A log home is the ultimate in rustic living, and you might dream of one day owning a cabin. However, building with a log home company can be expensive, and some may wish to do it themselves. Even if you want to build the cabin on your own, hire a logging company to help with the coping of the logs to make sure that you get a professional fit. Ask if you can come to the log yard to help, and you can assist in the peeling, coping and stacking that it takes to build a cabin.
Peeling the Logs
Once the logs are delivered to the log yard, they'll need to be stripped by hand of their bark to give them a handcrafted look. Purchase your logs through a direct logging company, and you'll be able to save money over a middle man mark up you'll have if you purchase the logs from a log home company. The peeling of the logs happens with a long, two handled logging knife. You grasp the knife on both side, and draw it backward toward your chest to peel of a long curl of bark. Peeling is a time consuming process, but if you do it yourself, you can control how much bark, if any, is left on the log, lending to a more rustic look.
Coping the Notches
If you've had any experience with logging, you may be able to cope the logs yourself. Coping is the process by which the bottom of each log is hollowed to allow for a tight fit on the log below it. The best way to cope is to stack the cabin as you cope it, which often means stacking in the log yard. Chainsaws are used to cut out a general shape, and then peeling shapes the log to fit exactly. For a better fit, cut a v-notch in the bottom of each cope to allow for the stretching and expanding of the logs. In this way, you'll get less cracking and checking on the log surface.
Stacking the Cabin
When it's time to stack the logs at your cabin site, you'll need to use a crane to lift the logs into place. However, it is up to you to fit the logs properly, and then drill Oly log screws, which are screws that are 15 to 24 inches long, down into the logs to secure them at three foot intervals. Make sure that you have the site ready for setting the cabin, and it should only be a day long process to reassemble the cabin on your property. Once the cabin is assembled, the rest of the finish work is the same as if you were building a regular house; erecting a roof, framing walls and installing drywall to build the cabin of your dreams. See the Resources section on information about classes to build your own cabin on your property.
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