How to Build a Homemade Log Cabin
Log cabin construction began in North Europe and Asia, before accompanying early European settlers to North America. As Matthew Stein indicates in "When Technology Fails," log cabins represent a simple and ecologically sound way of living. Building one by hand requires careful planning and may involve several months of arduous labor, but if done correctly it can yield decades, even generations, of reward. Experience in logging and construction is helpful for this task, but not strictly necessary. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Timber
- Chainsaw
- Truck
- Log chains
- Rope
- Snatch block
- Come-a-long (hand operated winch)
- Roof material
- Concrete or flat stones
- Small shovel
Instructions
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Locate land on which to build. Ideally, the cabin should be built on a level, elevated area that is near clean drinking water, but removed from excessive moisture. Clear the site of any brush or debris.
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Draw up a floor plan. Note the length of each wall, the cabin's height and the locations and sizes of doors and windows. Decide on the number of stories, the locations of steps, and whether to build internal walls or cabinets. Carefully plan the number, size and shape of logs needed.
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Acquire timber and other necessary materials. If you choose to harvest logs yourself, either from your own land or through agreement with another landowner, the following tools will be essential: a chainsaw, a sturdy truck, chains to prevent logs from rolling away, and a come-a-long with which to fell trees and pull timber. You may also buy prepared timber from a logging contractor. According to Stein, logs should be as straight as possible and measure at least 14 inches in diameter.
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Prepare each log by cutting to the necessary length, removing bark and carving grooves near each end so that the logs will stack together tightly. In "How to Build This Log Cabin," John McPherson suggests that bark can be most effectively removed using a small, flat shovel.
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Build a foundation out of concrete, pilings or flat stones. According to McPherson, it should be level, "solidly placed" and have square corners. Stein recommends building the foundation at least 18 inches high.
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Lay logs, layering them butt (the wide end) to tip (the tapered end), and securing with grooves or spikes. Each new log should be plumbed, or centered, and made as level as possible with the last. When stacking higher logs, you should use cables or ropes and a snatch block to hoist them. Make sure to place large, strong logs above windows and doors.
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Build a roof, supported by the top layer of logs, using a material of your choice. Log cabin roofs are commonly thatched or made with boards, bark or shingles. If using boards, place an initial layer across the top of the cabin, leaving a few inches of space between them. Cover the spaces with a second layer of boards and nail them in place.
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Create the interior of the cabin. This may include the installation of basic heating or plumbing and cabinet or furniture making.
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Tips & Warnings
Bark removal is a lengthy process and will be more effectively accomplished with help.
It is not safe to keep a working fireplace in a log cabin. If you choose to have one, exercise extreme caution in building and maintaining it.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit log cabin image by Ray Kasprzak from Fotolia.com
