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Telling One Log Home From Another
Telling One Log Home From Another
- Log Types and Construction Methods
While exhibiting at Log Home Shows, I have noted scores of would-be log homebuyers enter the exhibition space enthusiastic, bright-eyed and ready to learn. It is disconcerting to see these same consumers later trudging along, hopes dampened, eyes glazed over and looking very confused. Why? It is not that there aren’t fine examples of the log building craft represented, or knowledgeable experts from the industry full of technical information. I believe it is because what seemed like a simple choice and a few considerations now appears to be muddled mess of styles and methods, each purporting to be better than the competitors. While there are a myriad of styles and methods used in the log building industry, they can generally be grouped into either ‘handcrafted’ or ‘manufactured’. Here the differences in construction methods are most dramatic and the impact on design most apparent.
Primary Log Types and Construction Systems
Whether a home is handcrafted or manufactured will have a marked effect on the overall appearance of a log home. For the purposes of this article, I will use the terms ‘manufactured’ and ‘milled’ interchangeably. Handcrafted construction uses full trees so the logs are generally larger and have a natural taper from one end to the other. The logs are usually longer and have a more rustic appearance, as each log is different. Manufactured logs are milled to a uniform size resulting in a near uniform appearance. The logs are generally shorter and have a smaller size though a few manufacturers mill large size logs, with a corresponding much higher price tag. The exterior surface of milled logs can be finished to give a hand hewn appearance.
Handcrafted Logs at a Glance
Handcrafted log construction usually involves working with debarked or peeled trees that are fitted together using chainsaws and hand tools. While there are several types of handcrafted construction, perhaps the most widespread method is commonly called Scandinavian scribe fit. Without getting too technical, construction involves fitting one log to the log below by means of scribing the exact contours of each log and cutting with a chainsaw. Where logs meet at a corner they are notched to overlap. Because logs are the natural trees, as noted, they taper from one end to the other. To make up for this taper, each successive course or layer of logs is laid in the opposite direction so that the overall wall height averages out. When you look at a log wall you see logs of varying diameter with each log having its own unique characteristics. The logs themselves can be left quite rough, showing the marks of the ‘draw knife’ used to remove the bark, or sandblasted or sanded to a smoother finish. The unique appearance of handcrafted log homes is most noticeable near the corners where the variation in diameter is most evident and the technique used for overlapping the corners clearly visible.
The size and variations in log diameter may reduce the useable floor area of a home significantly. This can impact the placement of furniture or other interior fixtures against the walls, as well as paintings and wall hangings. Where cabinets are up against walls, it is very common to build a conventional wall to which cabinets can be attached. Although not common, I prefer to flatten the walls where there will be cabinetry or bathroom fixtures giving a flat vertical wall and exposing the rich grain of the heartwood and gaining back the floor space, often crucial in kitchens and bathrooms.
The use of long logs also can have a major impact on design possibilities. The larger and longer logs generally used in handcrafting allows for longer unbroken walls and greater unbroken interior spaces. Long beam spans are common without having to use glulams or other non-log beams.
While all logs are susceptible to changes in size due to changes in moisture content, this is usually more evident in the handcrafted industry where ‘green’ or recently cut trees are often used. This means that the log walls may ‘settle’ up to 6% in height from the time they are initially constructed until they have reached their final height. Settling valences over those building elements that do not settle, such as conventionally framed walls or windows and doors, become a more noticeable part of the design. It also means that the use of logs in the gable ends is more difficult because of differential rates of shrinkage. Because of the differential rate of shrinkage of the logs between the walls and the corners, handcrafters have had to become much more scientific in calculating and accounting for this. Thus, there can be a significant difference in quality between companies using older methods and companies using more advanced techniques.
In handcrafted construction, the overlapping corners means windows and doors must be set back from the corners, usually a minimum of two feet from the centerline of the wall. Because of furniture and drapery placement this is not usually a problem but needs to be accounted for in exterior wall design nevertheless. Short log lengths can be problematic.
One significant feature of handcrafted construction is the use of feature logs. A handcrafter or designer can select trees that have unusual characteristics, such as grain patterns, interesting knots and branches or curved shapes, and incorporate them into the design.
In summary, while conventional handcrafted construction does impact design and interior finishing, the dramatic beauty of full natural logs are themselves an architectural statement and require little in the way conventional interior design to create a beautiful interior. In addition, the size of logs normally used allows large and dramatic spaces and unique features.
Manufactured Logs Construction and Design
By far the largest numbers of log homes are built using a manufacturing process. Factories can handle large volumes of logs and produce uniform profiled logs or building units and machines can replace the highly-skilled labor usually required in handcrafted operations. In addition, logs can be cut from computer-generated cutting lists and shipped to the building site without having to assemble the home in advance. This decreases production time and increases potential volume. Standardization has also led to easily reproducible kits, bring down prices further. This facilitates the use of dealer representatives and allows manufacturers more direct exposure in a wide range of markets. While your dealer rep may be local, the homes themselves are likely to be manufactured at a remote location and shipped to your site for re-assembly. This is either done by the rep or by a general contractor using an installation guide provided by the manufacturer.
In the factory, logs are milled to a wide variety of uniform profiles such a ‘D-log’ that gives a curved surface on the exterior and flat surface on the interior. Almost all of the manufactured log homes today have a profile less than twelve inches, often as little as six. Because the logs are uniform, logs are stacked one atop another, typically using a tongue and groove system, without the need for scribing one to the other. They stack relatively easily and can often be assembled by people with basic carpentry skills. Logs are machined to allow the corners to overlap, or to alternate extending past each other, known as ‘butt and pass’.
The uniform log profile used in manufactured construction means the appearance is much more uniform and therefore less ‘dramatic’ that with handcrafted. However, their consistency makes it easier to complete interior design, hang pictures and place furniture. Some companies allow different size logs to be used in the same home, although this is not common.
With most manufacturing companies, the smaller logs and profiles mean more logs are required to reach a given wall height. This sense of scale is more noticeable on larger homes. In addition, shorter logs mean shorter wall lengths, numerous butt joints and less design flexibility. If large beams are required to give a more open feel to an interior space, rectangular timbers and glulams may have to be utilized. Like handcrafted homes, overlapping corners mean windows and doors need to kept away from the corners, though the machine joinery allows them to be much closer.
Because manufactured logs tend have significantly less moisture content than handcrafted logs, differential settling is less noticeable. Wood trim used to conceal the settling that occurs can be smaller and less noticeable. Many manufactured log homes utilize logs in the gable ends. However, it is important to note that except in a few systems, there will be some settling of log walls and allowances must be made to avoid problems down the road. Some companies choose to mitigate these potential challenges by caulking every log joint.
Unique Designs
Where a design calls for windows and doors at corners or uses varying floor levels, a post and beam type design can be used with both manufactured logs and handcrafted logs. In this method, vertical and horizontal logs are used to create a structural system with horizontal logs used for infill. Few companies do this type of building, because of the additional and often complex joinery required and additional costs.
While most design ideas can incorporate either handcrafted log or manufactured logs, the overall appearance and specific details will vary greatly. In my years as a designer, I have been amazed at how many people, even after years of planning, who don’t really know the difference between handcrafted and manufactured. I encourage all those who are contemplating owning a log home to look carefully at log homes or photographs so that they can enter the purchasing process a much more educated consumer.
Monday, June 1, 2015
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