| As we start to research log homes, it quickly | | | | milled log home. This is mostly because of |
| becomes apparent that there is much more | | | | the intense labor required to construct a |
| variety than one would ever think. Not only | | | | handcrafted home, and because of the larger |
| do log homes come in all shapes and sizes, | | | | diameter logs that are normally used. The |
| but the logs themselves come in as many | | | | vast majority of homes built today are milled |
| variations as you can imagine. Once you | | | | log homes.If you see a log home with round |
| decide on the look you want, you can start | | | | logs and chinking, that is a first indication |
| eliminating manufacturers that don't provide | | | | that this is could be a handcrafted log home. |
| your system.There are two categories of log | | | | Chinking was historically a mortar-like |
| homes: handcrafted and milled log homes. | | | | material that filled the gaps between the |
| Initially, you may not realize what you are | | | | logs. Modern science has created an acrylic |
| looking at, but there are some basic | | | | compound that expands and contracts with the |
| guidelines that will clarify the differences. | | | | wood; it is applied as a wide white stripe. |
| A handcrafted log home is just that; the | | | | If a handcrafted log is not scribed, then |
| logs are peeled by hand, notched by hand, and | | | | chinking is a must because the logs leave |
| in many cases, each log is scribed to fit | | | | gaps along their length. Some people do use |
| exactly on top of another log. In many | | | | chinking as a design feature even when it's |
| handcrafted homes, the logs are stacked | | | | not necessary, though for the most part |
| alternately, so the large end of a log is | | | | milled log homes are not chinked.The |
| stacked on top of the tapered end of the log | | | | characteristic corner of your log home will |
| beneath. A milled log home will feature logs | | | | speak volumes to the person who knows how to |
| that are uniform in shape, and the logs will | | | | read it. The profile and joinery system of |
| be cut to fit together, such as with a | | | | the log will usually be reflected on the |
| tongue-and-groove or Swedish cope, so that | | | | ends. For instance, on a handcrafted log |
| they stack easily and evenly. There is a big | | | | home you'll see the different diameters of |
| price difference between a handcrafted and a | | | | the stacked logs. |