From logs

Log buildings are among the most traditional and ancient building techniques. Log buildings elicit feelings of coziness, durability, and unspoiled beauty; examples range from the modest log cabins tucked away in the forest to the opulent lodges found in mountain resorts. Not only is log construction aesthetically pleasing, but it is also long-lasting and energy-efficient.

Because of their superior insulation qualities, log homes stay cool in the summer and warm in the winter. They are perfect for a range of climates because they naturally provide protection from severe weather. Furthermore, the thermal mass of logs lowers the requirement for excessive heating and cooling by assisting in the maintenance of a constant interior temperature.

Log homes differ from conventional buildings due to their distinct character, which goes beyond their practical advantages. Every log has a unique texture and pattern that add to its unique appearance. Because they are devoid of many of the chemicals present in contemporary building materials, the natural materials used in log construction also support a healthier living environment.

Choosing to build with logs for your construction project is a stylish and environmentally friendly choice, regardless of your preference for the rustic charm or the structural benefits. This post will go over all the different facets of building a log home, from selecting the best kind of wood to caring for it for many years to come.

What is the material?

A log structure composed of two types of wood, such as a house, bathhouse, gazebo, or other building

1. First view, unprocessed log, so-called debarking. The first option has minimal requirements for material processing. During the preparation process, twigs and bark are cut off.Sometimes the wood is not even dried before being sold. Grooves, grinding, fitting – all this is done by workers during the construction process.
2. Second type – planing. The second option – planed or rounded logs – arrives on the counter already dried, trimmed using mechanisms, the crown grooves and locks are already cut out. All that remains is to assemble the log house like a construction set.However, this type of lumber is cheaper than the first. This is due to the fact that debarking is stronger and more durable than planing. The top layer, which is removed from a rounded log, is extremely important for preserving the material from rot and moisture.

Debarked logs can be as long as 12 meters, but processed materials are typically no longer than 7-9 meters. Diameter at maximum 300–400 mm. The lower crown, which is next to the foundation, should be the thickest and strongest when building a log house, even though the diameter of each log may vary.

You can find here a detailed description and attributes of logs.

What is a wall pie made of??

Log walls are made of many materials in addition to layers of logs stacked on top of one another. Dowels are not used to fasten logs together, in contrast to timber. There are no fastening materials used in the layout of the entire wall. The weight of the logs and their cuttings keep them together.

There must be one or two layers of insulation in between each crown. Make use of tow, jute tape, or fibrous material. They used regular moss in Rus." The fibers in the house fill in tiny gaps as it shrinks, shielding it from moisture and drafts.

A winter log home needs more insulation. While various materials can be used for this, mineral wool is most frequently used. Wood needs to be covered with a layer of vapor barrier and waterproofing to keep it from decaying in the presence of moisture and condensation. Vapor barrier, the first layer, is applied directly onto a batten or log that has been nailed to the facade. A layer of waterproofing, insulation, and external decorative material follow.

Thickness

A room intended for year-round use should typically have a material thickness of 220-300 mm. Living space is negatively impacted by a few more millimeters of additional insulation.

A spruce frame with a wall thickness of up to 22 cm, however, has the same heat-retaining capacity as a wall made of silicate bricks over 1 m thick, 84 cm thick clay bricks, or 55 cm thick expanded clay concrete due to the low thermal conductivity of wood.

Is sound insulation necessary??

Wood is known to have strong noise-transmitting qualities. It has the ability to produce acoustics and transmit vibrations. Only interior floors and floors are covered by this. The walls themselves don’t require soundproofing from street noise because they are between 20 and 30 centimeters thick. If the building has two stories, then the sound is audible throughout the entire house. In this instance, the first floor will hear footsteps coming from the second floor.

Here’s how this issue is resolved. It is necessary to install approximately 10 centimeters of soundproofing material on the second floor; there is a wide variety available on the market.

When designing a building on the side of the road, you can include a vestibule that will absorb all noise if the owner of the house is concerned that noise from the highway will seep into the house. Additionally, glass is a good sound-reflector. On the side of the road, you can build a veranda.

The insulation made of mineral wool has good soundproofing qualities. Aluminum slats are used to attach it to any surface, and drywall is then installed on top of them.

Installation of vapor and waterproofing

It is possible to install log wall insulation both inside and outside the home:

• In the first case, the work is carried out to hide the old facade under siding filled with layers.
• In the second case, on the contrary, in order to preserve the external charm of the house, isolating it from the inside. It must be remembered that improper insulation can lead to rotting of wooden walls.

Waterproofing and vapor barriers can be installed indoors or outdoors, but air flow between them and the wall is required. The vapor barrier layer can be fastened to the outside of the logs using brackets. Air permeability is ensured by their relief. Before the first layer, wooden slats are nailed inside the house. Three to five centimeters should separate the vapor barrier from the wall. As a vapor barrier, it is used:

• cellophane film;
• roofing felt;
• aluminum foil.

Foil is thought to be the best option because it both reflects heat back into the room and insulates against steam.

A vapor barrier is layered first, followed by the installation of metal slats with insulation tucked between their grooves. Siding and drywall are used to cover the waterproofing, which is fastened to the top. Insulation is not done without insulation, and insulation is not done without layers that prevent condensation.

It will start to rot if the insulation is not positioned between the waterproofing and vapor layers.

Material laying technology

Log walls are made of stacked logs that give the exterior appearance of an assembled constructor. The first layer serves as the base for the waterproofing material, which is typically roofing felt. The board, or the first crown of logs, comes next. To accomplish this, either cut out a bowl or join four logs "into a paw."

A bowl is an opening that is carved into a lower or upper log to contain and fasten a neighboring log. There are upper and lower bowls.

Numerous options exist for connecting. Logs are joined using the "ohryap" (square bowl) and "okhlop" (bowl with a spike in the center) techniques in addition to the bowl and "in the paw" methods. Furthermore, the entire log has an inter-crown groove cut through it to ensure that the layer is securely fastened and does not move. Between the grooves is one of the insulation types. Thus, vein after vein is positioned up to the window apertures. They keep laying out a wall of chopped logs fastened with swarms in between the upcoming windows. In addition, the final layer of wood functions as a "wind board," to which the rafters are fastened.

Unlike a cube, the wall does not have to have perfect angles. Certain structures, like gazebos, can be constructed with a bevel. The structure’s stability is unaffected by this. The outlets at the corners of log houses connected by the bowl method are always able to extend up to one meter.

After that, the excess is chopped off, yielding a tidy corner akin to one in a traditional hut. "In the paw" corners are smoother but less sturdy.

The article at the link has all the details you need to build walls out of logs.

Insulation of a cold house

Insulating a log house is typically not a required procedure. But there could be a number of reasons why the house is still cold:

• insufficiently caulked jute between the crowns;
• gaps between window or door openings;
• the cold is coming from the roof.

Look for drafts in specific areas of the entire house with a burning candle. After the house is fully settled and the logs have reached equilibrium moisture content, insulation should be completed at least a year after construction is finished.

Using construction foam to seal cracks is not advised. It will crumble and dry out quickly. Since the logs in the log home are always moving, this kind of insulation is ineffective.

Caulk is used to push jute or a similar wood-like material between the crowns. The ceiling and roof can then be insulated from the attic side. They employ regular mineral wool for the roof, and it is left uncovered.

Crushed materials can be used as insulation for the attic floor:

• ecowool;
• sawdust;
• expanded clay;
• seaweed.

The waterproofing layer between the ceiling joists is covered with insulation. Insulating walls from the inside is a last resort. Installing insulation inside the home is not advised by experts because it could cause fungus growth and wood rot.

Find out more about insulation for homes here.

Cutting out openings

The structural integrity of the prefabricated structure is jeopardized when window or door openings are formed. The cut logs near windows and doors are subjected to a great deal of pressure from the upper layers as the house shrinks. They may eventually bend into an arc, and it will be challenging to straighten them.

The openings must be fastened with extra boards, wood, or beams during shrinkage to avoid such an occurrence. Three methods exist for creating openings:

• Cutting down a shrunken integral structure. Considered ideal, but expensive and problematic from the point of view of getting into a person’s home. In addition, the entire frame of windows and doors is poorly ventilated and may become covered with fungus during shrinkage
• Securing cut-out openings with bars, inserted into grooves cut in openings. The second option is considered a rough opening. Window frames or frames are not inserted into it until the house has completely settled.
• Creating a finishing opening from lamellas. And the third option is, in fact, creating a finished window or door frame from boards into a groove or tenon.

By building a U-shaped box to contain the logs until they completely shrink, the doorway can be secured. However, it is impossible to predict with certainty whether or not cracks will form in this instance. A box like that can raise the logs that are resting on it while the subsidence occurs.

Repair of log walls

A log house requires prevention and inspection every five years to get rid of potential damage and cracks early on.

There are a number of reasons why doing minor or major repairs is required:

• through or small cracks in logs;
• inter-crown cracks;
• destruction of the paint and protective layer;
• rotting of individual sectors of the walls.

An acrylic-based sealant is used to fill in wall cracks that appear as a result of cracking and drying. Large cracks must first be caulked with foamed polyethylene cords before the sealant can be applied.

Additionally, intercrown cracks can be filled in with caulking, jute, or tow. Birds occasionally steal this material to build nests. The insulation needs to be caulked inside so that when it gets wet, it doesn’t transfer water to the spaces between the logs; it shouldn’t protrude from the cracks.

Using a spatula, remove any remaining paint and varnish peel before applying a fresh coat of paint. The walls need to be bleached if they have already turned black and developed a layer of fungus. It will also assist in giving the logs their original color back. Following a water wash to remove the bleach, an antiseptic, primer, paint, or varnish is applied on top.

Sector replacement can take place entirely or in part. Rot usually affects the lower crown that is closest to the foundation. If only a small portion of the beam has been impacted by the rot, it is removed and replaced with a new beam with the same diameter. In the event that the foundation is entirely destroyed, the house is raised.

Here is more information about restoring and repairing logs.

Treatment

In the first few years, wood left untreated with chemical mixtures may start to rot, get cracked, and grow mold.

As such, the course of treatment ought to be followed on a regular basis every five to seven years. Sanding the logs is the first step, especially if they have been debarked. Use a grinder or grinders to accomplish this.

Decontamination must be done after the walls have been brought to a smooth, light condition. Both inside and outside the home, antiseptics are used. Select a water-based paint for interior painting that is odorless and does not affect the occupants of the home. Prior to selecting a solution, ascertain whether this mixture can be painted or varnished. In nine to eighteen days, the antiseptic dries.

Work on wall treatments should be done in warm, dry weather. When the air is eighty percent or higher relative humidity, antiseptics and varnishes cannot be applied.

The walls should be impregnated with a fire-resistant material—preferably one that isn’t salt-based—after being treated with an antiseptic. Though it penetrates the wood fibers more effectively than salt, it is slightly more expensive. Use two to three layers. Paint or varnish is applied as the last step after the primary processing.

Beeswax is used by some craftsmen in place of chemical mixtures; while it has a water-repellent quality, it cannot shield walls from mechanical damage.

Visit the link for more details about information processing.

How much wood does it take to build?

You can find specific calculation algorithms online at places like this calculator, which assist you in determining the necessary cubic capacity, the quantity of logs needed, and their approximate cost based on the length, width, and height of the walls and logs. Here’s how you can do it on your own:.

First information:

• length, width, height of the wall;
• number of walls, including interior walls;
• log diameter and length.

You must first determine the walls’ total area. To do this, multiply each wall’s length by its width, then add the resulting numbers. To compute 1 crown around the perimeter of the house, including the interior floors, this indicator is required.

The next step is to determine how many logs in height will be needed. Determine the wall’s working length in order to accomplish this. If the diameter of the log is 300 mm, you will need to deduct a few centimeters (3 cm) to account for the inter-crown groove. That is, the length of each log will be 270 mm. This is multiplied by the number of required meters in height. As a result, you will know how many logs the log house will require.

Next, multiply the number of crowns by the length of the entire house’s circumference, including its interior walls. This is the method used to calculate the total length of all crowns. You have to divide this indicator by the total length of logs that are for sale. A specific table used to calculate round timber is used to determine the cubic capacity of logs. Here’s more information about figuring out how much material there is.

Log construction is a time-honored method of combining robust building with natural beauty. The advantages of log homes will be discussed in this article, including their distinctive aesthetic appeal, energy efficiency, and environmental friendliness. We’ll also go over maintenance advice, the fundamentals of building with logs, and contemporary innovations that add to the appeal of these homes. Whether your dream home is a sumptuous log estate or a rustic cabin, this guide will give you the critical knowledge you need to make your vision a reality.

Advantages and disadvantages

A log house has a number of advantages over brick or cinder block buildings, even if you ignore the unquestionably attractive qualities of wood. These advantages include:

• environmental value of the product, the tree does not emit dangerous resins, breathes, provides a pleasant, healing aroma;
• low thermal conductivity, better heat retention with relatively thin walls;
• relative cheapness and lightness of the material, despite the massiveness of the logs they are much lighter than a brick wall.

Still, there are a lot of drawbacks to building a house out of logs, so you might want to give up on building a wooden one. The most evident drawbacks consist of:

• wood burns well even when taking into account fireproof impregnation;
• logs must be regularly treated against insects, mold, and blue stains;
• when a log house shrinks, it loses up to 15% of its original height.

Multiple generations of a family can easily live in a log house provided it is properly maintained, checked for cracks, rot, and mold, and it is heated and ventilated on a regular basis.

This article goes into great detail about the benefits and drawbacks.

Time of construction of the log house

In other words, at least a year goes by between the time the foundation is built and the owner moves in. This is dependent upon the subsequent elements:

• weather conditions during construction;
• amount of workers;
• the size of the house and the complexity of its layout;
• selected materials (rounded logs or debarks);
• time to dry the foundation;
• time to settle the house.

You have to wait until the foundation dries, even when crowns are laid at their fastest rate, which is once a month on average. It may require ten days to complete. It takes an additional two to three weeks to install the previously cut structure on the foundation. A year is preferable, but at least six months should be dedicated to shrinkage. The final step is communication and home design.

The selection of the material is a significant factor. If a debarked log was chosen, more time will be needed for its final manual cleaning and the cutting of its locks and intercrown grooves. Because of this, most developers purchase rounded logs to save time.

Life time

A log home can last a century or longer with the right maintenance and routine inspections.

Numerous centuries-old Russian architectural monuments can be found throughout history. However, this is only possible if the house is routinely cleaned with antiseptics and inspected for insects, rot, and fungus.

A log house can be destroyed by moisture and microorganisms in two to three decades if proper maintenance is not given, and it can be eaten in a matter of months if a white house fungus grows on the logs.

Read the full article here about how long log walls last.

Disassembly

Such work might be necessary when reconstructing specific building sections, moving a nice log home to a new location, or completely demolishing an old house. When there’s enough room on the property and other structures don’t get in the way, you can bring in special machinery, like a manipulator, to take down the house in a few hours and remove all the trash.

Should this prove unfeasible, you will need to manually disassemble the house. As soon as possible, you must decide where to store both good material for later use and trash. After removing the ceilings and the rafter system, the roof becomes the first part of the structure. The task should be completed by at least three persons who are able to raise and transfer logs.

A certificate from the BTI regarding the house demolition and communications overlap—tasks handled by special services—may be necessary before work begins. There are significant time delays at this point.

It is necessary to remove the door and window frames before removing the walls. If the house is old, you will need to point out areas that are rotten and potentially collapse during the dismantling process.

You must get nails from the boards right away to avoid inadvertently stepping on a log that has nails on it. The most crucial aspect of disassembling log walls is to take safety precautions.

This article contains even more details regarding disassembly.

What is it?	Building with logs involves using whole, debarked logs as the main construction material.
Benefits	Logs provide excellent insulation, durability, and a natural aesthetic.
Common Uses	Often used for cabins, homes, and rustic-style buildings.
Types of Logs	Hand-peeled logs, machine-milled logs, and handcrafted logs are common options.
Maintenance	Regular maintenance includes checking for pests, sealing cracks, and applying protective finishes.
Environmental Impact	Using logs can be eco-friendly if sourced sustainably, but it may affect local ecosystems.
Costs	Costs can vary widely based on log type, sourcing, and labor.
Popular Styles	Styles include full-scribe, post-and-beam, and stacked log construction.

Log construction offers a unique combination of contemporary sustainability and old world charm. In addition to being aesthetically beautiful, logs offer superior insulation, keeping houses cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Numerous log homes that date back centuries attest to the durability of this natural building material.

Although building with logs may seem difficult, it can be a rewarding project if you prepare ahead of time and have the right equipment. Every stage, from choosing the best kind of wood to making sure it is treated and maintained properly, is essential to the lifespan and functionality of your log structure.

Log homes offer more than just practical advantages; they also make for a healthier living environment. When compared to conventional building materials, the natural materials offer better air quality and less allergen presence. They are therefore the perfect option for anyone trying to furnish a cozy yet environmentally responsible home.

All things considered, log construction blends the best qualities of both contemporary efficiency and classic beauty. Anyone interested in eco-friendly and fashionable architecture should give building with logs some serious thought, whether their vision is of a sturdy family home or a rustic cabin.

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