Client Testimonial
COONGULLA
Stuart
Adam& Rhonda Strachan
Great Bear Log
Homes
Delivered by
email
18thMarch
2009
Dear
Cornel,
Client
Testimonial
We would just like to take
this opportunity to thank Cornel and the team from Great Bear Log
Homes for the fantastic job that they have done on our
house.
We had been looking for a
holiday house to suit our needs and wishes however after many
months searching without finding what we wanted we decided to
purchase land (180 acres) and build our own dream place. As our
land was a large bush block we wanted something that fitted in with
the character of the property and a log home was our first idea.
Thanks to the internet we found Great Bear log homes and started
making enquiries.
As owner builders we are
still in the process of completing the fit out but the help and
guidance we have received from Cornel has been fantastic -including
Cornel answering our questions while in the middle of fighting a
bush fire on his own property. Seeing the first logs lifted into
place was an awesome sight
Every time we arrive at
our property the impressive sight of the house never fails to make
a huge impact on us. Looking at the attention to detail that was
put into the logs by the Great Bear team still amazes us. We are
taking our time with the fit out to ensure that it lives up to the
same high standard as the log structure. Our plan was always to
ensure that this house was an awesome and unique sight now and
forever.
We are pleased that Cornel
and his team have a real passion for what they do and take 100%
care at every stage of the project.
Best
regards
Stuart &
Rhonda
EAGLE RIDGE
We would like to write a
testimonial for Cornel and Louis of Great Bear Log
Homes.
In 2002, we were looking to
buy a property in the Alpine region of the high country and came
across one of three log cabins already built by Great Bear Log
Homes in Sawmill Settlement, Victoria. We were so impressed with
the construction method and uniqueness of the homes that we went on
to buy one that was on the market at the time. We owned that home
for 4 years and enjoyed so much the pleasant environment the logs
provided which was warm and well insulated in winter and cool in
the summer heat, especially on the lower level.
With an expanding family and
changing needs, we decided to sell this home and re-build another
home in the district. In early 2006, we found an amazing piece of
land on Alpine Ridge with magnificent views towards Mt Buller and
the surrounding area. Immediately we thought how wonderful this
location would be to build a new home and if we could afford it,
own another home built by Great Bear Log Homes. We immediately
contacted Louis and Cornel and set about possible designs and
construction ideas for the site, without an architect. Cornel is a
very skilled designer using AutoCad and was able to provide
detailed drawings and plans for us right from the start. After an
initial rejection by council on our first design due to a building
envelope restriction, Cornel was fast to work with us to design a
new floor plate and structure that was subsequently passed by
council and soon thereafter built in the Mansfield log
yard.
The Log structure was built
according to plan and almost to the exact timeline set out by the
Great Bear team. Cornel and Louis introduced us to the preferred
local builder, Travis Purcell who set about construction of the
home foundations and basement, then eventually the fit out of the
interior and completion of the exterior. IN addition to the Great
Bear team, Travis also did an amazing job on the project and we
highly recommend Travis for similar or related projects. The
harvesting and construction of the log structure commenced in
November 2006 and was completed and delivered to the building site
by May 2007. Meanwhile the slab for at the home site was laid in
February 2007 and subsequently the lower floor was constructed and
ready to receive the log shell in May. The home was eventually
completed after 1 year, by November 2008 only slightly behind
schedule.
Our key principles in building
the log home were ‘build it once, build it right the first time and
keep the home in the family forever’. We are so pleased with the
result and the house is absolutely amazing. Cornel was great to
work with throughout the design phase – he was very patient and
able to take our design ideas and make them a reality in the Eagle
Ridge home design. The construction of the log shell is incredible
and I know and you can even see how great detail was taken in the
selection of the individual logs and the placement of the logs
throughout the home for effect. When you add together the unique
features of a log home, the great design and construction work done
by the Great Bear Team, a builder like Travis Purcell with the
highest standards and an amazing location like the Victorian High
Country, the result is almost indescribable.
We are very thankful for the
craftsmanship and passion of our builders and recommend them to
anyone that wants a very unique home that is built to last. Log
homes built by these Master Craftsmen are not cheap but are worth
every cent when you finally have your time to rest and appreciate
your new home.
Thanks again, Cornel and Louis
(Great Bear Log Homes), Travis Purcell (Builder), Billy Mahoney
(Electrician) and all the skilled trades people who made our dream
a reality.
Jean, Andrew, Ashley and Amber
Ward
January
2009.
YACKANDANDAH
LINTON R. LETHLEAN O.A.M. LL.B.
Lawyer
30th August
2007
The Managers
Great Bear Log Homes
MANSFIELD
3722
Dear Cornel & Louis
The Yackandandah
Without the help of an architect or a project
manager Lee and I bit the bullet and engaged a couple of energetic
Aussie Dutchmen and their Great Bear Log Homes team from Mansfield
to design and construct a home for us in North-East
Victoria.
What a ride it was - and at the end of the day
we are in a house which, thanks to the Great Bear Log Homes team
and all the other trades people involved, has exceeded our
expectations!
Despite the many meetings we had to discuss the
project we can honestly say that we did not fully understand the
craftsmanship involved in putting together our little gem.
We were particularly pleased with the calmness,
the care and the attention to detail that you both brought to the
project.
You accommodated and encouraged our desire to
incorporate into the design a variety of Victorian, Edwardian and
Art Deco windows and doors internally and externally and an
imported Italian tiled roof without batting an eye. We have no
doubt these features have enhanced what was already a fantastic
design. As one keen observer said on introducing
himself – “so you are the people who put up that
awesome machine on the hill”.
Thank you once again. We have not tired yet of
turning into the drive and saying “Look at that terrific house –
weren’t we smart to get Louis and Cornel to build our log
home!”
Yours sincerely
LINTON AND LEE LETHLEAN
PORT LINCOLN SOUTH AUSTRALIA
We wish to offer the highest of accolades for the expert log
home building skills of Great Bear Log Homes. We had to wait a
little longer than expected - but you simply cannot rush
PERFECTION! Their work is of the highest quality possible and most
important of all is that they are true to their word. They stand by
their work and are professional in every respect. Their
craftsmanship was better than we had ever imagined. Not only did we
get an extraordinarily beautiful home, but all the people we worked
with from Great Bear Log Homes were caring, knowledgeable, patient
and friendly. The personal attention to detail - from the
architectural service for our custom design, to the ordering and
construction updates, to the first-rate assistance on site —Great
Bear Log Homes are second to none. We would highly recommend them
to anyone who wants a quality authentic log home.
Very sincerely,
Shane and Beck Cole
Port Lincoln, South Australia
Great Bear
Testimonial from Garibaldi
A few years ago we were keen to build a log home and Great
Bear were recommended to us. As our plans involved a large number
of windows we felt that it would be a shame to have to cut out such
large portions of the exterior walls, so we took the somewhat
unusual course and decided to build our home with the main interior
walls of log. The guys hadn’t actually done this before, but didn’t
hesitate to take on the challenge. Another first was that
they used larger logs than they have ever used before. As it is a
large house, the big logs suited it perfectly, so that the “scale”
is right. We were very impressed with the craftsmanship of Great
Bear and the guys worked very well together as a team, and it all
went in like clockwork.
It was all very exciting to see the log truck coming up the
road to our place and up our (rather steep) driveway. They arrived
at night and it was foggy next morning, so it was a bit eerie
waking up to see a massive truck full of beautifully smooth logs of
different shapes and sizes. Our house isn’t quite completed
yet, but the other main components have fitted in perfectly and we
are very happy with the result. Cornel & Louis are very
professional and we would have no hesitation recommending their
company to build your dream home.
Mac and Sherie Rynkiewicz
Garibaldi
Victoria
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