Sealing but& pass logs

[fredstrucking]

Am planning on building a butt and pass log cabin this coming summer.
I will be milling "flat spots" top and bottom of logs and was wondering about the best way of sealing between the logs. Does anyone have any suggestions regarding sealant/weatherstripping?
Thanks in advance.
PS- This is my first crack at this but will be working with a registered stick frame builder as well.

[stockhatch]

You wont find anyone on this site who recommends milling the logs flat. It goes against everything that the LHBA teaches. With that said, there are many sealers used on home logs that are essentially just silicone type caulks. There are also strip type "gaskets" that some builders install between the flat surfaces.

[adubar]

fredstrucking,

You can use any of the commercially available sealers and chinking materials. They tend to be expensive. Also, you will need to re-apply over time.

Depending upon how you go about building your butt and pass home, the logs will most-likely separate (as they shrink), so you will need more and more latex or other type of chinking. Also, you may need to re-apply preservatives to your logs on a regular basis, much like painting or staining a stick frame home. The flat spots really are only a convenience in building, but do little for the long-term integrity of the structure--as the logs will shrink in time, and gaps will be formed--exposing the flat portions to moisture.

Also, my experience with profiled logs/milled logs is that water intrusion ultimately causes rot between the flat surfaces of the log, especially areas near the sill plate.

Have you thought about using round logs rather than milling?


The LHBA's preferred building method would allow you to limit the amount of the above mentioned maintenance and to limit your costs to mostly your initial outlay to build. Using the preferred methods, rot would not be a problem.


-A

[fredstrucking]

I signed up for the feb 07 class so I'll be able to get the info I need there.
Thanks again.

[rreidnauer]

I signed up for the feb 07 class so I'll be able to get the info I need there.
Thanks again.
Wow, that didn't take much arm twisting. Congrats, you'll love it. (except maybe, the morning cardiovascular exercises :lol: )

Oh, and welcome aboard.

[ChainsawGrandpa]

PS- This is my first crack at this but will be working with a registered stick frame builder as well.

Uh, might want to throw out the stick-frame builder. They
keep coming up with too many "good ideas". May slow the
progress and cause bad ideas to be built into the home.
You will keep having to stop construction and TRRRYYYY
to explain for the hundredth time why his good idea just
won't work. Speaking as a former general contractor of
course.

After you take the course you can do it alone or better yet,
with someone else there who only supplies grunt labor. As
Skip has said; "One person can build a log house...eventually.
Two can build a log house, and three will never finish a log
house." Of course, that rule may change with the use of a
clay hammer, and telehandler, and eight people can put on a
(non-standing seam) roof faster than two people.

Having been a contractor and built many times before gave
me the reassuring confidence that I could easily build a log
home. In fact, I was shocked (shocked I tell you :wink:) at
how much easier this is compared to "conventional" stick
framing.

Having been a contractor and built many times before gave
me too much information and I had a lot of stupid "good
ideas" that were just plain...well, stupid! To do this up right
all anyone needs is to pay close attention in the class (no,
you can't day dream, or wonder when the next "potty break"
will be. Stay IN the class (you've heard it before; STAY OUT
OF THE KITCHEN!) and just accept after starting out that you
may ache for a few weeks , have a few bumps and bruises,
shiver in the freezing rain, sweat like a dog in the height of
the summer heat, and thoroughly love every last minute of it!

I always HATED to build. I fought with the planning department,
I fought with the bank, I fought some more with the bank, I called
and called trying to find out where my subs (subcontractors) were.
I hated the deadlines, I hated not getting my money when I needed
it, I hated to buy materials as they were needed, not when the
price was right, and I regretted not buying stock in Rolaids before
I caused their production to triple.

My log home site is up the hill just waiting for the stick framed
storage shed to be finished, and you know what? Even, the stick
framed (the materials were available and too cheap to pass-up)
storage shed is fun because every nail means I'm building freedom,
and getting closer to my goals, and I have no lender with their
accompanying headaches, and no inspectors or permits (not
required here on buildings other than the house).

Every piece of knowledge, every reference, and every friend
you will need can be supplied in the class or at the quarterly
meetings.

Now, get to class, get out there, and build it! :P

-Rick