Idaho Log Home Builders

 Construction

• Scandinavian Full-Scribe (also known as the “chinkless method”) is naturally-shaped, smoothly-peeled (drawknifed) logs which are scribed and custom-fitted to one another. They are notched where they overlap at the corners, and there are several ways to notch the logs.
• In the flat-on-flat method, logs are flattened on the top and bottom and then stacked (usually with butt-and-pass corners).
• Milled log houses are constructed with a tongue-and-groove system which helps align one log to another and creates a system to seal out the elements.
• With the tight-pinned butt and pass method, the logs are not notched or milled in any way. They are in a single course and do not overlap; vertical pairs of logs are fastened with tight, load-bearing steel pins.

Corner styles

• Interlocking saddle notch: Normally seen on D- or full-round profiles, where a notch is cut into the top of one log and the bottom of another; these two logs then interlock, creating a tightly-sealed corner. Also popular in handcrafted, full-scribe log houses.
• Dovetail: Typically seen on square, hewn, or chink-style logs. A dovetail joint is cut on the end of a log, where it would rest in a corner—one to the right and one to the left; this creates a tight, interlocking corner. Handcrafted dovetails can be “full dovetail” (notch surface slopes in two directions simultaneously) or “half dovetail” (notch surface slopes in one direction).
• Butt-and-pass: Unscribed (or milled) logs butt up against each other at the corners without notching
• Saddle notch: Used where two round logs overlap each other near the corners; common with the Swedish cope profile
• Vertical corner post also known as post-and-plank: Typically larger (e.g., 8″ x 8″) than the wall logs (e.g., 6″ x 6″). The wall logs would be “toe nailed” into the corner post.

Other terms

• Half-Log: The structure is built with conventional building techniques, and “half-log” siding is applied to the exterior and interior walls to replicate the look of full-log construction. Some half-log sidings may also have saddle notch, butt-and-pass, or dovetail corners to give a more realistic appearance.
• Palisade style: The logs are standing on end, and are either pinned or bolted together.
• Piece en piece or piece sur piece. Similar to post-and-plank above: Uses short logs (e.g. 8′ long) lying horizontally between upright posts, resembling post-and-beam construction (but usually lacking the complex notching seen with post-and-beam). Piece en piece typically uses a large (8″x 8″) vertical corner post. It is important that a vertical component (often 3″x 6″) be placed on both sides of each window and door.
• A unique house type in a region where Germany, Upper Lusatian house or Umbeginde in German. Part of the ground floor has log walls inside the posts of a timber frame.

Log Home Builders

Lake City Log Homes

www.LakeCityLogHomes.com

(661) 303-8213