Log cabins set in the middle of a green open space under an open, blue sky – looks like the very picture of beauty, doesn’t it? Picture postcard perfect beauty. Log cabins have a certain rustic charm about them, which is an undeniable fact, and they’ve been around for a long time. They have the simplest of structures and can be found all over the world, both in rural and urban areas wherever wood has been readily available. It is believed that log cabins began to be constructed initially in the northern part of Europe, around 3500 BC. Later on, the construction of such cabins began in the USA, Germany, Russia and Scandinavia. A number of the log cabins constructed years ago still stand in some parts of the world.
The styles in which log cabins have been constructed vary from one part of the world to another. Two common styles of log cabins, classified on the basis of the style of their roofs, are the purlin style and the gable style. In the middle of the 18th century, elaborate log cabins began to be constructed, known as the Adirondack style of cabins. At the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, a number of log cabins began to be constructed as a part of the United States Park Service, most of which were built as per the Adirondack style.
The construction of a log cabin is rather simple, as it is usually built with logs horizontally piled one on top of one another. Logs used for building a cabin can not be picked on a random basis. They need to be selected carefully as logs with only a few knots are preferred, as such logs can be smoothed easily with a bit of whittling. This ensures that the gaps between the logs are as small as possible. In days gone by the gaps were filled in with grass and sticks, known as ‘chinking’, or with mud, known as ‘daubing’.
Major decisions to be taken when constructing a log cabin are – the cabin size, number of storeys, the type of roof, and the type of doors and windows. Years ago the availability of logs as well as that of labour were two of the most important factors affecting the size of the cabin. For instance, if logs were not readily available in the vicinity of the site, the size of the cabin would have to be restricted. Similarly, if labour – human or animal – was not available near the site, again the cabin size would have to be restricted.
In today’s times however, the construction of log cabins has been made extremely simple by the availability of ready-to-erect log cabin kits. Such cabins have the same look and feel as traditional log cabins, but are cheaper and easier to construct. You do not have to look for the various materials for construction and collect them from different places, as they are readily available in a single kit. Moreover, when log cabin kits are being used, there is no need for cranes and other heavy equipment. Due to their advantages, log cabin kits are widely preferred by people all over the world.
Initially, log cabins were built by travelers to stay en route. They were not meant to be permanent dwellings. With the passage of time, they began to be used as residences, as well as outbuildings for various purposes such as storage of garden equipment and raising animals. Some people use log cabins as an extension of their home: as a gym; an office; as a playroom; or as a place for rest and relaxation.
In conclusion, log cabins have been around for a long time because they have always been versatile and remain an asset for any homeowner.
Watch the video related to log cabin
Learn how easy it is to build a DIY Logspan 2 storey log cabin, with helpful hints and tips. The Laura Chalet Cabin.
Help answer the question about log cabin
Can someone give me some good websites on how to draw a log cabin?I have an English report and I need to know how to draw a log cabin at a camp site. Please give me a website that tells me how to do it. Please answer! Thanks!!
I have tried googling "How to draw a log cabin" but all they give me are very complicated, big log cabins.
About Author
James Armes wrote the article ‘Log Cabins Are Here to Stay’ and recommends you visit http://www.gardeningthoughts.co.uk/acatalog/log-cabins.html for information on modular log cabins.
sweet nice vid
thanks for the vid,very helpful
This was just a demonstration piece for doing a saddle notch. It’s still sitting in the woods, no bigger than it was in the video. Thanks for watching.
Read this completely because I intend on building my own very nice log home very cheaply but you have to know how to do it.
It is according to where you live, the type of log home you want, if you are going to have it built, if you are going to use a kit, how big the logs are you will use, and if you are going to work on it yourself.
You can build a brick home for less than most log kits cost.
Most the kits out there cost between $100 and $150 for each 16 foot log.
I bidded on several homes when I was contracting but they all, every single one of them ended up building brick homes because of the cost.
I built my on sawmill so I van cut all logs, flooring and roofing timbers, flooring, roofing sheathing, studs, wood for doors, windows, kitchen cabinets, and even the trim.
You can buy a new sawmill for a few thousand dollars to do the same or if you can weld as I do, build one for less than a grand.
If you use quarry rock for the basement walls or foundation, as I intend on doing, and do the work to cut all your own materials, you can build it for less than $50,000.
You are talking about a home that is close to 2,200 square feet.
If you have it built and buy a kit, you are talking well over a quarter million dollars.
If you do it all yourself "and do good work" you can have over $200,000 equity in it when you move in but you will have to have perfect credit or scratch build it.
If you buy the right land at a good price, you may be able to get a second morgage on it to help pay to build the house. It should also have standing timber on it to use for the home.
Several of the sawmill manufactors sell them on credit also.
And you will need a planer / molder and can also get them financed.
Both of these pieces of equipment is something you can resell after you have finished the home to regroup much of the cost and is figured into the $50,000 stated above.
It's not a small undertaking but it is well worth it in the long run. Any body can learn to build a nice one if they try. They were building them hundreds of years ago with axes and hand saws.
The only thing holding me up is the right land. I want a creek so I can make my own electricity also.
If you have any more questions, e-mail me. I'll be glad to help.
good luck man that sounds sweet.
No don't bother, Coke and Pepsi also contain huge quantities of corn syrup also and will work about as well.
Nice… I think log cabin is perfect near the ocean. If you want some decor in it… you can try visit this site. http://www.kdloghomes.com/
Depending how long the log is, I had one replaced last yr. It was 8 ft long and cost me $1200 to contract out. It took the contractor all day. Call in a few GCs and get three bids. That will give you a better idea. Yellow page it.
Just make some trusses and put them on 2 foot apart . Lay some 1×4s across the trusses 18 inch's apart then lay some tin on the roof overlapping each other. Then use the special tin to cap off the roof. Dont use logs too much weight. Use plywood and framing. Build it on skids. So you can pull it with snow mobile.
thank you for this! I am making a log cabin and needed to know a better way to notch the logs out, I was just doing it with a mallet and scraper thing. It was awful!
I have a question,
You show how to notch one side of the log,
but I notice when I take a look at all the logs interlocked, do you need to notch both sides of the log? or just one side?
the reason i am asking this is because,
i noticed on your log cabin/ fort thing here,
there are gaps between the logs, and if someone were in say, a “survival” situation,
and they wanted to seal off all gaps to have it as insulated as possible, how would you go about doing that?
cheers
make the notches deeper so it sits tighter if your building it and if you come across a cabin chink it with clay or moss what every you have around to seal it up
Log cabins are beautiful and homey to live in. However, they are high-maintenance and expensive. Because they are built of organic materials, it is almost like they are alive.
To keep a log home in top condition, requires the wood logs to be treated and maintained regularly year after year so the wood doesn't dry out and rot. Sometimes the logs can warp and need to be repaired or replaced, which is expensive. Also, weather wears out the weatherproofing material between the logs, and it will also eventually need to be maintained and repaired continuously over time.
If you are up to the regular high maintenance (either by doing it yourself or by paying someone else to do it), then a log cabin is a wonderful type of building that is well worth the investment.
i love these cabins
nice sharp axe what brand?
depending on the species of tree you are using there are several techniques that you can use to cut out your saddle notches, my cabin is made out of doug fir so i cut vertical cuts to a depth to match the scribed line then i rough cut with an axe then chiseled out high spots to form a perfect fit. hope to see pics of your cabin!
There are always Cabin rentals available at the various Illinois KOA's
Here's where in Illinois they have KOA cabin rentals.
Benton KOA
1 Room Kamping Kabins
Casey KOA
1 Room Kamping Kabins
Chicago Northwest KOA
1 Room Kamping Kabins
Kankakee South KOA
1 Room Kamping Kabins
LaSalle / Peru KOA
1 Room Kamping Kabins
Lena KOA
1 and 2 Room Kamping Kabins
Also: Deluxe Kamping Kottages, Kamping Lodges
Rock Island / Quad Cities KOA
1 and 2 Room Kamping Kabins
Springfield KOA
1 Room Kamping Kabins
Happy Travels!!!!!
I like the fact that answer number one is pretty OPEN in his statments. TO accurately define your prices/end costs, it seems to me (with all dur respect) you already have so much of what you need regarding resources, to get PRICES.
Without knowing at all,,,the "LAY OF THE LAND" I'd probably go with a "daylight" basement" AND honestly 2200 sq. ft. is hardly a CABIN. SIGH. I see and get in e mail Every day,,,BUILD TO SHELL…NC cabins for less that 100 K. I so want to assume you could double that to finish.
Another thing I might ask is WHY do you need a LOAN to finish? No offense to you certainly,,, OR the KIT provider, but you don't mention WHERE? IE: 35 miles East of Ashville? Etc,,, OR if you already OWN the land? IF you happened to own the land,,, the loan could be negotiated with it as collateral.
Once more, and with all due respect…FINISH might be relative, as it FITS some liveable plan you have, and could easily take 18 to 24 months?
Finally, and I hope I haven't offended you. ANYONE doing any work, and depending on zoning and code issues, better be ready to back up any liability "DADDY" or not.
No one here who answers can know your families commeitment, or a time frame for you
A_Lone.Wolf@yahoo.com
Steven Wolf