Log and Timber Historical Preservation and Restoration with Nate Demers

This month, we spoke with Weatherwize founder Nate Demers about log and mass timber restoration and preservation work, his passion for traditional log crafting, and his efforts in developing best practices for historical log home preservation.

Weatherwize’s History & Work

Founded in 2008, Weatherwise specializes in the restoration and historic preservation of log homes and timber structures throughout the Great Lakes region. Based in Engadine, Michigan, while they do take on some new construction, nearly 80% of their work focuses on log and timber restoration.

Projects can range from a week-long summer repair to a year-long project, depending on the amount of restoration needed. Nate recalled one log restoration project in Marquette County, Michigan, which spanned more than a year and involved log replacements, coating removal, and custom siding matches to maintain the historical integrity of the structure. The average job length is about a week. “Lots of times we do our structural repair in the Winter and we come back and match the finishes when it warms up.”

“I just want to be surrounded by other people who are passionate about what we do.”

tNate says, “I just want to e surround by other people who are passionate about what we do. The best way I’ve found in life to be around those people, is to volunteer. So that’s been my focus. To volunteer with as many organizations and the craft that we do.”  

Nate leads by this philosophy and is deeply woven in the log and mass timber community. Not only is he part of the IMTA board, but he also volunteers with the Great Lakes Logcrafters Association, the International Log Builders Association, and the David Rogers Heritage Preservation Committee.

The David Rogers Heritage Preservation Committee works to honor one of our own who contributed significantly to log and timber preservation restoration efforts.

Developing a Historical Preservation Best Practices Guide

With the David Rogers Heritage Preservation Committee, Nate is working on compiling a best practices for log historical preservation and restoration. Some of the discussions center on what stains are best — is it oil or water? Other times when should you do a full log replacement? The goal is to give both contractors and homeowners clear, consistent guidance for historical log and timber structures.

The Art of Traditional Practices

At the heart of Weatherwize’s work is a commitment to high-quality craftsmanship and traditional building methods. Nate explained how his team approaches historical structures with both respect and a problem-solving mindset. Issues like moisture damage or poor maintenance can sometimes be solved with small design tweaks that extend the life of a home for generations.

For Nate, the reward is simple but powerful: bringing these homes back to life while preserving their history.

Why volunteer with the IMTA?

Nate is a busy guy. So why did he get involved with the IMTA? Simply put he says, “The energy standards. The work they are doing is so important for us in the industry. If we don’t get thermal mass figured out, especially as log builders we risk not being able to build due to the energy code standards.”

The energy standards. The work they are doing is so important for us in the industry. If we don’t get thermal mass figured out, especially as log builders we risk not being able to build due to the energy code standards.”

Building Towards the Future…

Nate continues to balance hands-on restoration, industry volunteerism, and collaboration with organizations like IMTA to help elevate log and timber construction on a broader scale.

As this conversation shows, the future of log home restoration is not only about preserving structures but also about preserving knowledge, tradition, and building community.

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