Tue, 2009-10-27 02:20 — bill sanders
i"m starting to stockpile logs in preparation of my build in the near future.what size logs should i be looking for?
i"m starting to stockpile logs in preparation of my build in the near future.what size logs should i be looking for?
Comments
where are you?
2 cents, where is 'around here'?
by here, i meant
by here, i meant LHBA-ers on this forum!
but our building site is physically located in Washington state, and so of course we are building with Douglas Fir.
:)
my husband and i currently live near Portland, OR, right now, and drive up a couple hours to WA every weekend.
2 cents
Just a note about log size
If you are building a 16 to 18 foot wall and you tops are 10 to 11 then you will have about 14 rows.
If you do the same thing with 12 and 13's you will have as few as 10 rows.
Build with as big of a log as you can find and be able to stack them with your equipment.
Best of luck
Rocklock
Class of 6/27/09
I see you wound up with 10-11 tops and 15-16 butts, When you were dealing with your logger what specifications did you give him for log size, I guess the bottom line is did you get what you were asking for. I'm sorta getting myself ready to find out first hand, and thought you might through in some more thoughts on the subject.
My logs...
I have recounted how I got my logs...
http://www.loghomebuilders.org/getting-logs-washington
Just a quick review. I was able to use 22 logs from my own property. I bought 51 from a lumber mill about 45 likes away. There were two piles of logs 10 and 11's (shown in my photobucket) --12 and 13's. I looked at the 13's and I didn't know how I could possibly lift them. Another log home builder that I helped stack his logs has mostly 10 and 11's so that what I went with.
Best of luck
Hey Rocklock
Looked over your photobook. Great pics! What size logs are you using at the butt end? What's the size of your box? Just curious. It looks similar to what I have in mind. I'm signed up for the December class and can't wait!
Ray
Some of my butt ends are 19" but I built with 10 and 11 at the top which means the bottoms were about 15 to 16. My box is 30 by 30 and about 33 feet tall - which is way too tall for my age.
Note; in general log home have two or three windows and doors per wall. I have 21 doors, windows and sky lights which includes French doors, a front door with two side lites and a large basement door that I can drive my tractor in....
I will also post more of the chinking and cleaning pictures...
I also have made a small video that I may post on youtube or on facebook, that shows 4 years of building in about 14 minutes.. Its very cool...
Rocklock
Class of 6/27/09
I was wondering from the 33' height of your box what is the actual height of your log walls
log wall height
about 17.6'
Thanks Dave!
Thanks for all the info! Your home looks great! I like the side lites on your front door and skylights are a great idea. As I mentioned, I'm signed up for the December class and can't wait! I've got all my logs cut and off the ground for now. I have doug fir for walls (12 - 14" at butt ends) and huge cedars for the ridge posts, ridge beams and entry. It's all I know at this point, still have a lot to learn.
good luck
Your ahead of about 99% of your fellow students...
Dave makes a good point
you will have less chinking (and chinking nails) to put in, the fewer rows of logs you have.
As big as you can find. :)
As big as you can find. :)
log daimeter
hey shark. i was wondering how what the diameter of your average log was at the skinny end.
Wall logs butts were mostly
Wall logs butts were mostly 12", tips mostly 9".
Next time I hope to find something about twice the size.
They still hold the heat in better than the old place we rented, but it sure was alot of rows to chink.
log size
i requested logs with no smaller than 9.5" tops.
many would suggest bigger, and a few have built with smaller.
what i have now are a couple 13" tops, a few 12" tops, a few more 11" tops, lots of 10" tops, and lots of just under 10" tops.
most of my logs are about 44' long with minimal taper. the biggest bottoms on the biggest logs are about 17"-18", and the smallest bottoms are about 12"-13".
i think my logs are about average size amongst those building here.