Building a Log Cabin

Lot's of pictures!
I'm going to update this post as we go along. 2 Days into the Big Timber aspect of a 26' X 28' Log Cabin. If I glaze over some of this and you want more info, please ask.

This project already has passed the following stages:

• Land Aquisition
  Septic Permit
  Electric Permits and temporary Electric Service
  Site Clear and Excavation
  Septic System installation
  Concrete Footings
  Block Foundation/ poured solid with Concrete
  2 levels of Floor Trusses and Subfloor down.

The first step prior to Stacking our logs is to Square the Subfloor and determine if we need to adjust the first course to make the logs "Square" We usually do. We then lay out all windows and doors as well as the electrial needs on the subfloor. These marks are then highlighted with Orange paint so we don't forget them as we go.



16" Log saws are used to cut through the 6" X 12" cants. The blades cost $250ish. We resharpen them



We cut Dovetails for the corners. This can be done by hand but we use a really cool jig and special guides on a chainsaw to make them perfect every time.




Cutting a Dovetail:









Finished!


Continued

 

We start laying each log down. They vary in length from 10' to 16'. Each log is glued down and then screwed into the floor and subsequent logs using 15" screws.




Because we are installing Electric, Each log that gets wiring must be drilled as we go. We use 1 1/2" by 18" auger bits to bore the holes. We have a 48" bit for when we realize we forgot to drill one...





Orange paint in hole means that I verified the hole and it goes through to the subfloor with no onstructions and the Electrical box fits. Saves me when the Electrician calls and gripes.

 

Don't step here!



And so we spend a few days, Cutting logs, Cutting Dovetails, Drilling holes and screwing it all together. As the courses go up, the cabins starts to take shape as window and door openings begin to show:

 

More misc pictures. Once we finish the log stack, We'll scaffold up and stick the 4"X8"X18' Rafters. Fun day








This is out of sequence but shows the foundation


More later

edit: my brother is now carrying this on after I have moved away.
>Log Home Repair Log home Maintenance Log Home Restoration

 

OK, my curiousity is up. What wood is that? What's the average cost per square foot of floor (assuming the foundation is in?) A SWAG will do.

 

Eastern White Pine Around $6 per linear foot of 6X12 log. Aprox 900'
Around $5400 for logs and another $19K for the rest of the Beams and 1x8 Tongue and Groove to finish the interior walls and roof decks.

A guess from sill plate up would be around $120K including Labor and materials. That's a no-profit quote.
Add land, Excavation, Well, Septic and foundation.

I spend around $180 on the whole project, Furnished, 2 Jacuzzis, Hot tub on one of the rear decks. Pool Table, Nice AV system etc. Ready to go on our Overnight Rental Program

 

I knew you'd jump in here!

I should have added Modern Log Cabin to the title,

We buy those already milled the way you see them. My local mill has logging operations in North Carolina and they caome to him here as rough cant of True size rather than nominal. True 6" X 12" and then my mill runs them through his rig and it cuts all the profiles and tongues and grooves making them more like 5.5" X 11.5" when I get them. The stacked height of my log is 11 1/4" (Showing)

We use a special sealent on the 2 tongues of the top of each log. It is a latex based "Gasket" of sorts and squishes down and takes up any air space

 

What with and how often do you have to treat for wood eater type bugs?

 

We stain the exterior with something called TWP, Total Wood preservative.
Don't really have much of a problem with bugs other than the dreaded Carpenter Bees. They bore holes in Fascia and Rake boards and really nothing stops them that we've found.

Other then that, It's pretty well maintenence free. I know a lot of people will tell you otherwise of log but I regularrly cruise through spots where we put one up 5 years ago o watch it age and it still looks good.

 

I've seen some woodpecker damage on a few myself. But maybe just on 2 or 3 cabins.
I used to play with all that Allthread and valve spring stuff. Heritage tells their customers to expect 3" of shrinkage. I've done wood on wood with Oly's or LOg Hogs for years and go back and check from time to time. With the kiln dried logs, I have seen one instance of a 1/16" gap showing between logs around a doorway.

I've never had any other problems with mine and I build for myself, not others... SO I'm not trying to take a shortcut. I've built just about every major brand package in my past while working for others. Glossy pics in Log Home Illus. Don't make a better product.

I think that some of them use a lot of fancy hardware to justify selling 10K of wood for $50K. Ever do a Honka PF? Yeah right, Dowel every window door buck... We burned the dowels

 

PF, the Jigs were made by Ed Miller. In fact were his personal Jigs. They run around $1500 for the set... I Dovetail for others some weekends for $9 a DT.

It's really strange to me but a 6" wall is really about the same R value as a 2x4 stud wall with 3" Fiberglass. I'm not a huge believer in the R of the Pink stuff but that's what they say.

monkeyman, I Spec build these to put on a rental program. The tourist traffic in my area seems to like to stay in these rather than a Motel/hotel. I average around $260 a night in one like this. I set them up to rent and also have them for sale. I only have one on the program right now and one under construction. Sold off 5 or 6 the last 2 months.

So basically I get a Construction loan for around 80% of my cost.