Does anybody have any tips on building a log cabin? Especially about the dry of the logs?
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Dodgegirl asked:
I’am going to build a log cabin back aways back in the woods. I cut the balsam logs into 16 footers last summer and shortly going to 2 side them with our mill. But is it better to put them on stickers to air dry them; or build the cabin right away, as the whole building will settle and dry? An area in the woods would be cleared for the cabin, but I don’t know if there would be enough air flow to dry the logs properly? Any tips would be helpful. Thanks
Suzanne
I’am going to build a log cabin back aways back in the woods. I cut the balsam logs into 16 footers last summer and shortly going to 2 side them with our mill. But is it better to put them on stickers to air dry them; or build the cabin right away, as the whole building will settle and dry? An area in the woods would be cleared for the cabin, but I don’t know if there would be enough air flow to dry the logs properly? Any tips would be helpful. Thanks
Suzanne
May 8th, 2008 at 2:37 am
if you cut the logs last year they are dry enough to build now but they will still settle a bit you have to allow for that at the windows and door frames . the logs should be peeled soon before the bugs get into them
May 8th, 2008 at 12:28 pm
If you air dry, buy a moisture meter. That takes the guess work out of it, and the risk of not getting it right. Moisture content should run about 8 percent over 80 percent of each log. Should you decide to build before the logs are dry, then open cracks will develop between the logs as the wood dries out - especially with pine. And put stresses on interior sheeting as well, such as sheet rock or paneling, also resulting in cracks. I live in northern Minnesota, and many dry kilns are in close proximity. I recommend kiln drying. With air drying, you might end up with 20 percent waste due to cracking. Kiln drying can reduce that to 5 percent.