Are 40 foot logs hard to come by?

[stockhatch]

The floorplan I like is a 40x40 layout. Is it going to be impossible to find logs that long? If I do manage to find some, will they kill me pricewise?

[stockhatch]

I take that back...I imagine I will need at least 45' logs due to overhang on the "passing" logs...

[stockhatch]

I suppose I could fake it on alot of the walls due to window and door openings. Then I will only need the 45 footers for the uninterrupted spans...

[rreidnauer]

Well, you're in the pine belt there aren't you? Must be some good sized lumber there.

Try this. Take a level that has a 45 degree bubble on it, and a 50 foot tape measure. Tie the end to the tape measure to the base of a tree that looks good to you, and walk out 45 feet. Now, pointed at the tree, sight down the level, with the 45 degree bubble showing level (might require a second person or a small mirror to do both) Where the level lines up with the tree is the 45 foot height point of the tree.

If I confused you, here's a sketch of what I'm talking about:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v328/titantornado/sight_height.jpg

[stockhatch]

Ahh such beautiful math :D Thanks. I'll have to try that.

[spin05]

Some of my logs were 55ft and my house was only 38x28. It is nice to be able to slid a log either way to meet the size diffrence..............

[rreidnauer]

Ahh such beautiful math :D Thanks. I'll have to try that.

Actually, that is a simple version of what I want to do. The device I want to build will include a cheap rifle scope with mildot reticle. With this, I can deterimine tree diameter at the point visible in the scope, by taking the known distance from the tree, multiplying by 1.4, (which is the line of sight distance) and noting how many dot's the tree spans in the reticle, I can come up with a number with a bit more math. I could also make up a crib sheet to speed up the conversion.

[stockhatch]

Cool. Unfortunately, most of the trees on my land are oaks, and they are too big an perty to cut down. Hopefully I will be able to source some logs long enough for what I need locally. I guestimate I will need close to 80 trees with minimun diameters of 10 inches and minimum lengths of 45'. Thats not counting the roof either.

[adubar]

stockhatch,

The availability of long logs is directly related to what your local industry does with them. In some locals, the mills (which tend to be the main timber customers) may only want 30 footers of a certain maximium diameter, as they may be involved in processing that uses machinery that cannot handle anything beyond those dimensions.

In other locals, the industry may be more diverse or focused on other types of processing and logs of greater lengths and diameters can be found easily.


So, if you find that in your neck of the woods the logs that are readily available to you do not meet your specificaitons then work your way down (or up) the supply chain until you find what you need.

-A

[stockhatch]

I think all we have around here are yellow pines. They get really frickin big, but I read on some other forums that they arent that great for building with LOL :lol: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v46/stockhatch/stickpoker.gif

[adubar]

Use what you can get locally.


If it's fir, use fir.
If it's cedar, use cedar.

If it's yellow pine, use that.


Something to consider: it is less about what kind of log you put in your house, it's more about how you go about building with it.

-A

[stockhatch]

Thanks. Although that was actually my poor attempt at humor. ;)

[HITmanMikie]

I, too, am looking at the log length issue. I am surprised at the price of 44' logs, as opposed to 36 or 38', if I have to buy retail. Another concern to address with the County is how long the trailer can be to drive to the property.

There is a slight possiblity that I can locate fairly local trees. I sure hope that works. As I see it, I will be looking at close to ninety 44-footers and manuevering them around a 1/2 acre lot as I build.

Michael

[kyle]

Mike,

40+ft trees shouldn't be a problem. You just have to be patient and find the right stand of trees or the right logger to work with.

Since you aren't too far from North Carolina I have to think there are some good sources there. I get down that way about twice a year and there is pine everywhere! Its just a matter of working with the right people. Also there are a lot of loggers in WV. Persistence pays off!

[HITmanMikie]

Thanx Kyle.

I also made contact with some people at county and state forestry offices today. We'll see how it goes. I'll keep you posted. It now looks like the offer for land will be made on Saturday with the 'closing' date planned for late Feb or early March to give us time to have all of the paperwork together for the construction loan right from the start.

Happy Building!

Michael

[kyle]

Since you are looking to get your construction loan at the same time you purchase land you can't waste time looking for too many deals. You might have no choice but to order logs retail.

[HITmanMikie]

We have the option of getting either a 12- or 24-month loan. The plan is to move the family into the house during the summer of '08, and the bank rep. is aware of this. I am currently looking for sources of logs, but don't expect to need any onsite until April or May. We are looking at a closing on the property of late February or early March, and anticipate needing that much time to have everything needed to secure the loan, per the loan officer's recommendation.

[Klapton]

So far I'm facinated by everything I've learned on this site, and am strongly considering taking the course and building a B&P log home. My question upon reading this thread is this:

Is it possible to use Butt and Pass to build a home whose length is more than one log length? (30 x 60, using 30' logs, or whatever?)

[GT.]

Yes, it is possible to build log house of any configuration, here is an example

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb300/domostroi/378.jpg

[Klapton]

Thanks for the reply. I guess the next question is how complex would I, as a complete n00b, be able to build, hehe. "Take the class and find out!" right?

Anyway... I'd be glad to know it isn't that much harder to do than building square, or mutliple floors on a square foundation. What I'm really looking for is to have all my main living space, including the master BR on the ground floor. When I get this thing done, I'm hoping to live the rest of my life in it, including my declining years when climbing stairs is gonna suck.

[Shark]

Thanks for the reply. I guess the next question is how complex would I, as a complete n00b, be able to build, hehe. "Take the class and find out!" right?

Anyway... I'd be glad to know it isn't that much harder to do than building square, or mutliple floors on a square foundation. What I'm really looking for is to have all my main living space, including the master BR on the ground floor. When I get this thing done, I'm hoping to live the rest of my life in it, including my declining years when climbing stairs is gonna suck.


How much time do you have?

The more complex you want the home to be, the longer it will take to plan/build.
Depending on the area (local building code enforcement) you may or may not have to have plans drawn up by a draftsman, architect, etc, & have a wet stamp. More complex usually means more time & $$.
If you have the time & willpower, almost anything the mind can come up with can be built.

Personally, we're building square, 2 1/2 story 30x30, but we're under 30, so I'm not worried about mobility just yet.
You do make a good point, & for many people, stairs might not be the best option.

There are some members (as in the pic above) that build in different shapes to increase the floorspace in a single level.

One other option, would be to build a small section, & add onto it with a connector or corridor in between.

[rreidnauer]

Building square isn't just about simplicity, but also about the most cost effective square footage.

Take a 40x40 square for example. It's 160 running feet of walls encompassing 1600 sq. ft. Now take the same running wall footage, and put it into a rectangle, for example say, 30x50. Doing the math, you'll see now that you only have 1500 sq. ft. for exactly the same amount of wall. You've just spent the same amount (perhaps more for those 50+ ft logs) and you get less living space.

This is just one of the many tips offered in the class.

[Klapton]

Building square isn't just about simplicity, but also about the most cost effective square footage.

Take a 40x40 square for example. It's 160 running feet of walls encompassing 1600 sq. ft. Now take the same running wall footage, and put it into a rectangle, for example say, 30x50. Doing the math, you'll see now that you only have 1500 sq. ft. for exactly the same amount of wall. You've just spent the same amount (perhaps more for those 50+ ft logs) and you get less living space.

This is just one of the many tips offered in the class.
I guess what I was really asking was if or how one might have more than one log per side. So, let's say I wanted to use 40' logs. I could make a square 30 x 30 (I don't know how much overhang is required, etc.) and go two floors up. Or could I build 30 x 60 on one floor? (Yes, I know that more floor and roof = more floor and roof materials, larger footprint = more money).

[Kola]

GT, Who's loghome is that. I have seen it before. It's a beauty.

chess, hopscotch and ripple wine,
Kola

[ponyboy]

Kola
http://www.geocities.com/naniorr/mypage.html

[rreidnauer]

I guess what I was really asking was if or how one might have more than one log per side. So, let's say I wanted to use 40' logs. I could make a square 30 x 30 (I don't know how much overhang is required, etc.) and go two floors up. Or could I build 30 x 60 on one floor? (Yes, I know that more floor and roof = more floor and roof materials, larger footprint = more money).
Yes, about whatever you can think of, as long as you got logs long enough. Even then, a transition can make those distances achievable, like this for example:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v328/titantornado/layout1.jpg
If you're asking about just butting up two logs lengthwise to make one long wall, then no. That's a big no-no. (though commonly found in kithomes)

[Kola]

yup thats the home. Shes purdy.

Kola

[Klapton]

Wow, that's fantastic! I guess that makes the roof more complicated. I was thinking of a kind of "Red Cross" kind of layout, with the middle part being two stories (large great room in front, kitchen in back with loft above), and bedroom "wings" on either side. (Master suite on one side, guest suite on the other for maximum privacy.

Anyway, thanks again for the input. I now have some more ideas to toss around in my mind.