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Selecting Log Species
Our location in the interior of British Columbia, Canada provides a selection of home building logs unsurpassed worldwide. Only premium quality logs are hand selected from trees growing at high elevations. These trees experience slower growth rates, resulting in a higher structural value due to tighter annual growth rings. In addition to strength, each log is hand selected based on straightness of grain and consistency of size.
 
Our most requested species for log walls is Engelmann Spruce due to its bright color, large diameter, and minimal taper. With an exterior sealant, all log species will provide exceptional long term durability for generations to enjoy.
 
 
  
  
  
Log home with spruce log walls
Engelmann Spruce
Spruce displays a nearly white heartwood with a slight tinge of red. It has generally straight grain and has moderately small shrinkage. Spruce logs have a high thermal value and low maintenance requirements; plus they are light in weight which keeps transportation costs lower.
 
Generally, we only recommend spruce for wall logs, and we recommend Douglas Fir for roof and upper floor beams due to its superior structural strength. These two species complement each other in appearance when used in this combination.

Englemann Spruce bough
picea engelmanni
...named after the botanist George Engelmann. 'Picea' is derived from the Latin word for pitch.
UNIQUE FEATURES:
  • a straight, spire-like tree
  • near the ground the branches tend to droop
  • interbreeds with white spruce in certain areas
LOCATION:
  • grows throughout the Interior and many southern areas of British Columbia
  • found at high elevations
  • this spruce prefers deep, rich soils with sufficient moisture
SIZE:
  • can grow to 50 metres in height and 1 metre in diameter
WOOD CHARACTERISTICS:
  • not very strong
USES:
  • modern - log houses (walls only), plywood, violins, pianos, aircraft parts
  • traditional - roots: sew seams of baskets, make baskets; bark : cooking baskets, canoes, roofing, baby carriers; pitch: wound dressings; needles: chewed for cough control
CONES:
  • seed cones - yellow or purplish-brown; hang from upper branches; scales are papery with jagged edges
  • pollen cones - yellow
NEEDLES:
  • four sided and sharp but not too stiff
  • bluish-green with white lines on upper and lower surfaces
  • they are arranged in all directions along the twig
  • strong odor
BARK:
  • reddish-brown
  • scaly
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