Welcome to the Onalaska Log Building School, LLC  
Business license # 603-001-503  

Updated  May 13,  2012.   

One-day classes, you will learn to build a log building in that one day, guaranteed. The key to this success is the Butt and Pass building method, no notching and no need to season the logs before building, and no real expertise is needed.   Next Class is Saturday  July 7.    

My name is Jack Tipping and with my wife Sharon, we built 7 log buildings on our property in rural Onalaska, Washington (see photos).  We took the Skip Ellsworth log building class in 1979 and built our log house in 1980, and our log garage in 1981.  In 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011, we constructed one log building each year with trees we planted in 1980.  Log building number 8 is currently under assembly. Our house cost us $20,000 to build, including new appliances, and today it is valued at over $250,000.  Building our own house allowed me to retire in 2005 at age 52 after working 30 years for Washington State Fish and Wildlife (fish biologist).

Because we are more hands-on oriented and want folks in the Northwest to be able to access a local learning site, we offer a one-day class on log building construction.  2012 is our 3rd year of teaching this class.  Through construction of our buildings, we learned many things since taking the class in 1979 and some will save you hundreds of hours of effort and keep your house from being infested with golden bruprestids for decades, like ours was.  We've had a number of students who had previously taken Skip's class and then took our class due to the hands-on opportunity and they liked it. 

There is nothing like the comfort of a warm and cozy log house, you will never want a stick house again. By building your own log home you will acquire a great sense of accomplishment, and improved self-confidence.  We estimate that a new 1,600 square foot log house will cost about $100,000 to $130,000 to build, depending on your desires and abilities, which is far less than most new homes sold today.  We spend about $4,000 on the 10' x 12' log buildings which include high quality metal roofing but does not include the cost of logs as we have our own trees. 

Please do not buy a log house kit until you take our class, or you will regret it.  We've had kit owners call who have had to replace house logs for a steep cost after 7 years; we will show you how to design your structure so no logs will ever need to be replaced. 

We teach you how to construct your log building using ropes and pulley blocks, two people is the ideal number for building.  With the Butt and Pass building method, it is not uncommon to put up 8 logs in a day, compared to 1-2 logs for a notched house. The class will go into far more detail than the brief overview listed below, and you will be provided with notes and a CD of the PowerPoint for future reference. The class is about 60% PowerPoint and 40% outside.  Class size is limited to 8 people and is conducted in our log home, so you can ask all the questions that you need, we want to make sure you understand completely. 

You will also get to inspect our log buildings.  Our goal is for you to walk away from this one day class with the knowledge and ability to construct your own log building.  You will also learn from our mistakes, just knowing the best time to cut your trees is worth far more than the class tuition; there is a window when the bark is easy to remove and the logs won't turn black from mold, and you will avoid insect infestations; did you know that golden bruprestids will reside for up to 50 years in the logs before boring out (not good!).  

The hands-on demonstrations include:

1) lifting a large log with pulley blocks, 

2) walking through timber trees to view which ones would make good log building logs,

3) peeling a log with a drawknife and spud,

4) reviewing and handling the tools needed to build a log building,

5) viewing actively used lifting poles, guy lines, and pulley block assemblies, 

6) using tape measurers to lay out and square up a foundation, and use of board-and battens, 

7) stringing a set of pulley-blocks,

8) how to use the 2-stick measuring method for vertical poles and story-stick for wall heights,

9) reviewing the existing log buildings for the various differences in construction,

10) lifting a wall log, a ridge pole and a set of rafters with pulley-blocks on a working model,

11) mixing up mortar mix and chinking part of a log building, 

12) viewing what various log treatment products look like on the logs,

13) laying out several rows of a butt-and-pass building with lumber, so all will understand the concept.  

It is one thing to see photos of how things are done, but it helps considerably to actually do it yourself, even on a small scale.  

Brief class overview:

If you want a class on a certain date, we can put that date on the webpage and if at least 4 people sign up, we will conduct the class. 

Students putting together model to illustrate Butt and Pass method of construction.

Students using pulley blocks to lift a ridge pole and set of rafters on the working-model building.

Another outside demonstration includes training on setting up and using batter boards to level and square your foundation.  You will save a ton of money doing your own foundation.

Students working on laying out a square foundation.

There is also a log lifting station where you will easily lift a 11" diameter x 16' long log with pulley blocks.  

Other stations include log peeling with spuds and drawknives.

Spinning a log with a peavey.

You will learn how to string a set of pulley blocks.

Reviewing the hand and power tools needed.

You can see if it is worth cutting rebar pins with boltcutters.

 Learning how to chink between logs.

Classes are conducted in our log home and class size is limited to 8 people.  You will receive a 26 pg booklet of the class and a copy of the Powerpoint CD.  Next class is Saturday July 7  so please make your reservation soon.  If you can organize a group of 4 or more and want the class at another time, just let us know and we will set one up for you.  

Sign-in is at 8 am, class starts at 8:15 am and ends around 5 pm. Tuition is $175 per person ($150 per person for parties of 2 or more) and includes an outstanding lunch provided by our great local cafe. You will be able to select your lunch option, including vegetarian, after registering for class.  To register for class, contact us via email tmusky@tds.net  or phone 360-978-4962 and send a $50 deposit per person via Paypal or check at least two weeks before the class (2101 Hwy 508, Onalaska, WA 98570).  Deposit will be refunded if your reservation is canceled more than one week before class.  Balance due on day of class.  We do not accept credit cards although we do take Paypal (Paypal address is tmusky@tds.net ).

Please note, we have cats, so if you are badly allergic to cats, you should not attend the class. 

We are located about 30 miles south of Olympia and 10 miles east.  The area is rural and quiet. You are welcome to take a walk in the woods at lunch break.  Be sure to bring a raincoat and shoes that you can remove easily  as we will be going outside several times for demonstrations (no muddy shoes in the house).   Thanks !

Links to related sites:

Log Homes, Log Cabins & Log Furniture -  http://loghomelinks.com/

Need a cool B&B to stay overnight while attending the log building class?  Great lodging  and food at a good price. Students staying here say the food is excellent and abundant.  http://www.theshepherdsinn.com   phone: 360-985-2434