Green Logs/LOG HOMES Illustrated

[gumpond]

Well, you have to go to the experts to get the low down.

In the March 2007, LOG HOME Illustrated, under Logology on page 26 reads"Green, air-dried, and kiln-dried logs can all be successfully used to build a solid, tight log home.
If the system is designed for green logs, then they work just fine. They are heavy and cost more to ship, but they can be brought into the yard and be processed in a shorter, thus cheaper, period of time."

Whew, I was worried about that.

Greg

[adubar]

If they are talking about 90% of the hand crafted and/or kit built homes out there, the wet logs would result in a lot more business for the chinking companies! Also, the threaded rod, screw and jack companies!


Actually, I 'm surprised you found that printed in THAT publication.

In the current time tables for building a full scribed home, most builders would refuse to even allow the needed time for logs to settle a bit before installing windows (which can be years!). With green wood it would only compound the problems they face with their current settling/movement "work arounds." I'd hate to see the creative problem solving they've garnered. The results could only lead to more heart ache.


Of course, with the LHBA's preferred methods, it matters not.


-A

[gumpond]

:o I thought they were referring to Log home Builders Association and other custom home builders who use traditional log construction as opposed to the "factory kits".


Greg

[adubar]

Unless they pointed that out specifically, I would assume they are talking about the status quo builders. If they did point that out, then I congratulate them.

Most of the log building magazines are geared for the fast fab market (time is money for the builder). The scribe homes they feature tend to be the "Canadian Chinkless" or some other guick-build variation of Scandanavian chinkless. --by "quick build," I mean that they don't take the time to properly make the long groove (they can put up more logs in a day using these "professional" methods). They use techniques that appear tight when the home is delivered to the new owner, but that open up or comromise the structural integrity over time due to weight distribution over thin edges on the upper log. The methods employed are known for log movement. So, the wetter the wood, the less control the builder has over the end result. For them, the dryer the better.

By the way, very, very few professional builders can be said to be using "traditional" methods. It is one thing to have a saddle notch on the end of your logs, another to scribe and fit the entire log in a traditional manner. The great majority use some variation on modern adaptations that have only existed since about the 1950's. Remember--time is money. The changes in log home construction over the last quarter of the last century had more to do with speeding up the building process than actually improving the structural elements.
Although, you will hear architects and engineers (actually, you probably will hear that from the salesman. The engineers are too savy to focus on it) in that world saying that there have been "improvements." If you consider a house jack an improvement, then I guess we'd have very different engineering views.

I wouldn't stake too much in what is printed in the majority of those magazines. They are meant to support the industry, and thus are hemmed in by the technology currently used.
-A

[gumpond]

But they do state "green logs" which is against the big selling point "dried and stable" the kit builders and other "professionals" use to sell there wares. This is what "they" use to scare people who talk about building their own, at least in the South East.

I think this portion of the article in the very least adds to the confidence and dispells doubts about the "Skip Method". Shows they put their pants on just like me.

Not everyone has framed walls, but most have played with Lincoln Logs. Remove the fear factor and open the gates.

There are a lot of good ideas, and pictures depicting them in this magazine. Seperate youself from the ads and let the dreams flow. I agree that you shouldn't let them convince you "they have the way". This can be a valuable source of ideas.

Don't let the point, whether intentional or not, be missed. This article is a pitch for the LHBA.

Regards,
Greg