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Building Log Homes A Labour of Love For Local Man

By 250 News

Custom home built by Scott Nydegger of Bowron Valley Log Homes

Nestled into a hill overlooking Purden Lake is this beautiful show home. And it is just that - a show home - built by Scott Nydegger of Bowron Valley Log Homes to showcase for customers, his incredible skill and talent.

While members of the Prince George "Team Torino" participated in a conference at BC-Canada Place in Turin yesterday to laud the benefits of building with wood to the Italian construction industry (click here, for story), Nydegger quietly plies his trade here at home.

Back in 1989, the local man left a job in the logging industry to begin fulfilling his life-long dream. He went to learn the craft of log home building from Rasmussen Log Homes in Okanagan Falls, near Penticton. At that time, Nydegger says, it was a virgin industry and he believes it remains a field of untapped potential.

Nydegger has built more than 70 homes and says the majority are still shipped to Japan, then B.C., Alberta and the United States.

But points out he, too, has felt the dramatic upturn in the local economy over the past two years.

Nydegger and his wife, Jackie, operate their small family business from their home at Purden Lake.

Jackie usually takes the first phone inquiries, providing potential customers with a rough cost estimate (between $25 and $40 per square foot) depending on the size, shape and roof system.

The couple pride themselves on their high-quality, custom building. "This is our niche," says Jackie, "It's very, very individual, it's custom built, if people want to be involved in the building or in any way, they're more than welcome because it's very personal."

"We do not want to compete with the big companies," she says, "Although, price-wise, we do, because we don't have much over-head."

Scott will build anything, but says, "I love building homes that people design and create themselves."

"I try to sit down and get creative with them, get them to tell me what they want and incorporate that into their home."

While most people want a log home for the look and 'feel' of it, the environmental reasons are as important to Nydegger. He says the impact is minimal in comparison to standard home construction. All the logs are hand-peeled and he uses just two pieces of power equipment -- a machine to lift the logs and a saw. Using a generator, it takes just 10 gallons of gas to build an entire home.

Jackie points out the homes are also very energy efficient and don't require chinking, which can be costly. "When Scott builds a log home and he cuts the notches, they are so tight that you cannot put a cigarette paper in-between, that's how tight they fit."

The couple choose to keep their business small to maintain their high standards of quality. Scott does everything himself and it's a labour of love.

"I feel like an artist and have since I became a log home builder. Every log is different, every day is a different challenge, the end of every day looks different. I see the results."

"At the end of every day, I'm totally satisfied, I feel like I'm really making a difference in the world," says Nydegger, "I'm building the home as if it's my home. I take care and love and I try to make it as warm and beautiful and cozy as I can."

For more information go to www.bowronvalleyloghomes.com. To view the show home, call for an appointment at 613-9128.

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