles and corner choices.  Let our professional staff guide you through all the choices to help you make the ones that are right for you.

Last post we talked about weatherization.  But one reader asked a question on how we insulate our new homes.

Of course, there are several different products out there, and trust me, each manufacturer claims theirs to be the best.  But really it comes down to how much insulation values do you need for your area?  In northern Wisconsin, we see some winter night temperatures fall to 35 or even 40 degrees below zero.  Yet in July and August, our warmest season, they can reach as high as 90′s. This can be a 140 degree temperature swing from winter to summer.  So how do we insulate homes to work best in both climates?

Here’s what we’ve seen to be the best method for new home construction.  In our basements or crawl spaces, we will insulate the perimeter with 2″ styrofoam sheets for an r value of 10.  Then if we are to finish the inside of that basement, we’ll build a 2×4 wall inside the concrete and use r-ll fiberglass batt.  This gives you a total of r-21 values for your basement. Now let’s move upstairs.  In our exterior walls, we spray a thin layer liquid foam product, then add an r-19 or 21 fiberglass batt for a total wall r-value  of 29-31. 

Many of the homes we build are chalet style with a vaulted ceiling in at least the great room.  Or maybe even the bedrooms.   This presents a bigger challenge for insulating.  So here’s how we do that.  First, we’ll frame the roof with a parallel chord truss.  This will allow us enough depth for continuous vent shutes from eave to ridge, then we install “dense-pak” blown in fiberglass for a ceiling r value of up to 60.  That’s right, 60.  Now our homes are insulated to meet the harsh demands of the northern Wisconsin environment.

However, insulation is only part of the package.  We must also use high effiency heating cooling, and ventilation products to control the indoor enviorment of your home.

I’ll talk more about these in future posts.  Please check back here.

Fall is here in northern Wisconsin.  The leaves have transformed from green to yellow to red, and are now off the trees.  The gardens have been harvested with the fruits and vegetables canned up for  winter.  We’ve already seen several nights of frost, and temperatures are only in the 40s during the day.  This means it’s time to take a few moments to do some simple weatherization to your home to help save you $$ money in heating costs over the next several months.  You can take care of a few items yourself, or call us @ (715)-356-3302 to set up an appointment for an on site evaluation by one of our trained professionals.

One of the easiest and sometimes overlooked items is to simply check to see that all windows and doors are closed properly.  I’ve been called back to new homes that Ive constructed with the customer complaining about drafts at a window only to find that it wasn’t closed completely, and the latch secured.  But beyond that, you should also check to see that your doors close properly against the weatherstrip.  If there is a gap along the side, then some adjustments will be needed.  You can simply reposition your lock strike plate forcing the door to close tighter in order to latch.  You may need to replace worn weatherstrips too in order to get a tighter seal.  Other items that are a little more expensive, but will payback in lower heating (or cooling) costs are to replace older doors and windows.

 Coffen Construction, Inc. can stop out and make these adjustments and give your home an evaluation to see if window and door replacements are needed.  We are a certified Pella window contractor for both new and replacement windows.  We can provide pre-finished units, with one day installation so you can begin saving money right away.  And some homeowners may still qualify for a tax credit before the end of the year.  (Please consult your personal tax advisor)