International Log Builders' Association celebrates its 
50th anniversary

Photos: Woodworking
The International Log Builders’ Association just celebrated its 50th anniversary at the Château Montebello.

The International Log Builders’ Association just celebrated its 50th anniversary in style. And what better location for such an auspicious occasion than the fabled Château Montebello, in Montebello, Quebec.
Built in 1930 and still the largest log building in the world, the château was built over a remarkably short four-month period by 3,500 craftsmen using 10,000 hand-cut western red cedar logs transported to the site by the Canadian Pacific Railway.
So this was the ultimate venue for the ILBA, a worldwide organization dedicated to furthering the craft of well-crafted log building, the advancement of log builders and to the promotion of the highest standards within the trade.
The association’s growing membership represents more than 20 countries and it writes and distributes educational materials on log construction to individuals, institutions and industry. In addition, the association provides educational services related to the craft of log building, develops and disseminates educational material and programs related to the craft, manages trust funds for scholarships and educational programs for those pursuing further training or a career in log building. ILBA is also working closely with governments and the International Code Council in regards to building codes.
So this was the place to join industry leading builders, contractors, suppliers, manufacturers, designers and much, much more.
“Our association is about enhancing and developing the craftsmanship of log structures,” says ILBA’s president Robert Kenel AKA Grizzly Bob.
Kenel, who hails from Michigan, has been a member of the International Log Builders Association for many years and its president for the past few years.
He’s also just stepped down as president of the International Mass Timber Alliance and he has been the longest serving president of the Great Lakes Log Crafters Association. Kenel also sits on a committee writing building codes for the ICC 400, he was a project manager on National Geographic’s Cabin Fever show, and he just finished up as the lead 
build on the Fast Home Rescue show.
“I recently retired “a little bit” from log building and my daughter and her husband are starting to take over the business.”
But he is not out of “the game” by any means. Instead, Kenel says he is now representing Sashco, a stain and sealing company in the North East of the U.S. and Eastern Canada.
Kenel got his passion for handcrafted log homes after he graduated from college with a degree in residential building.
“I built some stick homes, as we call them, but I always wanted a log home for myself so I started reading up on them, talking to people and watching what they were doing. In 1983 Kenel built his own log home and never looked back.
“And I have been building log homes ever since, it’s my passion.
“You have to remember, when you get a log home, it’s not just a log home you are buying. You are getting into a lifestyle. When you get home from work it feels like you are on vacation or a holiday. It’s very relaxing and comforting and they stay warm in the winter and cool in the summer using a lot less energy. The mass of the logs holds the warmth and cold much better than what you can do with stick construction.
“Of course you have to maintain and upkeep your log home, but that’s no different than a house. Where some people make the mistake is that they don’t do any upkeep for too many years and then you have a lot of catching up to do and it gets expensive. But if you do a little maintenance, check your stain and caulking every few years, then it will last forever.
It’s like me, I take maintenance every day. I wake up in the morning, I brush my teeth, wash my face and comb my hair…it’s like that,” he says with a smile.
“Your automobile takes maintenance too, it needs oil, and maybe new tires, or brakes and if you don’t do any of those things your car is going to break down. So it’s like anything, you have to take care of it.
Kenel says the 50th anniversary is a big deal for the association. It speaks of the dedication and determination by members to support their industry and spread the word about an ancient, albeit extremely relevant craft.
“We have a lot of international members attending the event, we have people coming from all over to celebrate this big event.”

Making history
The conference started out with a pre-conference preservation and restoration workshop where participants had a chance to learn from experts as they focus on the historic Château Montebello. ILBA member Pierre Cousineau has an ongoing contract to look after preserving and restoring Château Montebello as needed and he and his crew were demonstrating their methods live.
Other conference presentations covered a diverse range of topics within the log building industry. Renowned experts shared insights into innovative techniques, sustainable practices and emerging trends and attendees gained valuable knowledge about log construction, from design principles to project management.
Then there were the always popular and entertaining Log Games, with their unique blend of skill, camaraderie, and heritage that saw participants engage in friendly competitions showcasing their prowess in traditional log crafting techniques.
The conference also offered both live and silent auctions giving attendees a chance to bid on a variety of log-related items, tools, unique pieces crafted by experts and so much more while raising money for the association.
And there was a visit to local log building company Harkins, a high-end timber frame and log home builder, a dinner and entertainment at Sucrerie De La Montagne, a sugar shack, where participants enjoyed a hearty, mouthwatering, quintessential Quebecois feast and of course the President’ Dinner and aforementioned live auction. And all of that was mixed with plenty of opportunities to network and visit with new and old friends.
There were also numerous guest speakers, workshops and discussions lead by industry experts and members had a chance to share stories and history from the past 50 years.
As organizers pointed out: “These sessions provided a unique platform for veterans to reflect on the evolution of log construction, the industry, shared valuable experiences, challenges, and lessons learned. It also created a continued sense of community by bridging generations and offering a platform for collective wisdom within our rich history in the log building profession.
“By definition, logs are the single most predominant characteristic of these log homes and the very reason builders and owners alike, are drawn to this form of construction. What could be more natural? The appeal of logs is universal. Visitors to log structures are immediately drawn to touch the logs, soothed by their strength and character. (How often do you see people caress drywall?)
Many books have been written about how to build long-lasting log structures, suffice it to say, ILBA members know exactly what and how to do it and they are all about sharing that knowledge and expertise to further the industry.
The longevity and strength of properly designed and built log structures is undeniable. One only has to look at the log structures in Norway and Russia, which are still standing proud and true after more than 800 years.
And it is that integrity of the structural design and the kinds of logs used that make all the difference.
Kenel said the choice of which logs and species to use, as well as keeping in mind that different building styles may benefit from certain types of log, are all important considerations when it comes to building a quality log structure.
“Every log is different and all these choices, including what is available to you locally, are important considerations,” he says.
“And of course whatever we build has to be able to accommodate shrinkage and settling.”
According to ILBA, “one of the greatest discussions between builders, and perhaps, one of the questions they are most frequently asked by clients, is what species of wood should be used. Cost plays a role in choosing wood species, but it is not the most important factor, since all species have their own desirable traits.
“Geographic location and forest ecosystem bear the greatest influence on log selection. Primarily softwoods are chosen due to their superior “R” factor, ease of handling, straightness of grain, and availability. Cedars, pine, spruce, fir, and larch are all commonly used as building logs, and each has different qualities. Western red cedar contains turpentine’s within its resins thus rendering it more rot resistant, and it does not check or shrink as drastically as other species. Douglas fir is heralded for its superior density, if it lacks in simple “R” value, it is made up for in structural performance. Spruce is valued for its light colour, and while it may not match the qualities of Douglas fir for structural loading, it is nonetheless an excellent choice of building log.
“Access to these species, coupled with harvesting, handling, and government tariffs affects the price of building logs. Building with eastern white pine may not prove practical in Alberta, British Columbia, or Washington. The best logs to use are often the ones most readily available to the builder. The consumer is then faced with the choice of either accepting the local species or planning with their builder to purchase another species.”


“Our organization was created to support and promote the industry throughout the world. It started out as a Canadian entity, but it now represents log building around the world,” Savignac says.
“The dissemination of information is key, and not just to our members, but equally important to governments and officials who sometimes make the wrong assumptions about our industry.
“So the association has always been an advocate and promoting our industry. We also develop training and apprenticeship programs, develop standards, which morphed into effective methods and practices, and then going beyond the skills and techniques and procedures to get consistency in our work so that we can be recognized.”
Savignac says the association has also advocated by conducting fire resistance and thermal performance testing, and testing on wind-loading and shear capacity to name just a few.
“We are developing tables and charts for what logs can do and that is extremely important for us. Engineers have tables for steel, concrete and smaller timbers, but really there is a lack of understanding of what logs can do. And not just structurally, but as I said in my presentation, on the thermal performance of wood as well.”
Savignac says a real challenge facing the industry is that wood has been abandoned in the definition of R-Values. He says there is a kind of prejudice against wood because of information provided by the “insulation-manufacturing folks.”
But wood has its own inherent values as a thermal mass retaining and giving back and ILBA is developing and testing these values in order to champion solid wood.
“The challenges remain however, as there is pressure on governments to prove energy efficiency and the flags politicians are waving is that they are trying to save energy, that there is energy conservation. So they are looking at technologies to increase R-Values in homes, how can we make a home more airtight, how can we prevent heat loss? But why don’t we also look at heat retention ability, why don’t we understand the inherent qualities of wood?
Unfortunately, because of that lack of understanding, B.C. and he says he can also name a series of countries, where there is a “real risk that our industry, any kind of log construction, could be shut down, unless it was treated like a boutique use, like a cottage, not a fulltime residence.”
And Savignac says it’s not just ignorance, but look at the big-money influencers, “concrete and steel, those are big lobbies who are buying the government and buying attention.”
So the industry is facing some challenges, but they are working to address them and get the important information to the people that make the rules.
So rather than having to defend itself or using anecdotal evidence, the industry is undertaking studies that prove once and for all that “wood is good”
A perfect example for the kind of ignorance and misinformation log builders are facing came from one of Savignac’s clients. He’d built them a beautiful, large log home in the Calgary area and a year later the client told him “the energy audit people came to their house and accused the owners of tampering with their meter because they weren’t using as much energy as the stick house, their neighbours, next door. Same size house, same footprint so something must be wrong. So they blamed tampering rather than recognizing the thermal efficiency of the log home.
“That’s why these meetings and conferences that are attended by people from around the world, and have been for decades, are so important,” Savignac says.
“These discussions about our successes and failures and standardizing what we do and support and encourage each other are incredibly important. Especially since government attitude is merely that log homes are just OK when in fact they are better.
“That’s also why we have to keep talking about carbon sequestering because we are involved in providing a solution, the log home is a solution to a number of environmental challenges we area facing.”
It’s mass timber, stupid
Mass wood timber buildings (CLT etc.) are all the rage right now. Everyone, especially governments, love mass wood. It looks good, it looks modern and “it’s not guys in plaid shirts and ponytails covered in wood dust building with logs. They like this modern development and there is a real upsurge in mass timber buildings,” says Savignac.
“It’s a champion cause for politicians, we’re using wood, we’re helping the environment, we’re capturing carbon, but then they are using two or four inches of polystyrene foam or some other insulation. So they don’t really understand how wood works and that’s where we come in.
“Our initial studies, even in Phase 1 are showing an annual energy savings of 22 per cent and during peak times mass wood saves some 50 per cent of energy and increases thermal comfort.
“We’re fighting a lot of stereotypes. But wood is healthy and wooden homes have so many benefits. We just have to continue to educate everyone about that fact.
“I’ve been building for a long time and I have worked with many First Nation across Canada and they have a real problem with modern, 2x6 plastic-wrapped homes. There is a phenomenon called sick home syndrome and that is prevalent throughout the North. So there is a huge demand to get back to building with natural materials. I’m not going to get on that horse too hard today, but that is something to keep in mind, that we are building healthy homes.