Paul Bickford
Northern News Services
Published Monday, August 13, 2007

FORT SMITH - John Plowman of Fort Smith began building log homes in the 1980s.

However, about four years ago, the owner/operator of Northwood Log Homes Ltd. switched from constructing new log houses to refurbishing existing ones.

John Plowman, the owner/operator of Northwood Log Homes Ltd. in Fort Smith, stands outside his own home made of logs. - Paul Bickford/NNSL photo

That work involves such things as upgrading, finishing, restoring and putting chinking between the logs to stop cold air infiltration and heat loss.

Plowman said he switched the focus of his work for a number of reasons.

One reason is that it's hard to get reliable, quality workers, just like with many other trades in the North, he explained.

Plowman said the market has also changed.

"Everyone moving here to the North wants instant homes," he said.

Another big factor, especially in Yellowknife, is the shortage of suitable land, such as acreages, on which to build log homes.

"Log home owners are a different breed," Plowman said. "If there's no suitable land, they're not going to build a log home."

Plowman now does most of his work outside the NWT.

In the last year, he has worked about two months in the NWT and the rest of the time in Alberta and B.C.

The work may be on homes which he or someone else built.

"It's homes anywhere from eight years old to 40 years old," he said.

Along with upgrading the energy efficiency of the log houses, Plowman often brightens up the interiors and exteriors.

"The logs are cleaned and given a healthy coating," he said.

Often, he also installs sun scoops, which are small, circular glass portholes installed in ceilings to magnify the light from the outside.

"If you've got a full moon, you've got enough light to walk around at night," he said.

A lot of his renovation work involves deck repair and expansion.

Back when Plowman was still building log homes, his prefabricated creations were shipped around the NWT, and to Alberta, B.C., Yukon, Ontario and even Japan.

Log homes are a very specialized niche in the housing market.

"Log home construction and log home restoration is only one half of one per cent of the Canadian market," Plowman said.

Over the last four years, he has worked in Fort Smith, Yellowknife, Hay River and Tuktoyaktuk.

Plowman said he enjoys refurbishing existing log homes and making them like new again.

"It's much more satisfying restoring homes," he said.

Plowman especially enjoys making homeowners happier with their log houses.

"It's the way they visualize their homes should be," he said.

However, the work is very physical, he said. "It's not easy work by any means. There's no quick fix."