“If it were easy, then everyone would do it!”
Log Homes as unique as the customer’s fingerprint
by John Allaire
C hainsaws and chop saws a-buzzing deep in the heartland of the Canadian Prairies. It’s a common sound, almost unnoticed by the locals. In fact, it would be odd if you didn’t hear them. Often the sound is related to wood being harvested to heat homes over the long Canadian winters. However, in some cases, those saws are crafting someone’s dream home. Such is the case at Back Country Log Homes, a building company located approximately 35minutes fromSaskatoon, Saskatchewan. Owner and head builder Jeff Esau has operated Back Country for a little over fifteen years. Prior to becoming a log home builder, Esau worked as a framer for a company that built conventional-construction homes. But his passion for somethingmoreunique, interesting and artful took him away from run-of-the-mill 2x4 construction and toward 40-foot pine logs and notches. He began his journey designing and constructing log furniture. From there, it was a short walk down the career path to the dream homes he builds today. Spotlight on Business Magazine spoke with Esau and one of his colleagues, Pete Doucette about the company’s building philosophy and the blossoming log home industry in the Canadian Prairies.
Back Country is the quality of logs and wood they use for their construction. In fact, they go to great lengths, and distances, to ensure they are using the best product Mother Nature can offer. This means sourcing out in British Columbia, where the reputation for unique construction lumber is second to none. “We build with a lot of Douglas fir and Western red cedar, some spruce, and it all comes out of BC,” Esau explains. “The logs that are around here in Saskatchewan, overall they aren’t up to par quality-wise for what we’re doing. There is a lot of taper and spiral grain to the logs and the trees are just a lower grade altogether for our type of construction. And we like to really focus on quality, so it’s worth the effort to get the wood out of BC.”
the home here in the yard, take it apart and build it again at the customer’s site. Then the customer takes care of all the other stuff. We are involved in the planning stage and we consult with the other contractors along the way. But our focus is on making sure the log construction is done properly,” Esau explains. Back Country’s homes have ended up being re-constructed as far away as Western Alberta, but the bulk of their work comes from right at home in Saskatchewan. Proximity can be an important piece in the puzzle, because scouting the client’s location and ensuring the foundation work is done according to the plan can save on headaches down the road. Doucette adds that communication between contractors at the early stages is paramount to saving time and money. “We find ourselves checking and re-checking and keeping a constant dialogue goingwith our contractors.” Doucette also points out that some remote locations can pose the biggest challenge to their home construction efforts. “There have been areas where weather conditions and trucking have made it just about impossible to get the logs up and into places. A lot of these homes are obviously in rural locations and the roads are not made for large vehicle access. But that’s all part of the game. If it were easy, then everyone would do it!” Another topper on the list of priorities for
There’s something about a log home that draws you in and sparks your imagination. And log home builders are artists commissioned to translate the imaginations of clients and fulfilling dreams. Stepping away from “box construction” and sculpting every beam and notch. Esau explains the appeal. “I thought about what I wanted to do in the future and it wasn’t 2x4 framing. I wanted to do something a little more unique and interesting. So, I started looking into how I would go about building log homes.” Keeping the business manageable and remaining true to what they do best is key to their principles. “I work with two or three other contractors pretty regularly. We build
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NOVEMBER 2019 • SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE
SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 2019
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