New here and got a question

[wkheathjr]

Hello, my name is Ken and I am hoping to take a class if I will pretty please know your course date as far as 2-3 months because with my life, I pretty much have everything planned 2 months in advance! :(

Anyway, the question I wanted to ask were:

1) I am looking to buy a sawmill that will let me create a log in 2 passes and I have found couple, but I was told by one expert that I am better off buying the log from logging company who can mill it and sell it to me? Would it hurt to mill my own log with my own machine when building my log cabin?

2) When building a log cabin. do I really HAVE to have tongue and grooves on top/bottom of each "exterior" log? I live in North Carolina and the winter is pretty short but a very long warm weather with it getting really humid mid June through end of September. Some says no while other say it is a MUST!

Thank in advance for answering my question! :)

[kyle]

Hi Ken and welcome to the LHBA.

The LHBA techniques don't involve cutting your log in anyway so you prolly won't get an answer to your question. You may want to try and post at this site www.lhoti.com which involves other building techniques. But if you a dead serious about building your own cabin I'd highly recommend taking the LHBA class. You might change your mind about cutting logs after.

[rreidnauer]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v328/titantornado/stop.gif


You don't create logs with a sawmill. (only God does that) You create timbers. ;-) And if you're building a log home, you don't want to create timbers. So, I got some real good news for you. Like many of us here, you've stumbled into a site which teaches how to build real log homes without any milling, and are built superior to any milled type construction or kit home, AND for less money!!!

I suggest you go over the articles at http://loghomebuilders.org/categories/articles and learn a bit of what is taught here, browse the forums for many insights of those who came before you, and hopefully we can say we saved another from making an expensive mistake. Welcome to LHBA!!!

[kenclark]

I have already ruled out the coped method and I think at least to start the Hand hewed method is too much for me to do by myself. So I definatly going to the class I was just curious about how they seal the logs through the shrinking process or do you have to let it stand for a year or more?
Have to run and get my ears lowered.
Thank you Ken

[Quinton]

The kit people will all try to tell you that their way of cutting the logs, not cutting the logs, tongue and groove, chinkless style, blah , blah , blah is best.

Don't believe them!

Take the class, and we will talk about helping out a fellow NC'er! :)

[rreidnauer]

I have already ruled out the coped method and I think at least to start the Hand hewed method is too much for me to do by myself. So I definatly going to the class I was just curious about how they seal the logs through the shrinking process or do you have to let it stand for a year or more?
Have to run and get my ears lowered.
Thank you Ken
LHBA's construction methods mean:
No milling required (it's strongly discouraged)
No coping required
No expensive commercial chinking required (also discouraged)
No sealants required (also strongly discouraged)
Can be built with unseasoned logs
And, no settling.

How's it possible that everything the kit-home guys tell you that you need to do, LHBA says the opposite? Too good to be true? I thought so too before taking the class, but proof is in the three story, 7000 square foot place where the class is taught.