This Family Of 7 Built Their Dream Log Home In The Alaskan Forest

The Miller family is leaving their entire life in Montana behind and moving to Wasilla, Alaska. But when they arrive, their new property is nothing more than a huge forest. Joas, Priscilla, and their five kids will live in an RV while they turn this empty site into the house of their dreams. Joas, the father, has spent most of his life building log homes, and he will lead the family as they build this one themselves. His 16-year-old twin sons, Ethan and Justin, will work beside him as full partners, learning the same skills the way Joas once did. Together, they mark out the basement footprint and start digging the hole that will eventually become their future home. Their plan has three stages. First, finish the foundation and the basement. Next, get the exterior built and sealed before heavy snow and freezing temperatures make outdoor work impossible. Only then can they move inside and finish the house. For now, everything depends on the foundation. Ethan and Justin set the wooden forms, and the next day, more friends and family gather to help pour the concrete footings. A little rain will not stop them today, but the worst is still to come. Well, here we are this morning, and there's rain dripping off of my hat. And we've got rain a good part of the night, but it is what it is. The site looks like a pond, until a neighbor stops by with a pump and helps them drain the site. This has been one of the wettest summers ever in Alaska. And winter will be even harsher, with temperatures dropping as low as 20 degrees below zero. To tackle this problem, Joas uses these foam blocks. Concrete poured inside gives the wall its strength, while the foam keeps the freezing temperatures outside from reaching the basement. But the cold doesn't only come through the walls, it can also rise through the ground beneath. To stop that, they compact a base of sand and gravel, cover it with rigid foam insulation, and lay heating pipes across the floor. Once everything is in place, they pour a 4-inch concrete slab over the top. This layer surrounds the pipes, absorbs their heat, and slowly spreads it across the entire basement floor. And alas, we are finally ready here to get started on framing our wall. For the main beam supports, the Millers reuse birch from the trees they cleared earlier. They split and shape the wood, then set the finished pieces beneath the structure. The whole family sets the remaining beams and covers the basement with OSB, creating the floor above. They finish the porch together, too, and Wyatt, their youngest son, gets his own turn with the power drill. With a solid foundation in place, the family can head back to the RV they're living in and rest for the weekend. Months before the first logs reached Alaska, the Millers had already built the entire shell once in Montana, and there's a very good reason for it. These logs are enormous, and getting every cut, joint, and connection right would be far harder in the middle of the Alaskan forest. In Montana, they have a flat yard, the right tools, and easy access for cranes. In Alaska, the ground is already soaked from the rain, leaving the site muddy, soft, and difficult for heavy equipment to move across. Once the entire structure was completed and approved, more than 100 logs were shipped to Alaska, where the Miller family now has to rebuild the shell on its final foundation. Some of these logs stretch up to 30 feet long and weigh as much as 1,500 pounds, so every lift has to be handled carefully. While the main logs are going up, Priscilla, the mother, leads the kids on a different job, building an entire piece on the ground before it's lifted into place. What was once assembled in a yard almost 2,000 miles away is now complete in Alaska, as the final log takes its place in the home the Millers came here to build. With the log shell standing, the Millers turn to an unusual way of protecting it, fire. Okie dokie, we're going to burn the house down. This technique is called shu-sugi-ban. By charring the outer layer, they make the wood more resistant to moisture and insects. That extra protection helps the logs survive Alaska's wet climate for years, without rotting or weakening. While the rest of the family work on the charred finish, David, a family friend from Montana, sands the logs back, smoothing the surface and bringing the wood color through again. Boy, David did a fine job sanding all this stuff. Hey, look up here, David, for a second. That guy looks downright scary. Just check this out. That looks beautiful. I'm just amazed how nice that looks. The walls are protected, but the most exposed part of the house is still above them because, in Alaska, the roof has to be waterproof, well-insulated, and strong enough to carry the weight of heavy snow. To achieve that, they build it up from the inside out. Pine boards go over the log beams first. Forming the base for everything above the next layer is built with 14 inch deep joists Which give the roof its strength while also creating a large cavity for thick spray foam insulation At this depth Joas has checked that the insulation blocks about 98% of heat transfer Finally OSB closes the roof into one solid surface and as they cover the last opening They still have time for a fun joke Once the whole roof is secure, it's covered with a waterproof membrane that will stop rain before it can reach the wood underneath. This roof is covered! I'm excited, I'm so happy! After weeks of work, the family has earned some time to relax. Relax. But the break cannot last long. Snow will start falling in less than two months, and once it does, heavy machines become much harder to use. Before then, they still need to finish the outdoor work and seal the house. One of the most urgent jobs is the well, because it will be the family's only water supply. Once the ground freezes, drilling becomes almost impossible, so they have to reach it before winter locks the soil solid. Who wants to be the first one to drink out of there? How's it taste, Ethan? A little bit of iron in there, but I think it'll clear up. Inside, the new walls begin revealing the layout of the house, which will give the Millers about 2,280 square feet of living space. The main floor centers on an open kitchen, dining area, and living room, with the main bedroom, two bathrooms, and a mudroom around it. Downstairs are the kids' bedrooms, a large family room, storage, and the mechanical room. Once the rooms are laid out, they run the orange heating pipes and yellow electrical wiring. But none of that matters until the house is connected to the main power outside. The Millers don't want any cables cutting across the property, so they choose the harder route and bury the main power line instead using a rope and brute force. Joas starts pulling, but the resistance quickly becomes too much for one person. Ethan steps in, and together, father and son pull the main power line into place. As the weather window gets shorter, the work outside becomes harder to postpone. The porch railings are the last major piece of woodwork left to finish. Wowzers, wowzers, we finally got it done. Once they're in place, Joas can start sealing it all with a water-based resin. He applies three coats, which will protect and preserve the wood, while also giving the house a clean, professional gloss. Meanwhile, Ethan and Justin cut the final openings through the wooden ceiling. The square one will carry the chimney, while the round opening is for a sun tunnel that will bring daylight into the house from above. Then, Joas, Ethan, and Justin begin covering the roof with its permanent green metal panels. But, just as they are getting close to finishing the roof, the weather finally catches up with them. Okay, I guess we're going to have to call it quits. This is getting a little out of control. It's actually getting pretty slick, pretty hard to walk right now, and it's just dumping snow to beat all. Until now, winter has been a deadline somewhere ahead of them. This is the first sign that it has reached the build. And from here, the conditions will only get harder. The good news is, only one major job remains before the log house is sealed shut, installing the windows and doors. But in a log house, windows can't be framed the same way as in a conventional house. Over the next few years, the logs will dry, shrink, and slowly settle downward. If the windows were fixed directly to them, that movement could crush the frames or crack the glass. To solve this, Joas builds an independent frame for each window. Along the sides, metal rails will hold the frame firmly in place, while still allowing the logs to slide down. Once it is in place, Joas removes the nails at the sides and leaves only the ones at the bottom. This thing is completely stable. It's one unit. The logs can slide down over the angle iron. And we're going to attach our window right here, and we're good to go. Above it, Justin fills the gap with compressible foam, which will squeeze down as the logs settle, sealing the opening shut. Once the wooden frame and settling gap are ready, the window itself can finally slide into place. After all the measuring and preparation, they fit exactly as planned. The doors follow. For Ethan and Justin, it becomes another chance to take on something new and add one more first to everything they have learned on this build. I just got my first door installed first After months of building, the Millers finally have a structure that can stand on its own against the weather. Winter has already reached the mountains around them, and it will not be long before the snow reaches the property too. The shell is ready for it, but inside, there is still a lot of heavy work ahead. Sanding is a big project. It takes a long time. It's dirty work, and we don't really care for it, do we, Justin? But we stick with it. We got to do it. And there's a good reason for it. Sanding removes the loose fibers and rough spots, leaving the log smooth enough for the final finish. Once the dust is cleared away, they seal the wood with a clear coating that prevents it from yellowing and turning gray while giving the interior its final glossy look. That was a lot of work sanding this. Man, the boys, Justin and Ethan did amazing. It's a lot of work sanding. Soon after finishing the logs, Joas and Priscilla take some time away from the build and head off on a trip together. They may be gone for a while, but the work keeps moving forward. When Joas returns, the house looks very different. Okay, well the first thing that you're going to see is there is sheetrock on the wall. While they've been away, a professional crew has installed all the drywall. But they were not the only ones busy. While we were gone, the boys chinked all the logs. Justin and Ethan have sealed all the seams between the logs, closing off the last places where cold air and moisture could get inside. And getting the house ready for one of the biggest jobs left, painting. They have to cover nearly 7,000 square feet of walls and ceilings, so the family splits the job. Justin and Ethan take on the largest surfaces with long rollers, while Joas focuses on the detail work, with a new helper joining him. She's going to be helping, doing some painting. This is Avalon, the miller's oldest daughter. She has been eager to join the build like her older brothers, and after plenty of persistence, her parents finally give her a place in the work. You're pretty awesome, girl. We're putting in the lights right here, these lights. Oh, look at that. Together, Ethan, Justin, and Avalon install more than 50 ceiling lights all by themselves. Okay, drum roll again. Here we go. First time. Yo! Seriously. Wow. Ethan, I'm impressed how well it, how bright it actually looks in here. This is, this is perfect. Wow. Oh, that looks beautiful. At the same time, Joas has been busy building the wooden panels that will fill the upper rafter spaces. Justin, Ethan, and Avalon join him to finish the first ones, keeping the design simple while giving the room a warmer, more finished look. Even Avalon takes a turn with the nail gun, learning the same hands-on skills as her brothers. On the other side, the family decides to do something more ambitious, as a surprise for Priscilla. Together, Yoas and his three older children paint an Alaskan mountain scene across the panels, adding snow, a river, and grass, until the plain boards become a one-of-a-kind feature made just for her. Once the panels are in place, all that is left is to bring Priscilla in and reveal the surprise. I did. Does it look real? That's what it's supposed to be. Winter has already settled outside, but the timing has worked in their favor. With the house closed up, the family can keep making progress inside, and the next big change starts underfoot. Wood can flex slightly under weight, but tile is rigid, so any movement underneath can cause it to crack. In every room that needs a waterproof surface, Joas first builds a stronger base with plywood, mortar, and cement board to keep everything solid. For the final layer, Priscilla chose porcelain tiles that look like wood. Preserving the home's style, while the tough surface and waterproof grout make them ideal for the bathrooms and the mudroom. But waterproofing cannot stop at the floor. On the shower walls, Joas builds a two-layer barrier. First, he coats the surface with RedGard, a liquid membrane that keeps moisture from reaching the drywall underneath. Once it dries, he installs the ceramic tiles one by one. Cutting each piece to fit tightly and create a durable surface that can handle years of water and steam. The house may be taking shape, but one essential piece is still missing. Insulation can keep the cold from getting in, but it cannot warm the rooms by itself. The Millers still need a real source of heat. Although the house has in-floor heating, Joas plans to rely mainly on wood. The stove is large enough that they can often heat the whole cabin with a fire burning for only part of the day. That makes the hearth more than a place for the stove. It is designed to become the center of the living room, both for heat and for the way the family will use the space. They shape the base as an octagon, then cover the top with natural slate, cutting each piece to fit cleanly around the edges. They decide to raise it about 14 inches off the floor, creating a warm bench where the family can sit, drink coffee, and gather near the fire. Behind the stove, stacked stone continues up the wall, giving the hearth more height, and turning it into one of the room's main visual features. When the stove finally goes in, the living room has both the heat the family needs and the gathering place they designed around it. Once the family clears away the mess left behind, they can finally cover the bare plywood with a durable finished surface that will make the rooms feel complete. They use the same dark oak-look vinyl plank across both the main level and the basement, keeping the rustic look of the log interior consistent from one floor to the other. For a family of seven, durability matters just as much as appearance. The vinyl can handle daily wear, while still allowing the radiant heat beneath the floor to warm the rooms above. The floor is on. What do you think, Chloe? You like it? There's the red carpet. Who's going to walk on it? All right. They all are. Wyatt gets a job of his own, nailing the doorknobs throughout the house. After so much time working inside, the family is ready to get out for a while. But nearly 35 inches of snow have buried the yard. So before they can leave, they have to clear a path for the car with the crane. Once they make it out, the build can wait for a while. The family heads into town to shop, spend some time together, and enjoy a break from the work. Joas and the twins quickly return home with nearly 150 pine boards to stain for the house trim. It is a huge amount of work for just three people. Thankfully, they are not about to do it alone. I thought I'd come out and see if I can help stain it a little. Oh, yeah. Okay, now we got the whole family going. Everyone finds a place in the job. Some sand, some stain, and others carry and turn the boards, with Wyatt and little Chloe joining in as the whole family works side by side. Once the stain sets, the boards are ready for trim. We're going to start to see how much windows we can trim. This is the first window we're going to trim. Instead of buying finished frames, Joas and the older kids build each one themselves, cutting and fitting the pieces to match the house exactly. Once they're sure the first one works, they commit to the design, fitting the rest around the other windows and doors one by one. And Ethan's putting in the last nails. I think all our windows are basically done. Ya-da! Downstairs, the solid concrete walls do not move like the logs above, making the trim much simpler and giving the family more freedom to get creative. Good job, boys. We got all the trim done on the windows and the doors. Did you guys learn something? Yeah. That was good. Outside, winter has completely changed the property. Inside, the finishing work continues. The stained pine they used around the windows and doors now runs along the floors, giving the rooms a cleaner edge and carrying the same dark wood through the house. They use it on the staircase, too, trimming the sides before moving on to the steps themselves. While Wyatt and Chloe take advantage of the snow outside, Joas starts preparing the wood for those treads. This time, he wants a different finish. What looks really good is if you give them a burnt look You brush it and it leaves these ridges. It looks really nice, so I'm going to try to brush this now. The process brings out the grain and leaves the wood with a much more satisfying texture for the bare foot. Once the boards are ready, they install them as the stair treads, giving the staircase its final look. Down in the basement, Joas also builds a storage room designed to hold the entire family's food supplies. Across these four shelving units, they can store well over a thousand jars of canned meat, vegetables, fruit, and preserves—enough to keep a family of seven stocked for months. By now, Alaska already feels like home to the Millers, and their house is closer than ever to being finished. Most of the work is behind them, with only a few final jobs left before they can fully settle in. And after months of learning beside Joas, the kids are ready to take on more of the work themselves. When the kitchen cabinets arrive in flat-packed boxes, they spread out the pieces and start building them together, working through the instructions and figuring out each assembly as they go. Joas is still there when they need him, but this time, much of the kitchen starts taking shape in the kids' hands. Once the cabinets are assembled, the work gets heavier. Yep, it's almost time to call it a day though. The twins join their father to lift the full units into position, line them up along the walls, and secure them together until the kitchen takes its final shape. For the kitchen counters, the Millers decide to pour their own concrete, giving them control over the color, texture, and final shape instead of using a finished slab. But Joas has never done this before, so the whole family is taking a chance on an idea they've never tested. Their first test immediately reveals a problem. They want the countertops in a light color, but the additive that strengthens the concrete also turns their mix dark gray, ruining the look. So Joas changes the plan. They pour the stronger gray concrete underneath, then cover the visible surface and edges with a custom white mix. The experiment works, giving them the custom stone look they were aiming for. Come in, your nose is clean. Priscilla joins Joas for the final finish, and the two work side by side to bring the countertop to life. He adds the darker color, she works it back, and together they turn the plain concrete into the stone look they wanted. By the time the kitchen is finished, every member of the family has left a mark on it. And with the build entering its final stretch, they are all pushing toward the same finish line, moving in. What is going on, Wyatt? Alright, let me see if they work. That's pretty funny right there. For the bathroom counters, they return to the same concrete process, now knowing how to control the mix and finish. This time, Joas gets more creative, pressing two bear paw prints into the surface and working them into the final stain, giving the room a small detail inspired by the Alaskan setting around them. With the bathroom finished, there's no more construction left between the Millers and the home they have spent months building. But before they can move anything in, the house needs one final job. The whole family spreads out through the rooms, clearing away the dust, scraps, tools, and everything else left behind by the build. After so many months of treating this place as a construction site, they are finally preparing it for everyday life. Tomorrow is move-in day. Wow, I'm just pretty much overwhelmed how beautiful it looks. Looks. Hungry girl? Avalon? Chloe? Justin. Yeah. Ethan. Yep. Wyatt. Okay. The family enjoys one last evening together before the big day. The time has finally arrived. Moving day at last. Boxes, clothes, personal things, and everything the family needs for daily life start coming through the door. The rooms themselves are already finished. What changes now is what they mean. Check this out. Our first evening in our house. It is unbelievable. It's so awesome. They really wanted to start a fire, so I said they could. For months, this was where the Millers came to work. They have spent so much time building this place together that, by the time it becomes their home, each of them already has a history with it. The months pass, the snow disappears, and summer returns to the property. With the forest green again, and the long winter behind them, the house can finally be seen in the setting it was built for. Light fills the rooms, the decks open back up to the woods, and the dark log walls stand out against the landscape around them. By then, the Millers have had time to settle in. Now the tools can be put away, and the house can be used for the reason they came all the way to Alaska in the first place. For almost a year, Building it shaped every part of their lives. Now, it simply becomes part of them. Not just a house they finished, but the place their family calls home.