Log Home Living - Second Time's The Charm

True North Log Homes customers Keith and Ann Bares in Minnesota discuss the selection, planning, building and furnishing of their second log home, which acts as a waterfront vacation getaway for them and their extended family in the February 2013 Edition of Log Home Living. As the story goes, the Bares fell in love with a True North log home model as they were driving one day. They worked with Rakow Construction to choose a log home design, which would best suit their needs. They say as they dug deeper they were particularly impressed by True North's patented log wall joinery system and zero air infiltration guarantee as theirs would be a year-round vacation destination.  Rakow proceeded to build a spectacular 1,924 square foot home with a large, walk-out lower level, wrap-around cedar deck and even a three-car garage (a must for Minnesota winters).

Inside, the Bares created a fantastic, traditional log cabin retreat they and their family will no doubt enjoy for years to come.
 

The full Log Home Living article can be found here on the True North Log Homes website or will be available on newsstands shortly.

What are the Best Log Shapes and Sizes for a Log Home or Does It Even Matter?

The best log homes are typically built using top-grade North American softwood. Grown in the forests of Northern Ontario and Quebec, True North Log Homes’ preference is winter-cut, slow growth Northeastern White Pine.  Only the durable heartwood of the log is used to ensure the log is dimensionally stable. 

The cross section of a typical log.

The sapwood section of the log, or soft layers between the heartwood and the bark is typically eliminated during the squaring process. This assures that settlement of the logs will be minimal -- not exceeding one inch in an eight-foot wall height.


Log homes built using hand-crafted round logs can be very attractive.  However, if you are looking for your log home to be efficient, properly weather-sealed and free of excessive settlement and maintenance problems, a squared log is certainly recommended.

Another important factor in the building of a solid, stable log home is the size of the logs used. The preferred best practice is to use full-dimensional logs to. This means, for example, that an 8"x 12" log actually measures 8”x 12", as opposed to 7 1/4" x 11 1/4" which can be found in use by some inferior log home manufacturers and builders.  Using a full-dimensional log adds thermal mass, which translates into improved insulative capabilities, higher energy efficiency and ultimately long-term cost savings.  All of these positives certainly trump any short-term cost savings realized in purchasing smaller/thinner logs.  Be sure to choose a log home manufacturer who focuses as much on quality as they do on price. After all, this will presumably be a long-term investment and you want it to last.

 A third and final consideration is the corner styles to be used in the building of your log home.  Generally available varieties include dovetail (or sculptured dovetail), saddlenotch (or sculptured saddlenotch) and post corner systems. Each of these corner styles have their aesthetic and functional differences.

Dovetail corners have unique water-shedding capabilities as all angles lead out of the corners so water will never have a place to collect in the joint.

Saddlenotch corners with interlocking logs create a very traditional log home look while adding structural strength.  

Penta-post cornering systems can be used to create irregular angles and unique log home designs without compromising the integrity of the structure.

So log sizes and shapes certainly can and will figure into the look, feel and long cost-effective life of your new log home.  Consult carefully with your log home builder and/or the manufacturer to ensure you are getting the right combination of design, stability and value.