 BUILD
A Handsome, sturdy and affordable Cabin. A cabin is still a great choice if you
want to build your own home.
BY MICHAEL CHOTINER; Illustrations by Harry Schaare
BUILD A Handsome, sturdy and
affordable Log Cabin. The log cabin is still a great choice if you want to build
your own home. BY MICHAEL CHOTINER; Illustrations by Harry Schaare Mankind's preference
for living in structures made of natural timbers is longstanding and well documented.
One story from the rich folklore of log building tells how a Grand Master of the
Teutonic Knights insisted, around the year 1500, that a wood structure be built
onto his stonecastle to provide a homier place to live. Many log structures built
in the same period still stand in Scandinavia, Central Europe and the Balkans.
Each area developed its own
distinct methods, from the square hewn log homes of France to the dovetail-joined
cabins of Germany. But when all these influences were transplanted to the New World,
the Scandinavian style of round logs with bottom-cut corner notches prevailed. Examples
of this method can be. seen.across the United States.
Log building has always required
a lot of patient, physically demanding work. And for the modem builder, it also
requires learning some new skills.
Here's a short course in
log building to show you what's involved.
Opinions about log selection
and proper cutting season vary with the individual craftsman and the building locale.
In general, just about any type of log can be used, as long as it's relatively straight,
is around 8 to 10 in. in diameter and has only minor tapering-no more than 2 in.,
in a 16-ft.-Iong log. Conifers such as pine, fir, spruce and tamarack are preferred
because these softwoods are workable, durable and relatively lightweight. Hardwoods,
particularly oak can also be used, though their sapwood is highly susceptible to
infestation by borers and fungus.
Trees should be felled in
early winter. The cooler temperatures make for slower drying time, which reduces
log checking, cracking and splitting. It's also easier to haul logs out of the forest
over frozen terrain.
The best seasoning method
is to air-dry the logs for one to two years-the longer the better. Logs should be
stacked off the ground with stickers-smaller diameter logs-placed between the courses.
This allows for maximum airflow around the logs and promotes more even drying. You
should also partially peel off the bark using a draw knife before the logs are stacked.
This will increase their drying rate and cause only minimal cracking and splitting.
However, before building begins, you must remove the remaining bark completely.
It is a natural habitat for many different kinds of pests.
Many pioneer cabins were
built without foundations because they were constructed in haste or meant to be
temporary shelter. But a proper foundation is definitely required. Stone foundations
traditional, but block and concrete walls are as good, or better, and they require
less work.
 If
you don't want a full basement, you must excavate at least below the frost line,
install footings and construct a wall up to 20 in. above grade level. You must also
install piers within the foundation walls to support the floor girder. Also, install
anchor bolts along the top of the walls to attach the sill. Begin floor construction
by hewing or cutting flat the bottom of the sill logs. Then bore holes in the sill
logs to accommodate the anchor bolts and install sill sealer or a termite shield
according to the local building code. The corner joints are made by bottom notching
the logs as shown on page 98. Next, hew flat the top of the girder and install it
over the support piers. Join it to the sill with a mortise and tenon joint.
Drive 60d nails through the top of the tenon and into the mortise to complete the
joint.
 In
a similar manner, hew or cut flat the top of the joists and install them between
the girder and sill logs so they are flush with the top of the girder. Install the
subflooring perpendicular to the direction of the joists. Now you're ready to start
on the walls.
Many different types of notches
can be used to join the logs, but a good choice for the beginning log builder is
the technique shown here: the scribe, fit, round-notch method. It features semicircular
notches cut in the bottom of the logs to fit over adjacent logs. Also, a V-shaped
groove is cut down the length of each log bottom so the entire length can sit flush
on the log below.
Although this method is slower
than others, the corner joints are self-draining-water running down the outside
of the house hits the log tops and runs off, instead of being trapped in the notch.
The V-grooves also eliminate air drafts between the logs. The joints between courses
do not need chinkirtg, so you can avoid one of the most chronic maintenance problems
of log homes: repairing cracked chinking.
Cutting the corner
notches is a fivestep procedure.
 1.
First, roll the log into position and sight along its length to make sure any crown
is pointing to the outside of the wall. Try not to use logs that have more than
a 1-in. crown per 16 feet of length. Then secure the log with a log dog as shown
in the drawing.
2.
Scribe the shape of the lower, log onto the uncut log using compass dividers with
a pencil or marking crayon inserted in one leg. Rough-cut the notch with a chain
saw, then finish it with a shallowsweep, long-handled gouge.
3.
Reposition the log, allowing the notch to seat. Then scribe the full length of the
underside of the log running the blank leg of the dividers along the top of the
lower log. Scribe both sides of the log to yield the two lines which define the
V-groove.
4.
Cut the V-groove with a chain saw to a depth of 1/2 to 3/4 in. Remove the waste,
then roll the log back into position and rescribe the corner notch as well as the
log end extending past the notch. (By cutting the V groove, there is now some space
between the scribed log and the one below.) Cut the notch to the new scribe line
and cut the tail end of the log using a gutter adze. This tool yields a concave
groove that is tighter and more attractive at the exposed log ends.
5.
Reposition the log, then pick up one end and drop it into place. This is called
"thumping" and it will leave compression marks on the parts of the log that still
need trimming. Make any necessary adjustments, then pack fiberglass insulation into
the groove and roll the log into place. The fiberglass will act as a sort of "internal
chinking.
" With the notching complete,
bore a 2-in. dia. hole about 8 in. in from each corner and insert an alignment peg.
The peg should be loose fitting, recessed about 1-1/2 in. below the top of the hole,
and extend about halfway into the log below. Install these pegs every 8 ft. in the
length of a log and within 1 ft. of each window and door opening. As you move up
the walls, alternate each successive log so that their smaller, tapered ends are
not all on one end of the wall. Once the logs reach waist height, cut out the door
opening.
Brace the logs on both sides.
Of course, if your cabin is larger than the one shown here, you'll have several
interior partitions. These can either be made with logs notched into the outside
walls or with framed walls later on. Notching the logs is preferred because it yields
the same interior finish on all walls and strengthens the structure.
When the logs
reach the top of your planned window and door openings, brace the walls and cut
out all the open ings at once. Then cut a groove, as shown, in the log ends on both
sides for a permanent stiffening spline. Cut and insert the spline and then add
at least two more logs over the openings. The top wall log is called the plate log
and it should be pegged at least every 4 ft.
 The
roof on the cabin shown is a combination of purlin and rafter construction to give
an idea of what's involved with both. Normally, you would use only one. The purlins
are set into notches cut in the gable ends; the rafters are notched into the plate
log and ridge log.
Once purlins or rafters are
installed, apply roofing boards for the roof sheathing. Next, apply 15-lb. roofing
felt and either asphalt shingles or cedar shingles.
Finally, pre-assemble all
window and door jambs, install them in the openings, and add the windows and doors.
Allow 3/8-in. clearance for each vertical foot of opening above the jambs for the
logs to settle. The spaces around the jambs should be chinked with okum (hemp and
pine tar).
Wash the logs with detergent
to remove any dirt, and then with a solution of two parts household bleach to one
part water to lift out any stains. Rinse the logs thoroughly with water and let
them dry for a week. Then apply a mixture of one part linseed oil to five parts
turpentine to the outside of the logs. This treatment should be repeated every five
years. PM
This article is from a Popular Mechanics issue - December, 1983 - and is used without
their knowledge or consent. Popular Mechanics |