Nearly twenty years after their first look at the property, John and Jill Rusyniak finally realized their dream when they began construction on the Log Cabin Inn in 2004. The beautiful log structure sits on a pristine piece of land and boasts majestic views of the surrounding mountains and forest. The Rusyniaks built the lodge the old fashioned way, by themselves with help from friends and relatives.

Radiant heating on the lower level is one of the cozy features that the Rusyniaks included in the design of their lodge. The extreme cold during the winter made it necessary to insulate underneath the slab to ensure the heating system could keep up. After hearing about a special product from local contractor John Martinek, the Rusyniaks chose Insul-Tarp® because of the quality and features it offered.

Insul-Tarp® is designed to provide a thermal break between the slab and soil and redirect radiant heat back into the living space. It comes in easy-to-use rolls instead of sheets like traditional under-slab insulation. If properly seamed and taped, Insul-Tarp® also creates a vapor barrier that prevents soil gasses and moisture from migrating up through the slab.

One of the challenges of constructing a structure in the wilderness is getting the materials to the job-site. The Rusyniaks were impressed with how easy it was to transport Insul-Tarp® to their property. After the sub-grade was compacted, Insul-Tarp® was simply rolled out over the sand.

The Log Cabin Inn is located near Tok, Alaska. For more information about the project's progress and/or visiting the wilderness lodge, please contact John & Jill Rusyniak.