74 | BUILDING Aspiring Log Homes T T Kim Bowden Log homes offer cosiness and character In Dunedin, a builder is carving out a distinctive niche with homes that look like they’ve stepped straight from a fairy tale or a North American movie set. Mat Rusher’s company, Aspiring Log Homes, specialises in bespoke timber homes crafted from whole logs, combining traditional craftsmanship with modern techniques to deliver structures that are both functional and striking. Mat describes a log home as a complete package: the logs themselves provide insulation, cladding, and the interior finish all in one. “The logs come raw from the forest. The first thing we do is peel them, stripping off the top layer,” he says. Each log is then custom-fitted to its neighbour, creating a precise, interlocking structure. Mat lives in a log house of his own design, and describes it as warm, quiet, and solid. “When the wind blows, nothing’s going to affect this house,” he says. “It’s very strong and stable. I guess you could also call it cosy.” Mat sources timber from “as close to home as possible”, primarily working with pine – specifically, Douglas fir and macrocarpa. He describes Douglas fir as more uniform and rounder, while macrocarpa has natural furrows. “Those qualities make macrocarpa a bit harder to work with, but it gives you that character. I really like that.” Mat places a strong emphasis on investing in his team. With few opportunities in New Zealand to learn the craft, developing skilled log builders requires patience and hands-on mentorship. “I tend to train them myself, and it can take up to four years,” he says. Mat’s own introduction to log building began unexpectedly. “A girl dragged me over to Canada,” he says. At the time, he was primarily focused on snowboarding, but her father happened to be a log home and timber frame tutor on a small island off Vancouver Island. “I’d always wanted to learn how to build my own home, and it just sort of fell into place,” he says. After completing the course, he wanted to keep learning, taking jobs across Canada that allowed him to gain hands-on experience in log home construction. The work fitted perfectly with his lifestyle. “It let me build log homes and also spend time in the mountains,” he says. Now his Kiwi company adheres to guidelines set out by the International Log Builders Association, which has developed best-practice rules for log home construction over many years. “It provides a bit of reassurance for our clients,” Mat says. The time it takes to build a log home varies with size. A small 30sqm cabin can be completed in about a month, while a larger 400sqm home may take seven to eight months, he says. All Aspiring Log Homes’ projects are prefabricated in the company’s Dunedin workshop. Each log is carefully numbered and labelled, so when the structure is deconstructed for transport, every piece can be reassembled precisely on-site. In theory, the designs could be deconstructed and repurposed, giving the timber a second life rather than ending up as waste. There is also very little waste in the process of building, Mat says. “I’m very proud that in that respect we’ll be lucky to fill a wheelie bin of rubbish each job.” • Log cartage • Firewood Log Sales & Cartage • General Freight • Hiab Crane Truck OUR SERVICES: Sales: 027 271 4662 | karl.pam@xtra.co.nz | Office: 021 638 117 Facebook: Scott Transport Limited
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