anybody built a log cabin before?

I would LOVE to build my own home, and my boyfriend and I have been looking at options... one option is, of course, log cabin kits... and then we found this website that offers two day classes (hands-on) on how to build your own cabin.

I was wondering if anybody with experience could give me some pointers, maybe take a look at the site and let me know if it looks credible, like it would be worth it. there are tons of pictures and it seems very legitimate to me.

thanks ahead

http://www.loghomebuilders.org/ here's the site

 

I looked at the website, and I don't know about this. They charge almost $700.00 per person just to join their club. How much do they charge for the classes? I think maybe I'm in the wronge line of work.

Anyway, I don't think a person needs to spend that kind of money before they even start building. I bet you could hire a log smith to show you the ropes much cheaper. Better yet, learn the way I and most of the other cabin builders did: buy some books, a good selection of tools, and learn as you build. I highly recommend Tom Walker's "Building The Alaskan Log Home".

Above all, be safe and have a good time.

 

i agree with the cookiemonster. i suggest doing a LOT of research....and then doing a LOT more! there are many ways to build a house and the best way often depends on the type of climate you'll be in.

as far as gaining experience, the best way is to help someone build their own. most communities would be more than happy to let you help IMHO, there is no reason to pay someone to let you help them build a house.

 

ahh hell just wing it it aint rocket science,, although it is a helluva a lotta work..

actually the most tasking part of it for us was scraping the bark off the logs..

As long as every few logs ya make sure your corners are level and plumb its a peice of cake...

 

thanks guys i want to get involved in habitat for humanity actually... i had thought about it a long time ago, and then looking into building a home i remembered about it, and i think it would teach me a lot (not to mention the good deed i'd be doing) i'll have to start checking out books too

thanks again!

 

oh yeah, cookiecache, it says that the lifetime membership fee includes the cost of the class... but i didn't look into what all the membership includes besides the class

 

hi

ive been thinking of a really affordable way to build a cabin lately. it just requires a lot of table sawing and chain sawing and glueing and time. but it can be done before you even buy a place to live.

Basically you dont build using logs. you build using thin wooden strips. First you cut down trees. Then you turn them into pieces that can go through the table saw. From there you cut them into thin but wide slices. Then glue the slices together and make a wall. it would require a bunch of sawing and would probably be easier to just buy some plywood but it would work. On the inside of the walls you can put plastic and insulation and cover it over with sheet rock or the same home made paneling. I for one love windows. I want a whole wall of windows in my cabin. When your done you seal the wood with a sealer and it makes everything very low maintance. A over hanging roof would be best. I want a lot of porch space it is a nice way to build using moisture sensitive materials like straw bales and the like and makes the house feel much bigger. and cuts down on snow shoveling

More and more my thinking is drawn towards a very basic design. I want to build on blocks rather than pour a foundation and keep things in the woods as much as i can rather than clear cutting all the trees. this really helps keep things cool in the summer. Windows are important too. I saw a shaker house and they had indoor storm windows/shutters instead of outdoor ones. this is a really great idea and looks really cool. by doing this i can cut out a lot of the costs. its more like living in a trailer but people do this pretty easily all over the place. modern houses are so expensive because they are insanely huge and heavy duty.

good luck!
Dd

 

I am currently in the process of designing a circular house constructed mainly of hemp straw bales.
You can use regular straw bales (cheaper, since hemp has to be imported).
Straw-bale houses offer superior insulation--the walls are approx. 2' thick.

Ever thought of a pre-fab house? Cheaper than log cabins (which requires milling equip.) when you factor in labor.

 

I've never built a log cabin, but I have relatives who have. Can't say I'm much of an expert. I am currently taking a 10 month carpenters programs and am building a conventional house.

Anyways, from my recollection log homes are made by scraping logs free of bark. You would want a straight log like the lodgepole pine[western canada]. Then I would assume you would cut it to length with your chainsaw. I think they notch a V into the log, probably both sides so that a seal is formed. In the old days they used to use ilregular logs and just chink the cracks with moss, mud, or even cowshit. After while I would assume you would notch the ends with your chainsaw and axe to recieve perpendicular log.

Make sure to research. Also straw bale houses don't work in many climates, so be sure to research. If you're going to be living in the residence, I would build to your areas code and follow up with an inspection.

 

hhb, how long did it take u to build the one at ur farm? im assumin' you and some others built that? its a nice cabin either way

 

I'm designing and plan to build a wooden round dwelling. I am fortunate enough to have some CAD experience, so that takes a lot of the guess work out of it, I basically get a list of parts at the end of it and details of how to cut them. I can also scale it to optimise it to the size of the initial timber, to minimize on wasteage. I can adjust my designs to suit a good interior size, and also ensure it looks good too!

I have currently opted for pre-sawn and exterior-treated timber rather than using logs which although more pleasing, would introduce a whole load of extra work not really ideal for the beginner.

Buy a trade catalogue of various carpenters tools, materials and fixings. Dont' forget there are almost always books on the subject on Amazon.

Those who say do lot's of research are correct - you may even find you don't fancy a log building after all. Mongolian Ger's (Yurts) originally caught my interest but I have since wandered through the ideas of rammed earth dwellings, domes, sunken buildings, etc.

Building on blocks is a great idea because then you bypass a lot of the problems with damp, though this depends on climate. Raised blocks may also be the only practical solution in areas with difficult ground.

 

I did once but it was on a feild trip those things are a pain in the ass to build if their big trust me

 

ours is 12 x 14 and to get it dried in from start to finish fellin logs,scraping,and constructing took about 500 man hours worth of labor,, ..
So no its not a easy task but the rewards are endless ..

 

why not just use bricks?

 

Log cabins are fun, theres a series of books out there called the foxfire series

I believe foxfire #1 goes over log cabin construction, I'd look at my set but I dont know where they are, been moving too much and I dont know what has become of my books.