Log Home Construction Techniques: Stacking & Framing Log Cabin Walls

Let's explore some log cabin building techniques that ensure durability and fine craftsmanship. Our new log home construction series starts off with stacking the log walls, framing the home, and detailing the building techniques used for this 2,100+ square foot log cabin. This home features rustic and industrial design elements, an open concept floor plan, a stunning kitchen, an attached garage, and a wraparound porch. These elements of the home are featured in more detail in the full tour of this log home. Log Cabin Building Techniques Let’s take a closer look at the beginning stages of log home construction, from the foundation and the flooring to the log walls and the roof coming together. Log Cabin Foundation: The foundation of this log home has eight-inch-thick poured concrete walls with rebar embedded into the concrete. This allows for as few posts as possible in the basement. 1. Floor Trusses are Assembled: This home features 20-inch engineered floor trusses. This is meant to accommodate the weight of the fireplace and countertops. A well-designed floor truss system makes it easy for subcontractors to run ductwork and wiring throughout the home. 2. Building the Log Cabin Walls: Once the subfloor is complete, the first row of logs can be stacked. Traditionally, the first row of logs sits right on top of the subfloor. However, this log home uses what is called an elevated log stack, where the first row of logs is stacked on a short-framed wall. This offers additional flexibility for running electrical wires. It also gives the customer the ability to add stone to the exterior. Kiln-dried logs are used for the log cabin framing due to their low moisture content. 3. Drilling for Electrical Outlets: As the logs are being stacked, a chaise is drilled into the wood, which will be used to run electrical wires to the switchbox. 4. Steel Anchor Rods & Fasteners: The logs are predrilled for the steel anchor rods. The bottom row of logs will need to be anchored to the foundation for additional support. A router is used to make two grooves in the top of every log. This is where the weatherstrip foam will go. When the log is in the correct position, the heavy-duty log home fasteners are used to hold the logs in place. We use stronger screws that are easier to use with a drill to control the screw as it goes into place. 5. Sealing the Walls: Once the logs are secured, the weatherstrip is added in the grooves that were routed out earlier. The weatherstripping will expand and contract. There are seven points of seal, two weatherstrips, and three beads of stacking caulk. A bead will be added to the exterior and interior as well. With this seven-point seal, there is no chance of air infiltration. 6. Corner Systems & Log Home Wall Joinery Techniques: For this home, the client chose the saddle notch corner system. Other popular styles include button pass and dovetail corners. All of our corners are designed with interlocking wood joinery, with wooden splines and fasteners. The large groove at the end of the log is the dado cut, which locks the vertical corners and the other wall logs. 7. Custom Cuts for Windows & Doors: The builder will then cut in the spots for the windows. Wood window bucks are created where the windows will be fastened. Window and door bucks are installed until the log cabin framing is complete. Watch our next video in the series about log cabin window installation. 8. Feature Wall: The taller wall on the back of the log home is the feature wall with huge windows and large trim. The feature wall is often where the fireplace is located. When building a log cabin, this wall is often constructed with engineered wood products. With the amount of glass that will be on the feature wall, there isn’t a lot of room to stack full logs. Once it’s insulated, matching half logs will be installed. 9. Framing the Garage Walls & the Exterior of the Log Cabin: The garage features conventional two-by-six studded walls because of the industrial metal design on the inside. On the exterior wall of the log cabin, half log is used to match the full log walls. 10. Framing the Interior Walls: The log cabin interior walls easily connect with the exterior full log walls. First, a piece of OSB is used on the log wall as a guide. Then, a skill saw is used to make two cuts into the logs, and a chisel is used to notch out a groove. The groove is where the interior wall finish slides into. When the grooves have been notched out, a two-by-four or two-by-six wall is attached to the full log wall. This same method was used when installing the log kitchen cabinets. 11. Engineered Roof Trusses: When the log walls are finished, log cabin roof construction begins. The engineered roof trusses are installed. In this video, a western-style roof is used, but there are many roof styles to choose from. 12. Staining a Log Cabin: The next step in the log cabin construction process is staining the finished log walls. You can choose from various stains. 13. Running Electrical Wires & Finishing Touches: Finally, the electrical wiring can be installed. Spray foam is added to the elevated log stack, and then quarter log and stone can be added to the exterior to complete the log wall. These logs match seamlessly with the rest of the full log wall. The outlet boxes were custom-made and add the perfect finishing touch. Benefits of Milled & Kiln-Dried Logs for Log Home Construction There are various log cabin construction methods, and one uses milled logs that have been kiln-dried. An advantage of a milled log home is that all of the logs are the same size, making it incredibly easy to build. High-quality kiln-dried logs have low moisture, as little as 19%, compared to air-dried logs, which can contain a moisture content of 40%. This makes them weigh less and also perform better over time. With kiln-dried logs, there is less expansion and contraction, less settling, and the stains and caulk perform better. The Art of Building a Log Cabin Home There’s both an art and a science behind constructing a log cabin. From the foundation to the log walls, and the intricate wood joinery, to the feature wall and roof engineering, every detail is crafted using precise log cabin building techniques. Innovative framing methods, engineered trusses, and kiln-dried logs add to the durability of a custom log cabin. See the entire log cabin construction process from start to finish in this video series. Check out all of our log cabin floor plans for even more design options.

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