In the world of log homes, nothing is as iconic and classic as the log house. Believed to be one of the earliest types of home-building, log houses are a staple in many parts of the world, and have come to define traditional, rustic home styles.Log houses are built entirely out of logs, which are typically split into two halves so that they can be stacked and fitted together like a jigsaw puzzle. The resulting structure is not only incredibly sturdy, but fits together in a way that makes the house impervious to weathering.
The logs used in log houses are typically tree trunks, cut about 3-4 feet apart from one another. The logs often have an aspen-like appearance, due to the natural beauty of the wood, as well as the way in which the logs are typically chinked – the process of stacking the logs, and then the external gaps are filled either with additional logs, or other insulation materials. The log cabin first originated in Europe, but made its way around the world, particularly in the United States during the colonial period. Early American pioneers constructed log houses in the wilderness using trees from the forest around them to create shelter.
These early log houses were incredibly basic – they had dirt floors, no electricity, and little in the way of plumbing or insulation. Thus, the log house was an effective tool for providing shelter to the settlers as they explored the wilderness, and it would remain an important part of the culture and history of the United States for centuries. In modern times, the log house has made a big comeback. New technology allows log house builders to create a much more efficient and sustainable home that is both energy efficient and aesthetically pleasing. Newer log houses are built with an airtight structure to counteract the drafts that can enter from the sealed chinking, and they can include insulation, plumbing, heating, and other modern amenities. Log houses come in a broad range of shapes and sizes. They can be as simple as a single-room log cabin or as elaborate as a multi-room, two story home. Regardless of size, a log house remains one of the most unique and iconic home styles in the world – and it’s no surprise that many people are now gravitating back to this traditional form of architecture.
The log house is a house typically made of logs that have not been milled into conventional lumber and is structurally identical to a log cabin. Log houses are an especially traditional type of dwelling found in forested areas. Some have utilities such as plumbing and electricity, while others are simpler and more rustic. Log houses can be large or small, modern or traditional in design. They are generally attractive due to their natural materials and rustic aesthetic. Log houses may be constructed partially or wholly from logs, or various combinations of logs and other materials.
The term log home is modern and preferred by most builders, while log cabin indicates a smaller, more rustic, log house, such as a hunting cabin in the forest. The terms "log home" and "log cabin" have interchanged over time and there is no universal definition of either term. Both terms refer to a house built with logs as the primary building material and are typically associated with rustic or country-style architecture. Log homes are built with large, round or hewn logs, while log cabins are built with smaller, cut logs or sawn lumber.
Most modern log homes are relatively large dwellings, meant for full-time residential living, while cabins are generally smaller and more often used as vacation homes, retreats or auxiliary dwellings. Log homes tend to be more professionally constructed and can have a higher level of energy efficiency. Cabins, on the other hand, can often be built by hand, using traditional craftsmanship and form.
TYPES OF LOG HOUSES:
1. A-Frame Log House – A-frame log homes feature a distinctive A-shaped roof line that is often combined with other steeply sloped roofs. The A-frame look is achieved by using logs with a flat or rounded side that fits tightly together at the peak of the A.
2. A-Frame Style Log Home – An A-frame style log home is similar to a traditional A-frame log house but with trim and trim details added to the bottom of the logs. The result is a home with more of a traditional cabin appearance that often includes shutters, porches, and built-in outdoor furniture.
3. Post and Beam Log House – Post-and-beam log homes feature sturdy logs that have been cut into large beams and then assembled to form the walls of the home. The logs are fastened to one another with metal plates and bolts, creating a sturdy foundation and an energy-efficient shell.
4. Full Log – Full log homes are constructed from log walls that fit together like a jigsaw puzzle and are usually held together with a notching method. The logs fit together tightly so that little or no chinking material is needed between them, creating a strong, virtually airtight wall.
5. Chinked Log – Chinked log homes feature logs that are slightly smaller than traditional full log homes and are held together with a type of timber frame. In this type of log house, small gaps or “chinks” are left between the logs, which can be filled in with a specialized log chinking compound.
6. Full Scribe Log House: A full scribe log house is built from large logs which are “scribed” precisely one by one into the logs that sit beneath them. Each log is fitted to its exact shape and profile necessary to ensure a tight fit when it is laid in place.
7. Hand Crafted Log House: Hand crafted log houses use traditional tools and methods to shape the logs by hand before they are laid into place. This type of construction will create a beautiful and unique house with lots of character.
8. Log Cabin: Log cabins are one of the most popular and classic styles of log houses and feature a rectangular shape with a full gabled roof. The logs used are typically smaller in diameter than traditional log houses and are stacked in a half-log wood pattern.
9. Timber Frame Log House: Timber frame log houses are constructed with large timber frames which are then filled in with smaller round logs. This type of log house is very strong and provides excellent insulation and stability.
10. Scandinavian Log House: Scandinavian log houses are characterized by tall walls, steep roofs, and their characteristic roof shape which slopes from both sides of the house towards the center.
11. Log Stop Houses: Log stop houses are traditional-style log houses that are usually two stories high and have a single-pitched roof. The logs are joined to create walls by a expert craftsman, using techniques like saddle notching.
12. Log Palace Houses: Log palace houses are the most expensive type of log house and are usually large and ornate. They feature log walls with multiple gable roofs and intricate detailing, with each log interlocked with the next.
Handcrafted log homes are especially famous in and associated with the forests of Northern Europe, including Scandinavia, Finland, Russia, and the Baltic states. These log homes have been a part of the culture of the region for centuries, with some estimates claiming that the tradition is at least 500 years old. These homes are usually built from massive logs, and use a variety of interlocking techniques to create a unified structure. The use of such techniques give these homes a unique look, as well as making them extremely resilient to both the cold weather and attacks from outside forces. As a result, these homes provide excellent insulation and security, making them particularly popular in areas that have extreme weather and potential visitors that could be dangerous.
The log houses were built using only an axe and knife.In early 18th century the Scandinavian settlers of New Sweden brought the craft to North America, and it quickly became famous and was adopted by other colonists and Native Americans. The log houses were constructed using only an axe and a knife, though sometimes chisels and augers were used for the intricate details. A wooden mallet and wedge were also used. To construct a log house, the first log was usually placed on the foundation. This log was called the “sill”. The sill rested on the foundation and all other logs were placed on top of it. To fit the logs together, the gaps were filled with a “chinking” material which was made from mud, moss, or straw. The wood was shaped with an axe and knife, and the logs were usually notched at the corners to ensure a tight fit. The walls were sometimes held in place by metal rods, and roof boards were put in place to form the roof. After the structure was finished, a wooden ridgepole was put in place to support the roof. The inside walls were usually covered with plaster or whitewash. The oldest surviving log house in the United States is the C. A. Nothnagle Log House in New Jersey. Built in 1638, the C. A. Nothnagle Log House is now owned by the Salem County Historical Society and is a designated National Historic Landmark. It is open to the public for educational tours.
First milled log houses appeared on the market in 1920’s. They were made of logs that had been pre-milled according to the buyer’s specifications. These houses could be assembled quickly and easily, and allowed the buyer to customize the house’s interior and exterior finishes to a greater degree than was possible with traditional log cabins. The milled logs could also be used to construct much larger and more durable houses than was possible with traditional log cabins. The peaked roofs, deep overhangs, and large windows of the milled log houses are similar to traditional log cabins, but they also offer the convenience of a home that can be constructed quickly and easily, as well as the ability to customize the interiors and exteriors to a greater degree than was previously possible.
The log houses were constructed using logs that were precut and shaped in an interlocking "dovetail" pattern, allowing for them to fit together and stay tightly together to form the walls and the roof of the log houses. This method was used to build both rustic log cabins and more sophisticated log houses with ornate masonry or wooden ornamentation.
A traditional log cabin is a more simple construction, its logs placed horizontally with the gaps between them chinked with stones and mud. This a less sophisticated construction technique in comparison to the "dovetail" pattern, which is made up of logs that are placed vertically and shaped with deep scoops along their edges that allowed them to be perfectly placed next to each other and securely held in place with wooden or metal pegs. This method of assembly was much more secure and resulted in more durable and longer-lasting homes.
Many log homes today are of milled variety mostly as it requires less labor intensive field work than with handcrafted logs. Milled log homes are built using pre-cut, milled logs. These logs are essential mass-produced logs, cut from trees that have been harvested from the forest. Milled logs feature a consistent shape and size that allows builders to stack them together for a tight, even, and seamless fit. This technology has allowed larger log homes with longer logs and more intricate detailing to be built without the challenges that come along with hand-crafted log homes.
Advantages of milled log homes are that they are quicker and cheaper to build than hand-crafted log homes and more consistent in size and shape. As the logs have already been milled, this saves the builder time and money as there is no need to cut or shape each individual log. They are also more impermeable than hand-crafted logs due to the shrinking and checking that is often reduced or absent and the addition of preservatives to the building materials.
Disadvantages of milled log homes include that they are more difficult to repair if damaged as the versatility of custom cuts in timber logs is not available. As a result, it can be difficult to source similar logs in the same size and shape to patch up a repair. Also, milled log homes are not as aesthetically pleasing as hand-crafted log homes in the sense that they have a more uniform look and feel, as each log is identical in size and shape.
There are possibly 500 companies in North America that build the handcrafted, scribe-fit, style of log home. It's best to use a professional to help you compare apples to apples.
There is no single answer to this question since it depends on a number of factors, including the size and complexity of the home design, the type of logs used, the amount of labor required and the area in which the home is being built. Additionally, each company may have different construction methods or standards, as well as their own pricing models. We recommend working with a log home builder or professional to find the best company to build your dream log home. Doing some research and asking other log home owners is also a great way to identify professionals that offer high-quality log homes without over-inflated prices.
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