About

History of Perma Log

Perma Log was created over 80 years ago by Wellington William Maier. He was a plasterer in the Detroit area with his brother, Jake. They did both interior and exterior plastering, doing walls, ceilings, fireplaces and chimneys.

WW Maier liked log homes, but didn't like the maintenance of them. So he created Perma Log siding on his home in Detroit on Saint Mary's Road, in 1935. He liked coming up north, so began Perma Log here in Mio, Michigan.

Brown concrete log two-story home with red metal roof, patio and wood trimmed windows

Black and white photograph of a man in a cap troweling concrete log siding — From the family archive: troweling logs by hand.

Old paper sign reading Fire-Places $30 to $45 complete, your choice of designs and colors — An early sign: fire-places, $30 to $45 complete, your choice of designs and colors.

1935

First Perma Log created in 1935

Faded vintage color photograph of a two-story log sided house with a pillared porch

Wellington William Maier and his brother were plasterers by trade. They did both interior and exterior work. In 1935 WW Maier created the first Perma Log on his home in Detroit, Michigan.

Sepia photograph of a log sided ranch home with a tree trunk chimney and garage

WW Maier moved to Mio in the early 40s and began masonry work of plastering and Perma Log.

1947

Original log book began in 1947

He kept a log book of Perma Log jobs beginning in 1947 and got a patent on the unique product.

Printed Perma-Log manual page on mortar mix, tools and application with diagrams

He had training brochures printed and was ready to make a big business.

1950s

The 1950s and 60s

Vintage brochure cover reading Perma-Log for Rustic Beauty, Perma-Log Company, Mio, Michigan

WW Maier's two sons and son-in-law helped run the business in the later 50s to early 60s.

Sepia photograph of a smiling worker in a cap mixing mortar on a board

William E. Maier took the business over in the 60s.

Black and white Perma-Log Company sheet showing a porch before and after log siding

The Perma Log crew mudded many hundreds of Perma Log homes, mostly in northern Michigan.

Sepia photograph of a man leaning on a vintage car with a canoe on top

The crew also traveled around, sometimes even out of state.

Open book page with an entry on the William W. Maier House, Perma-Log Company

There were times in the 70s that Perma Log even had two work crews. The masonry log siding created by WW Maier was considered a historical site in Mio, along with the Shrine.

Cover of the book Buildings of Michigan showing a Victorian house

Perma Log was included in the Society of Architectural Historians' "Buildings of Michigan."

1970s

Third generation, family owned

Worker in a yellow shirt kneeling to trowel fresh concrete logs at a house corner

WW Maier's grandson began working Perma Log in the 70s.

Smiling man in a cap sitting with a toddler on a concrete log bench

Wm. Maier Jr. headed up the crew in the later 80s.

Two workers with trowels applying concrete log siding to a house wrapped in building paper

Bill always preferred the physical work of mudding over the office end of the job.

Man standing beside a tall Easter Island style concrete head in a wooded clearing

Bill was an artist at heart. When Perma Log was slow, he created sculptures.

Brown concrete log home with stone chimney and metal roof in snow

He worked on many Perma Log homes until 2016, when he officially retired.

2006

Going on to a fourth generation

Two workers on scaffolding troweling concrete log siding beside a finished log corner

In 2006 Tyler Layman began working for Perma Log.

Two workers kneeling to trowel fresh concrete log siding, wheelbarrow of mortar in front

He was well trained by Wm. Maier Jr. and had a strong interest in taking over the business for many years.

Newspaper clipping of three Perma-Log staff members standing in front of concrete log siding

Tyler has been the Perma Log foreman since 2016.

Letters from the yard

When I drove in the yard that house was the most Fantastic thing I could imagine I'd ever see. It's Beautiful!! Thank you for an excellent job. I carry a set of pictures in my purse, (just as proud of it as pictures of grandchildren). Thank you so very much.

Roger and Dede

You have been a great businessman to work with on our home. You took a very fearful time for us and made it into a joyful adventure. We have been amazed at your hard, skilled artistic work on our home that you and Tyler have done. Thank you!

Bernie and Terry

Thanks so much for our beautiful new home. We absolutely love it! The neighbors really love how the house looks & are telling us, it's so rich looking. You are such nice people & we could tell how important it was for you to get the right look. You are such artists, it looks impeccable!! We just wanted you to know how very satisfied we are with you, & our beautiful new home. Can't thank you enough.

The Loseys

Perma-Log just completed siding our entire log home and we can't say enough good things about the quality of the job. They continually went above and beyond our expectations. They were always on time, very professional, friendly and congenial. They hit the time estimate for job completion right on the money & cleaned up the job site at the end of each day. Our home looks gorgeous! Thank you!!

Mary

When Perma Log submitted their bid to side our house we thought they were expensive. After seeing the amount of hard work involved and the finished product, we consider them a great value. The Best decision I made on my entire house was Perma Log!

Sherm

Perma Log was the best decision I ever made. The professionalism, workmanship & dedication the Perma Log artisans demonstrated was extraordinary. The sculpting of the logs is absolutely superb artistry, producing the most realistic product imaginable. Anyone who desires a maintenance free, superbly insulated, authentic look log house, there is no finer workmanship & product than Perma Log.

Dr. Jerry R. Tejcek, D.C.

The Perma Log remodel in Lewiston was a pleasure. Diane and Tyler were a dream to work with and delivered on time and on budget. They were helping us at every turn often before we were wise enough to know we needed help and the outcome was great. Thanks for the Perma Log experience.

Rick

Tell us about the house.

Mostly northern Michigan, but we have worked all over the state: the Upper Peninsula, lower Michigan and Drummond Island, and some jobs out of state.

Get an Estimate (989) 826-3161

Reddish brown concrete log home with red metal roof under a blue sky with clouds