How Are Log Cabins Built?
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Preparing the Land
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One of the first steps to consider is whether to commission an architect to design the log cabin, or to buy ready-made blueprints. Design companies often have a broad selection of plans, which are less expensive to buy than drawing up your own. These blueprints range from a simple cottage to an expansive mansion.
The land must be staked out and cleared. Sewage lines, or septic systems, and electrical lines are installed. Then the necessary machinery and tools for building must be delivered. Local logs are then cut. The bark is left on if the owners are going for a more rustic look. If not, the logs are stripped down and stained to protect them from the weather and bugs. After this, the logs are cut about 2 feet longer than the diameter of the walls so they can be locked together during construction.
Building the Cabin
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Notches are cut in the logs so they will lock together firmly. In more modern log cabins, nails or bolts are used to fasten together the logs for a firmer hold. After the frame is built, the floor is put down. Floors are usually wooden planks, which are nailed or locked into place with the frame, and stained or covered in a high gloss to avoid splinters.
Next, the walls are formed from stacking logs so they lock together in the corners. Some homes are actually imitation log cabins. The logs are cut in half and secured to outside walls as a facade, but they serve no real structural purpose.
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Adding the Roof
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The roof is added using boards as in a modern house. It is almost always in V-shaped to drain off rain and snow. Logs may form the structure on the inside, stacked a few feet apart and nailed together by the boards on top. Rafters are put up with steel bolts to reinforce the roof. Once the roof is in place, a metal roofing or shingles are put on top to prevent leaking. Many log homes today include skylights. A square is cut out of the roof before the roofing material is laid down, and a skylight is installed. Skylights give a log cabin more natural light to brighten up the dark walls.
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Resources
- Photo Credit http://www.swedishlogcabins.info
