Category:Handcrafted Log Homes

Handcrafted logs are either hand-peeled with a drawknife or water-peeled. Logs used in handcrafted construction most commonly are Douglas Fir, Pine, or Spruce. Several other species are occasionally used such as Oak, Cyprus, Juniper, and True Firs, such as Alpine Fir.

Logs can be used Green, basically within days/weeks of cutting and hauling; Air Dry, which is a designation that is subject to vast debate as to when does a Green log become an Air Dry log, and in a very few cases kiln dried. (Kiln drying full size logs for handcrafting is an expensive process and used by only 1 or two companies in North America). Another alternative to green, air-dried, or kiln-dried logs is the use of standing dead timber. Timber which has been killed by beetle infestation is still solid and viable for use in log homes, yet it is already naturally dried by standing dead several seasons. This option is not only more gentle on the environment and tree population, it is the most superior resource for logs used in log homes and log cabin packages.

Handcrafted log homes are generally most expensive than milled log homes because there is so much more labor involved and often larger material is used. Handcrafted log homes retain the character of the logs and the authentic "log home look".

The logs are then fit together in one of several ways. Scribe-fit is a style popular in this region. In this style, one log is scribed to precisely fit over the log below it. The scribe-fit style needs no chinking and is usually joined at the corner using a shrink-to-fit saddle notch system. Another way logs are fit together leaves a space between each round of logs that will be filled with a backer rod material and chinking. This style is called chinked. Other styles are piece-en-piece and hand-hewn dovetail.