QA

How To Build A Log Cabin With Square Logs

How do you join logs together?

Adhesive bonding is accomplished by placing a bead of mastic or sealant product along the length of the log. Some log builders use a combination of mechanical fastening and adhesive bonding.

Can you build log cabin with green logs?

I have built many log homes out of green white pine logs. Do as Andries has said and you will be fine. Use a good guality log sealant and chinking.

What is the best wood for a log cabin?

The most common species used in the log home industry is Pine, Cypress and Cedar. Of those, Pine is the majority of what is used. The Original Log Cabin Homes uses Eastern White Pine as a standard. It is beautiful and durable, plus it performs well in all parts of the United States.

Can you use pine for a log cabin?

Softwoods like pine are very common for use in log cabins, provided that they’re old enough to have some decay resistance. Yellow pine offers the best decay resistance, while white pine offers the least. Pine has a high shrinkage rate, but is stable once it’s dried.

What goes between logs in log cabin?

In short, chinking is the material which is placed between the logs of a log home. Chinking is to logs as mortar is to bricks. Chinking is a flexible material used to fill gaps where logs don’t meet completely. Essentially, chinking a log home will ensure logs which don’t fit together perfectly have a nice seal.

Should logs be dried before milling?

A: Summary: Logs should be milled for drying as soon as possible, and the ends should be sealed as soon as they are felled. A bandsaw mill will create less waste than a chainsaw mill. They should be milled about 1/4″ over than your intended final thickness.

Is it cheaper to mill your own lumber?

In the end, only you can decide if milling lumber from your own property is worth it. Because every job is different, we can not tell you the actual amount of money you would save or not save. Generally, it costs 5-10% more to have your lumber milled on-site.

Why do lumber yards spray water on logs?

Storing logs under sprinklers or in a log pond helps prevent end checking and slows deterioration caused by insects, fungal stain, and decay. However, chemical staining can occur under wet conditions. Today, softwood logs decked in the log yard are typically protected by water sprinkling during warm weather.

How do you run electricity in a log cabin?

The easiest way is to drill straight up through the two or three logs above the doorway and into the space between the rafters. You can then run the wires along the rafters like a framed house and drop down from the tongue-and-groove ceiling into an angled box where the ceiling fan or light is mounted.

Are log cabin kits cheaper?

While there’s no such thing as a cheap log home, there are smart financial choices that can make your log home more affordable. Log cabin kits are billed as a way for anyone to enjoy the log home lifestyle for a fraction of the price.

Can you build a log cabin on your own land?

If you own a plot of land, constructing a log cabin on the land is a perfectly valid use of the land – but only if you meet all the legal requirements. Some land simply cannot be built on, while other pieces of land can only be used for building if the design of the structure is sympathetic to the surroundings.

How many logs does it take to build a cabin?

How many logs do you need? A log cabin that is 24 x 20ft and 9ft high will require 67 logs if the logs are all 10 inches in diameter. Use this page to get a specific calculation of logs required. When you know how many logs or trees your build will require, walk through your land to identify which trees you’ll use.

How many years does a log cabin last?

Log cabins have a long and illustrious history of longevity. They usually last twenty, thirty to even fifty years, if they are kept in good condition. They are even seen to stand for a century if they are located in a place that does not face extreme weather conditions and is properly maintained.

How long should logs dry before being used to build?

You should seal the ends within minutes after being cut down; you should not wait hours, and definitely not days! The drying time will vary depending on the wood species and thickness of the logs, but they will take at least one to two years to dry – the longer you can leave them before you start building the better.

Is Ponderosa pine good for log homes?

Re: ponderosa pine for log construction Ponderosa Pine is much less dense and less strong in bending or bearing than Southern Yellow Pine. Ponderosa also goes blue from mold very easy which eventually starts the rotting process. It rots quite fast when left out unprotected.