| Log home designs can be divided in several ways. | | | | cutout into which the butt log fits. |
| Understanding log home designs and basic concepts | | | | 2. Dovetail Corners - these corners are used mostly |
| can help you select the design that is best for you. | | | | with square or rectangular logs. The end of each log |
| As you are getting involved in the design process, | | | | is cut in such a way that produces a fan-shaped |
| consider these basic concepts as they apply to your | | | | wedge. As the logs are stacked, the ends of one |
| design: | | | | walls logs will be locked into the perpendicular logs. |
| Shape of Log Used - the logs used in your log home | | | | 3. Notched - notched corners are also known as |
| can be shaped in various ways. They can be full | | | | saddle-notch. A saddle-shaped notch is cut into the |
| round, D-shaped, square shaped, rectangular shaped | | | | bottom of each round log so that this notch on the |
| or Swedish cope style. D-shaped logs will have one | | | | bottom of the top log straddles the top of the log |
| side of the log flat with the other three sides being | | | | coming from the perpendicular wall. Both logs then |
| rounded. The Swedish cope style has a portion of | | | | extend past the corner. The saddle-notch is one of |
| the bottom of the log cut out so that the log rests | | | | the most traditional corner intersections used in log |
| more securely on the log beneath it in the wall. | | | | home designs and is favored by many handcrafters. |
| Type of Log Wood - there are many wood species | | | | These type of corners are very strong, but they do |
| commonly used in log home designs. There is no such | | | | require more construction time. Notched corners are |
| thing as a "best" wood to use, rather, each species | | | | also easier to seal and hold corner logs better than |
| has advantages and disadvantages. Wood types | | | | butt-and-pass. |
| include cedar, cypress, Douglas fir, hemlock, lodgepole | | | | 4. Post Corners - the log ends are cut off |
| pine, oak, spruce, white pine and yellow pine. If log | | | | perpendicular to the length of the log and joined at |
| home designs, construction and maintenance are | | | | the corners using what amounts to vertical posts. |
| done properly, any of these woods will provide many | | | | This type of construction is not as labor intensive. |
| decades of enjoyable log home living. If not designed, | | | | This corner style sacrifices some of the traditional log |
| built and maintained properly, none of the woods will | | | | cabin or log home look. Using post corners will require |
| hold up very well. | | | | a different engineering treatment than other log |
| Peeled or Milled Logs - peeled logs used in log home | | | | corners, because the vertical posts do not settle with |
| designs will have the bark and outer sapwood | | | | the horizontal logs. |
| removed. This can be accomplished by hand or by | | | | One of the best ways to learn more about log home |
| the mill's machinery. Milled logs are run through | | | | designs is to view log home plans that have been |
| machines that will create the desired log shape when | | | | successfully built. Every plan that you examine can |
| finished. The log surfaces will be more smooth and | | | | give you design ideas that you had not thought of. |
| uniform in milled logs. | | | | Trying to create brand new plans from scratch can |
| Corner Systems Used - here are the four main | | | | be time-consuming and expensive. You can save |
| corner systems used in log home designs: | | | | considerably if you can find great plans that exist |
| 1. Butt-and-Pass - these corners are formed when | | | | that you like. Just be sure the plans service can make |
| one log stops where it meets the intersecting log, | | | | changes to the plans so they become exactly what |
| and the other log extends past the corner. There are | | | | you want. That way, you really can create the log |
| many variations involving the shape of the area | | | | home design that will provide you many years of |
| where the logs butt. Usually the passing logs have a | | | | enjoyment. |