Honest Abe Log Homes Overview

Who we are HOW WE DO IT

For more than four decades Honest Abe has continuously updated design and manufacturing processes, and our dedication to excellence has remained steadfast. Many of our employees have been with the company for more than two decades – and some since we began in 1979.

The company has developed log profiles used in tens of thousands of homes and structures that have been shipped to destinations around the globe. We’ve determined through trial and error which wood species were the most stable and learned that kiln drying ensures that wood retains the integrity the homeowner expects.

Honest Abe Log Homes is a family-owned company with its manufacturing facility and national headquarters located in the community of Moss, Tennessee, on Tennessee’s northeastern Highland Rim near Dale Hollow Lake. Founded in 1979 by the late Doug Smith, an engineer who was the son of a rural sawmill operator, Honest Abe was born out of the love Doug and his wife, Janie, shared for log homes.

The couple built their own home in the ‘70s, and the home they shared still stands.

Doug was a visionary who understood the importance of creating log structures that were both beautiful and solidly manufactured.

He invested in processes for milling logs that would be stable and durable, understanding that the investment in a log home was a lifetime dream for most people. Assembling a team as dedicated as he was, Doug guided Honest Abe to become a leader in the log and timber frame industry.

Doug lost a very hard fought battle with cancer in 2011, but if you visit Moss, you will likely run into his daughter, April Smith Patterson, who along with her brother, Shane Smith, and their mother, Janie, became responsible for Honest Abe’s operation after Doug’s death.

Following in Doug’s footsteps as well as forging new paths, April, Shane and Janie run a number of businesses, many of them woodrelated, that employ several dozen people and contribute to the local economy.

Who are we? We are a strong company that believes in the importance of people –the people who make our log homes and the people who live in them. We appreciate you taking time to get to know us a little better.

Because of solid business practices, the company has weathered economic storms of the past and emerged even stronger. One of the ways we continue to demonstrate our financial stability is by maintaining an inventory of timbers onsite, protected from the elements and ready for milling into a home upon order.

Our customers can visit Honest Abe’s facility in Moss and see the logs that will become their homes. They can tour the kilns where the logs are dried, and they’ll meet the professionals who will shape, grade and package the logs for shipment.

There’s a visceral commitment to creating a quality product for a fair price, to helping customers get what they are dreaming of if at all possible and to making the experience such that a homeowner would choose Honest Abe all over again.

Downsizing to a

Dream

Fulfilling a 30-year dream, a Tennessee couple downsized from their conventional home to an Honest Abe log cabin they designed and finished themselves. Married since 1992, Jimmy and Tabatha Clay plan to grow old in the home of their dreams on land steeped in family tradition.

“We have wanted a log home since we were dating in the early 1990s,” said Tabatha. “It’s always been a dream of ours, and now we are living that dream and will grow old together in this log home built on land that’s been in my family for more than 150 years.”

Jimmy explained that when the couple decided to downsize, they researched and visited a couple of log home companies to discuss their ideas and get pricing.

“We came across the Honest Abe website and noticed that they were having a log home raising in Moss, Tennessee,” Jimmy said. “We decided to go. It was the most informative event and very well prepared to educate everyone about the log home building process. They were very nice and so helpful, and it was clear that they were as passionate about log homes as we are.”

The one-story 1,109-square-foot cabin has an additional 1,136 square feet of covered porches (the Clays’ favorite feature!), an open living/ dining/ kitchen great room and laundry/half bath under a heavy timber roof and two bedrooms and a full bath under a conventional roof.

“We were a little concerned about energy use with doing the heavy timber roof system throughout, so we opted to just do the great room,” Tabatha said. “Had we known that it was going to be as easy as it is to heat and cool then we would have done it throughout.”

Executing their plan to downsize after almost three decades in the conventional home where they raised their son and daughter brought some bittersweet challenges.

“It bothered us emotionally that we may not have the space to display our kids’ pictures throughout the years like we had in our other home,” Tabatha said. ”We resolved that issue by using one of the antique cabinets as a picture cabinet, and Jimmy built a shelf along the wall above the window and door so we could display photos and little antique knick-knacks. He also built a ‘mini loft’ in the great room where

larger antiques and heirlooms can be easily seen but are out of the way.”

To recreate the look of log cabins erected by early settlers to Tennessee, the Clays chose 6” x 12” square, dovetailed logs manufactured by Honest Abe Log Homes with wide chinking and Smoke log stain by Perma-Chink Systems. Contributing to the historic look are the stones used in building the front steps and covering the foundation and under-porch pylons.

The Clays opted to finish the cabin themselves after Honest Abe’s dry-in crew had finished laying the logs and the metal roof covering was installed. The couple built the light fixtures and bathroom vanities and finished all of the interior themselves from hanging the log siding, blowing the insulation, chiseling out for the electrical, to sanding, washing and clear-coating the walls.

“Jimmy and his friend did all of the electrical, and Jimmy also made the fireplace,” Tabatha said. “For a mantel, we used an old log from a lifelong friend's nearby barn. We had lots of days where we had friends come and pitch in to help us, and we are so grateful.”

It's always been a dream of ours, and now we are living that dream...

We're not an average sawmill

Honest Abe uses 3-D modeling and computer-driven equipment overseen by a team of dedicated craftsmen. This means every log that goes into your home is cut within specifications for a calculated fit – a critical step when it comes to windows, doors and corner notches.

We know how to plan for shipping. After all, we’ve shipped across the U.S. and around the world. For every individual home, the pre-cut logs are numbered, neatly bundled and wrapped for protection during delivery. You can know and trust that each piece of your log home that comes from our facility has been carefully produced, graded and packaged.

Customers won’t find unrealistic sales gimmicks, nor will they find outrageously priced products. We offer an honest value on a quality line of products we believe in. We back it up with a Limited Lifetime Warranty on our logs and timbers.

How our choices benefit you

Our Eastern White Pine logs exceed industry standards. To minimize movement, shrinkage and settling in the timbers over time, natural air-drying and kiln-drying measures are used in the manufacturing of every timber, producing a more stable log and tighter joints. The fact that we are Timber Products Inspection certified graders coupled with our own quality control process ensures that your logs are of the finest quality.

We design exclusively for each customer. While we maintain a catalog of standard floor plans, our specialty is working oneon-one with clients to create a distinctive home that’s perfect for them. Our clients can sit down with our in-house Design & Drafting Team to create their own forever home.

Your investment is safe with us. Honest Abe maintains a sizable inventory of timbers, something many of our competitors can’t say. We want you to feel comfort in knowing that the logs for your new home have already been purchased and are ready to begin processing as soon as you are ready.

Haven

On the hill

Why wait to have the log home of your dreams? That’s a question Connie and Alex Diamond asked themselves as their family began to grow, and the answer was very clear. “Go for it now!”

“We really wanted our log home to be a retreat for us,” said Connie. “We are a close-knit family and value doing things together. We also place a lot of value on the simple things in life.”

The couple poured over floor plans from a variety of sources, including Honest Abe Log Homes, all of which inspired Alex to craft a custom plan to encapsulate their desires for the home.

“We both love being in nature and felt a log cabin would capture our dream of a home that is rustic, warm, unique and would incorporate elements of the outdoors,” said Alex, who is a pediatric sports medicine physician at Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital and a team physician for Vanderbilt University, the Nashville Predators and Nashville Sounds.

While exterior walls are D-Log, the 3,283 SF home’s interior employs both log and timber frame design elements. There are multiple heavy-timber beams in the great room. A large breakfast nook was fashioned from a halfhexagon alcove. All the bookshelves and trim work were custom made as were the live-edge mantles that were hand-hewn from a fallen tree from their first home.

Outside, the 956 SF wrap-around porch terminates into a screened-in area complete with a real stone fireplace, a television and room for sitting or casual dining. The adjacent patio is crafted from huge rocks harvested from the land.

“We prayed for a piece of land that connected us to nature,” Connie said. “We desired a refuge for our family, our friends and anyone who came to visit. That’s why we named our spot “Haven on the Hill.” We love our sunrises, sunsets and the 360 view of the surrounding hills during the day and the city lights off in the distance at night… breathtaking views from our great room windows.”

The Diamonds said they have been happy they chose Honest Abe Log Homes.

“We felt reassured about how long they have been in business and that they are a family-run operation,” Alex said. “Every time we met a member of the Honest Abe team, we could sense the pride they had in the company, the work they did and wanting to give us their absolute best.”

Alex and Connie, along with children, Evie, 8, and Evin, 5, have created raised gardens on the expansive lawn and are working with Honest Abe to create a garage with a bonus room near the home.

“We feel like God has blessed us with a special place to make lifelong memories where we can relax, play, pray and grow together,” said Alex. “We have found our forever spot. It was an amazing adventure, and we have enjoyed it every step of the way.”

FOR THE FULL STORY AND MORE PHOTOS VISIT: honestabe.com/haven-hill

We have found our forever spot.

~ The Diamonds

Sized to Fit

Smaller houses are more affordable to heat, cool, furnish, maintain and clean. Bigger homes offer more bedrooms, bathrooms, living spaces and bonus rooms, like a home office, craft room, playroom or game room. We have done everything from cozy cabins to sprawling estates. So, how much square footage do you really want?

1,500 Sq. Ft.

4,900 Sq. Ft.

2,750 Sq. Ft.

8,500 Sq. Ft.

Presented here are three different customizations of one of Honest Abe’s most popular standard plans, the Bellewood.

At Honest Abe we’ve been impressed with the creativity of our customers as they found their style and settled on their design. Teaming with our skilled design, sales and manufacturing teams, our customers are living in impressive forever homes born right from their own imagination or customizing our existing plans to meet their needs and desires.

Customization of a Plan

AWARD W inning DESIGN

VISIT: honestabe.com/3d-tour-cambridge

The Cambridge

Incorporating both log and timber frame elements, the exterior of the Cambridge combines the use of logs with features of the Craftsman style, including rock pylons, double porch posts and exposed trusses underneath a wide front gable.

The open design of the first floor, complete with a see-through fireplace as a centerpiece of the dining, living and kitchen areas, invites conversation and celebration. French doors open onto a large covered porch with a wood-burning fireplace, extending the downstairs living space. The timber frame sunroom accessible from the kitchen also offers exterior access, creating the perfect office or studio.

Three spacious bedrooms, one downstairs and two upstairs, are each distinctively different. Among the benefits are reading and office spaces, hidden storage areas and luxury bath and dressing rooms. The staircase landing is actually an open room soaked in light from vaulted ceilings and warmed by a second story fireplace.

An original Honest Abe Log Homes design, the Cambridge plan is the recipient of national awards for design. It is open to tour at Crossville, TN.

This is the most advanced structural insulated panel on the market today!

-US Department of Energy Building Scientist

Structural Insulated panels

STRONG AND SAFE

2-3x stronger than conventional framing, no VOCs and our foam doesn't melt at any temperature.

Sustainable

Less waste, long-term energy savings and altogether better for the environment.

Great Resale value

Stronger, more-efficient homes that have a better resale value and unique selling point.

Fast and Easy

Our panels are premade at our plant, inspected, shipped to you and arrive ready to assemble on the site.

Designs

We at Honest Abe recognize the popularity of homes that may not be constructed using a full log or timber frame system. For those customers we have developed our Southern Timbercraft line of homes. These homes incorporate many of the same timbers and timber accents that may be found in our log or timber frame homes. However, they utilize the very strong and highly energy-efficient Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) for the building envelope.

Whether it be a Craftsman-style home on top of a mountain, a modern farmhouse or a totally custom design that you’re looking for, the flexibility of the Southern Timbercraft line of homes offers endless possibilities. With bold craftsmanship and notable designs, customers are able to choose where and how they use timber accents that will create a home that is totally unique.

Not only can you create a one-of-akind custom home, it will be the strongest and most energy-efficient home in the neighborhood with efficiency that will give you a real return on investment! After all, aren’t there other things you would rather spend money on than energy costs?

We are proud to offer our Southern Timbercraft designs and styles of homes that include the highest quality SIPs available in the industry. These panels are manufactured by our sister company just down the road from our national headquarters in Moss, TN.

VISIT: honestabe.com/southern-timbercraft

Cozy

There

Something different. That’s what homeowners Priscilla and James Head wanted when they conceived their custom wood home.

“I wanted a home style that would match the Middle Tennessee scenery,” said Priscilla. “Cabin style is not my typical style, as I grew up in Mississippi with more traditional homes.” Over the years Priscilla, 35, and James, 40, who lived in Nashville, had fallen in love with Center Hill Lake.

“We found ourselves spending more time on our houseboat,” Priscilla recalled. “We wanted a more permanent residence near the lake – a much slower pace than our typical lifestyle in the city.”

James, a native of Celina, Tennessee, near Honest Abe Log Home’s National Headquarters, had previously built an Honest Abe structure to accommodate his business office.

“We loved using a company nearby,” Priscilla said, adding, “and I loved how unique we could make our home with Honest Abe!” Priscilla and her mother, Linda Epps, worked together on developing a floor plan that encompassed must-haves like a dog bath in the garage, a porch with outdoor living space, a man-cave for James and a 1,530-square-foot walkout basement with a wet bar, lounge and exercise room.

the two-story house.

The 1,530-square-foot main floor has an open great room, kitchen and dining room. A breezeway connects the three-car garage to the main home through the laundry room, which has a half bath. The master bedroom suite has double walk-in closets and a full bath with a shower and separate tub, a private toilet closet and dual sinks. Two private bedrooms with a shared bath and an open loft comprise the 900-square-foot second story. Priscilla and James used Honest Abe’s dry-in service to construct the home.

“Honest Abe was very quick,” Priscilla said. “They really seemed to take pride in the build and treated it like their own.”

To create the modern visual impact the couple desired, they made some bold choices, both inside and out.

“Staining the cabin white was my idea, and James loved it too,” Priscilla said. “Along with the white exterior stain, we decided to paint the interior tongue and groove ceiling white. It offers great contrast between the stark white cathedral ceiling and the deep brownish-gray stained wood beams in the living room.”

Both Priscilla and James said that despite the challenges inherent in building any type of custom home, it was well worth the effort.

FOR

“We wanted a modern flare with simple, clean lines and something different than the plain, typical cabin,” Priscilla said. “We chose the log siding since we did not want to have too much wood visible from the inside. We love the timber frame interior as it is rustic and cozy but not over-the-top.”

Melissa Copas, an Honest Abe designer for more than 20 years, drafted the final plan for

“Now we have a home that is just what we envisioned,” Priscilla said. “The blend of cozy, rustic and modern makes our home a joy to come home to every day. Also, the fact that there is no other one in the world like it makes it all the better.”

THE FULL STORY AND MORE PHOTOS VISIT: honestabe.com/not-conventional

is no other one in the world like it.

not conventional

~ The Heads

Honest Abe is so confident about our package prices for log and timber frame homes, we’ve backed them up with our Honest Abe Honest Value Guarantee.

We will meet or beat the price of any competitor’s comparable log or timber frame home package. Simply submit a detailed itemfor-item quote from another company. If it’s lower than the Abe package of like materials, Honest Abe will meet it.

Customers ask how such a guarantee can be offered. It's because Honest Abe's expert designers create dynamic, yet efficient floor plans. State-of-the-art manufacturing processes produce highquality packages with less waste. Plus, everyone on Honest Abe’s staff is readily available to assist customers with decades of company experience behind them.

Who builds My Home?

Honest Abe provides design, manufacturing and delivery services for log or timber frame homes. We offer one of the most complete log or timber frame packages in the industry. Of course, your package may be customized depending on certain options you exercise during your design phase. On page nine, you’ll find a detailed list of what’s included in our standard log home package.

Honest Abe has developed a contractor network to assist you in building and completing your log home. Honest Abe Construction Department’s Dry-in Service is available in certain geographical areas as a service separate from the purchase of your log home package. If you are outside of our Dry-in Service area, Honest Abe may assist you in locating qualified log home builders in your area. Additionally, Honest Abe has a network of Independent Dealerships across the country, many of which either build, or have their own local network of builders they rely on.

Our Dry-in Service includes completion of first floor framing and subfloor, setting the log or timber frame package, constructing the ceiling beam system and building the roof

system. We erect the gable ends, install soffits, fascia, dormers, trim and exterior doors and windows. Interior walls and stairs are roughed-in, and porches and decks are built.

Regardless of who performs your dry-in services, you’ll be responsible for selecting contractors and craftsmen to complete the excavation, foundations, drywall, carpeting, tile or hardwood flooring installation, roofing, stain application, trim work, plumbing, HVAC, landscaping, painting, electrical and septic tank installation.

Honest Abe’s goal is to help you in establishing a business relationship with only the best qualified tradesmen with our Help Everyone Locate Professional Builders (HELP Build) program.

Our staff or independent dealers guide you through these processes calling on nearly four decades of experience in helping tens of thousands of customers become Honest Abe homeowners.

Free Tour

You're invited to a of Four Log Homes!

Atrip through the heart of Tennessee along I-40 provides the perfect opportunity for touring a variety of distinctly different, furnished model log homes designed, manufactured and built by Honest Abe Log Homes. Visit the homes between 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Friday and Saturdays until 3 p.m. The Milling Plant at the Moss Model Home National Headquarters is open for tours by appointment.

Moss Model Home National Headquarters & Mill

9995 Clay County Hwy., Moss, TN 38575

800-231-3695

North of I-40 on U.S. Hwy. 52, 10 miles West of Celina, 25 miles East of Lafayette

Cookeville Model Home

3205 Hwy. 111 North, Cookeville, TN 38506

800-280-3651

Hwy. 111, 6.5 mile North of 1-40 Exit 288

GPS your way to us. We are looking forward to your visit!

Crossville Model Home

448 Crabtree Rd., Crossville, TN 38571

800-886-4864

Go North from 1-40 Exit 320, left on Crabtree Rd.

Murfreesboro Model Home

233 River Rock Blvd., Murfreesboro, TN 37128

800-467-5647

South of I-840, 1-24 Exit 78A, left on Cason Lane, left on River Rock

INDEPENDENT DEALERSHIPS OF HONEST ABE PRODUCTS help customers across the US create their dream homes.

Visit our website for a map of locations near you!