Log Home Wooden Beam Crack

[Saturn0088]

Hello,

I'm brand new to both this forum. I just recently purchased a custom built log home. It was built in 2002 and inspected before I purchased it. The main floor living room has 2 vertical support beams that have small cracking across the grain of the wood. The cracking isn't through the log, so Im thinking its caused from drying and age. The concern I have is where the log beam meets the wall. The vertical cracks seem to create a slight bend in the end of the log, and Im concerned this may be an expensive structural issue. Im planning to build a small frame around each beam to at least make it cosmetically look better. If anyone has advice/thoughts on whether this is a concern and the best way to cover the gap where the beam meets the wall, i'd really appreciate it. Thanks!

[Saturn0088]

I cant seem to figure out how to upload photos. But if someone can show me how to do this, I'll upload a few for you to see. Thanks again.

[loghousenut]

Imgur.com

I was able to figure out how to load photos to that site and then stick them on this site and I'm about as dumb as a fence lizard about this computer stuff.

The other alternative is to come to this forum through the Tapatalk app. Photos are easy that way.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200525/298973cf9096c993f3ccc1b93f63e25a.jpg

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[Saturn0088]

Thank you for taking the time to help. Here are some photos.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200525/23f704a392bd9125fb88bb9c9b3e9ce7.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200525/babcf8a1727fc2b2e1b16e52639d3c53.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200525/87e88bb1aceb18d4f4f8fdb48f38a375.jpg

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[Shark]

Depends on a lot of things like how large that beam is, and how much weight it is supporting.
But generally a check like that is not much of a concern.

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[Saturn0088]

Thanks. Here's a wider angle view of the room.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200526/7200e1085e3f35aebe536d7dc61fd674.jpg

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[loghousenut]

The beauty of round beams is twofold.
1... They are round.
2... Everyone expects gaps.


I may be all wet on this one but I would pretty it up with molding and get a backhoe on there to start digging the pool.

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[loghousenut]

PS... Nice photos.

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[allen84]

I feel this guy has cats. Get him a real log home to throw them in.

[rreidnauer]

I believe that you mean horizontal.
I do don't see anything that looks particularly concerning with those checks, and they don't appear to be load bearing, though possibly tie the walls together in tension from roof load. (I'd need to see more photos of the entire structure in question)

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[donjuedo]

Those gaps that run with the grain are called checking and are not a structural issue. Checks are fine.

Cracks go across the grain, as you would see when breaking a long pencil into two short pencils. So cracks are a big deal.

This is the explanation I heard from a timber frame architect.

[DoubleJRanch]

I believe that you mean horizontal.
I do don't see anything that looks particularly concerning with those checks...

I'm with him, not an issue and in fact, its called "character" now. :o

[allen84]

I think it passes the sniff/smell test.

[Saturn0088]

Fixed! =Phttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200531/37602335c675ed13281301f6a032fff4.jpg

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[loghousenut]

Think how much more you would have paid for the place if the previous owner had done that!

It looks like the architect planned it that way.

[Plumb Level]

That is exactly what I'm planning on all my gaps. Around my flooring where the RPSLs come through; where the siding was "sort-of" coped to the log wall....like within 3/4"; corner moldings for the basement paneling. I think it looks great, covers different sizes of gaps, and goes up really quickly. I've got 1/4", 1/2" and 1" rope for this.