It would probably be better if the logs were "S3S" or surfaced on three sides, leaving just the outside wall "rounded." The lob bottoms and tops would be flat allowing for better sealing and the inside surface would be flat allowing for flat interior walls. The outside would have to be sealed against rain, bugs, sun and whatever. Make sure there's an overhang with gutter and a good roof.

Log homes are major "tinder boxes" and burn rapidly. There are several companies that specialize in making the whole kit.

Hope it works out good for you. Have fun.

-1bigsteve (o:

 

I used 2x6 tongue and grove cedar log siding on my house that I use to live. And to make it look like a real log house I extended my corner boards 6 inches then took a scarp piece and coped the end and nailed it to the extended part to make it look like a full log. The cost was more than other types of siding but last a lot longer if taken care of.

 

Funny this came up, I had thought someday when i retire in
montana that i'de like a log cabin, but after seeing a buyer
beware bit on them on a lcal news channel i think ill pass on it
and some insurances wont cover them or its too high. Sorry cant
refer anyone to the site but im sure if you did some research you
could find where the troubles are.

 

Leaving the inside rounded and bare is part of the beauty of it. They still use draw knives to manually debark and give it that natural look. Chainsaws are used to cut and notch. It's like art to watch these guys prebuild at the factory. The logs will lay flat against each other and there's no gaps at the joinery. These houses are tight and sealed. Building one totally on your own using with trees from your property has burned out a couple people I know. The kits seem to be the way to go.

If you've never spent any time in one of these places and are used to stick frame, it's hard to descibe. They don't work well in a city atmosphere, but in a natural setting there's absolutely no other construction with the same relaxed homey feel. I've never seen a sheetrock and trim interior that frames an outside view like these houses do.

Some leave the interior natural, just seal it. After time the logs will darken, leaving a cool contrast between the wood and "mud" that's used to fill in the joints. It's popular to put a whitewash finish on rooms that tend to be dark, like bedrooms with low ceilings. In a kitchen you could use a redwash and greenwash finish to blend in with marble or hardwood countertops, (when this is done right, it's an awesome effect). I've seen where people have done woodcarvings in the logs, where artwork becomes part of the house. The lighting options using the texture of the logs to cast shadows can be really cool, too.

You can still use sheetrock and stick frame on interior rooms like bathrooms - it brings the cost down. It's a different kind of construction, your doors and windows have to basically "float", because the logs can settle sometimes a foot or more as the house ages. You have to reseal outside, but if the outer eves overhang enough, it's not that big a deal to wash and recoat.

I guess it's not for everyone, but I haven't met anyone that didn't like them after spending a few days in one that was done well.

 

Actually, log homes hold up better and longer than stick built homes in a fire. The mass of the logs and the fact that there are no air gaps between them actually makes it harder to start burning than a stick built home, and also allows it to burn longer without structural damage. I have heard of log built homes that have sustained fire being able to have the charred wood trimmed off with a chainsaw and the house livable again in no time. More info can be found here

 

I am concerned about the high maintainence issue. This is to become a retirement home eventually, probably in rural north Georgia (not in the mountains, though). I want to build a rather small (<1500 sq ft) energy efficient home that will be easy to care for as I get older. Probably one story, too, as I don't want to climb stairs when I get old. I'm most familiar with conventional stick construction, as I've built house-sized additions anyway. I'd probably go up a few blocks to give the termites something to think about. I saw a house here that appeared to have the concrete forms made out of styrofoam- is that ICF? Looked very strong and tight. BTW, I have rented a true log cabin in the woods, and you're right- there's nothing quite like it.

 

Not much for me to add except this.

Anyone see the pledge drive on PBS a couple months ago? About a guy that built his log cabin by himself, with nothing but an axe and a saw, in Alaska. Now there's a hard worker if I ever saw one. He not only built his house, he set up his wind up camera to document his work, and sent the films to his brother in California (I think).

And a few years ago, I remember seeing a "Home Time" series on building a huge log house, using modern equipment. Pretty interesting, showing how they built the interior walls to allow for settling. In the end, it was a really nice house.

 

Sounds like ICF to me. Each "block" is very light weight and one of the manufacters has metal mesh impregnated into the foam.

It's kind of like using concrete block in how it goes up. There's different designs and depending on the brand, you let them know what door and window openings you have and they ship the pieces to do those. Some brands are made so you cut your own openings. From what I've watched go up in my area, you set vertical rebar in the footing that goes up the length of the wall and then set your foam blocks. When you pour, the concrete will form a honeycomb and interlock each block and the whole works to the footing. Once the concrete sets, the styrofoam is no longer stuctural, but offers insulation. Because it's monolithic, you don't need the massive footings, like with block or brick.

The footing has to perfectly level and you have to stage the pour, (I think the limit is 4' vertical). But I guess if you time it right you can work around the building and by the time you get to the start point things have firmed up enough to continue on up. They build two-story houses with this stuff, all the way up to the peak.

Looks like it's pretty easy to work with. Each block weighs about as much as the old styrofoam coolers they used to make. A lot easier to throw around than concrete block and if you have a guy come out with a boom type pumper truck, it's not too backbreaking.

 

Last year my dad and i started to built his new house from scratch. I dug the basment with my old ford tractor, skided out the logs, he cut them, the whole family help put it up. The best house i have ever seen.

 

I live in BC where there are tonnes of forest fires and tonnes of rain and I have not had one single problem with my log home. I wanted the full round log inside and out I would not have had it any other way and I am very happy with it. Howdy-, was right the beauty of the log cabin in my opinion is the exposed full logs.

 

Bigribfixer.
I saw that same show and i was captivated to say the least that
guy was good with minimal tools and the knowledge.