With the cabin site excavated, the concrete footing and foundation complete and the floor system installed, the next major phase of the log-cabin construction can get under way. The construction of the log walls forming the exterior of the cabin represents the portion of the project that most visibly creates the distinctive and immediately recognizable log-cabin look. Where original log houses -- of the type built a century or more ago -- used rough, hand-hewn logs and mud chinking to fill the cracks, their contemporary counterparts use machine-cut logs made so that they fit snugly together. These modern variations on log walls offer several advantages, including a better barrier against the elements and the ability to have flat wall surfaces on the cabin interior. Styles of Logs Manufacturers of log-cabin kits typically offer logs in several varieties or cuts. Each offers certain advantages and features. Among the types of logs most commonly seen are the following: - Classic D-style. This style is rounded on the outside and flat on the inside. This is the most popular style since it offers an authentic log-exterior look on the outside but provides flat walls on the interior side, more suitable for hanging pictures, shelves, etc. Each log has a tongue-and-groove design cut into the top and bottom surfaces so that, when the logs are stacked during wall construction, they fit tightly and securely together.
- Full-round style. This style offers a look that is more authentic and true to original log houses since the logs are rounded on both sides, just as a rough-hewn log would be. The full-round offers greater wood mass. One disadvantage to this style is that, inside the house, dust tends to collect on the rounded surfaces of the logs.
- 6x8 double-round style. Thinner in design, the 6x8 double-round uses less material and is more economical. It provides less insulation (lower R-value), however, and is better suited to warmer or moderate climates.
- 8x6 high-energy. The thicker 8x6 high-energy log provides better insulation (higher R-value) and is a good choice for regions where the winters are cold. The thickness will help maximize heating efficiency and hold down utility costs.
Constructing the Log Walls The crew starts by carefully measuring and snapping a chalk line at the edge of the flooring to mark the locations of the inside of each log wall. With the line drawn, a bead of adhesive is laid down on the floor where the log will be positioned (figure A). Starting at the front corner, the crew lays down the first log, lining it up with a chalk line (figure B) and making sure it makes contact with the bead of adhesive they've applied to the floor. A carpenter then drills the first of several 1-1/2" countersunk holes, about 2" into the top of the log (figure C). Next, a 1/4" bit is used to drill a pilot hole all the way through the log for a 10" long bolt. The bolts are used to attach the log securely to the floor. As each log in the first course is laid in place, it is aligned with the inside edge of the chalk line and bolted in place. With several people working together, the logs can be positioned and attached so as to compensate for any slight bowing that may have occurred in any of the logs. At each corner and anywhere that two logs meet, a 1-1/8" hole is drilled completely through the two logs. The hole is filled with a latex sealant, and a 1" hardwood dowel is driven in (figure D). The dowel forces the sealant into the gaps between the two logs to help create a weatherproof seal at the corners and junctions between logs. Two strips of self-adhesive foam weatherstripping are placed lengthwise along the top of the two ridges on each log (figure E). The weatherstripping will augment the tongue-and-groove design of the logs to help form a tight barrier between the logs. It's vital that the first course of logs be installed accurately and securely since any mistakes will be magnified as the walls are erected, and any major problems with placement will be difficult or impossible to fix later.
RESOURCES :
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Log Home Repair and Restoration Services
Log Home Repair and Restoration Services
Website: www.loghomerepair.com
Special Thanks for DIY Build a Log Cabin workshop
Blossman Gas
Website: www.blossmangas.com/
Propane
Propane
Washington, DC Phone: 202-452-8975
Fax: 202-452-9054
Website: www.propanecouncil.org/
The Complete Guide to Building Log Homes
ISBN: 0806974869
Author: Monte Burch, Richard J. Meyer, Lloyd P. Birmingham
Sterling Publishing Co. Inc.
Website: www.sterlingpub.com
Log Homes Made Easy: Contracting and Building Your Own Log Home
Model: 0811728471
Author: Jim Cooper
Stackpole Books
Website: www.stackpolebooks.com
The Cabin: Inspiration for the Classic American Getaway
Model: 0879056711
Author: Dale Mulfinger, Susan E. Davis
The Taunton Press Inc.
Website: www.taunton.com
Hands-On Log Homes
ISBN: 0879058056
Author: Cindy Teipner Thiede
Gibbs Smith Publishing
Website: www.gibbs-smith.com
American Log Homes
ISBN: 0879054581
Author: Arthur Thiede, Cindy Teipner
Gibbs Smith Publishing
Website: www.gibbs-smith.com
The Craft of Modular Post & Beam: Building Log and Timber Homes Affordably
Model: 0881791318
Author: James Mitchell
Heritage House/Hartley & Marks
Website: www.heritagehouse.ca/hartleymarks/hartleymarks.html
Log Spirit
ISBN: 0879059257
Author: Linda Arms White
Gibbs Smith Publishing
Website: www.gibbs-smith.com
Inside Log Homes: The Art & Spirit of Home Planning and Decor
Model: 087905963X
Author: Cindy Teipner Thiede, et al
Gibbs Smith Publishing
Website: www.gibbs-smith.com
The Log Home Book: Design, Past and Present
Model: 0879056711
Author: Cindy Teipner Thiede, Arthur Thiede, et al
Gibbs Smith Publishing
Website: www.gibbs-smith.com
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