Books

[spooky]

I am looking for a book that you might suggest buying, to begin the proper thought process of building a proper log home.Thanks CKK Spooky

[adubar]

There are several new and out of print titles that are very good references on log building (both from modern and historical perspectives), but I don't believe any single one of them would be the right thing for what you are asking. If you plan to take the association's class, then I would suggest reading books on how to purchase land, the permiting process, home systems (electrical, plumbing, heat, & etc.), finish carpentry and books that may have information on ways that you can save money in your day to day life.

If you want to approximate the information that is in the class, there are 100 or so titles, most of which are out of print, that will cover much of the material (and not all of those titles are about log building)---however, if you don't know what you are looking for in those books, you will miss it completely.

If you want to simply familiarize yourself with how log homes are and have been built, then find books with contsruction details, but keep in mind that almost to a "T," each author is biased and will only focus on what he/she has experience with and tend to decry or down-play other methods that are either unfamiliar (in the case of vintage books) or not part of the professional building repetoire (mostly modern books). Also, be aware that most authors propagate myths and bad construction methods (many of which have found their way into local building codes!) --so, attempting to read between the lines and weave through to the truth can be very, very difficult, if not impossible.

Unless you are willing to do alot of reading, building and trial and error, a guide would be a prudent thing.
The LHBA can be that guide.


-Andrew

[rocklock]

In doing my research I have acquired more books that I should, but these are what I had around the time that I took the class....
The two best books - Living Homes and Working Alone...
Basements : Your Guide to Planning and Remodeling [Paperback] By: Paula Marshall, et al
Basic Masonry (Sunset New Basic) [Paperback] by Sunset Books [Paperback] By: Sunset Books
Basic Wiring (Sunset New Basic) [Paperback] by Sunset Books [Paperback] By: Sunset Books
Best Log Home Plans [Paperback] By: Robbin Obomsawin
Building the Timber Frame House [Hardcover] By: Tedd Benson
Build Your Own Low-Cost Log Home (Garden Way Publishing Classic) [Paperback] By: Roger Hard
Carpentry (Homebuilding Basics) [Hardcover] By: Larry Haun
Complete Guide to Building Log Homes: Over 840 illustrations [Paperback] By: Monte Burch, et al
The Complete Guide to Home Carpentry [Hardcover] By: Black and Decker
Complete Home Plumbing [Paperback] by Sunset; Sunset Books [Paperback] By: Sunset (Editor), Sunset Books
Complete Home Wiring [Paperback] by Atkinson, Scott; Sunset Editors; Sunset... [Paperback] By: Scott Atkinson (Editor), et al
Fireplace Book : An Idea Book of Fireplace Designs (vol. 2) [Paperback] By: Aberdeen's Magazine of Masonry Construction
Foundations and Concrete Work (For Pros By Pros Series) [Paperback] By: Fine Homebuilding Magazine
Habitat for Humanity: How to Build a House [Paperback] By: Larry Haun, et al
Living Homes: Thomas J. Elpel's Field Guide to Integrated Design and Construction [Paperback] By: Thomas J. Elpel
Log Construction Manual[Hardcover] by Robert W. Chambers
Log Homes Made Easy: Contracting and Building Your Own Log Home [Paperback] By: Jim Cooper
Logs, Wind and Sun: Handcraft Your Own Log Home ... Then Power It with Nature [Paperback] By: Rex A. Ewing, LaVonne Ewing
Measuring, Marking, and Layout: A Builder's Guide [Paperback] By: John Carroll
Notches of All Kinds: A Book of Timber Joinery [Paperback] by MacKie, B. Allan [Paperback] By: B. Allan MacKie, et al
All About Roofing and Siding Basics (Ortho's All about) [Hardcover] By: Larry Johnston, Ortho's, Ortho Books
Roofing & Sideing Basics[Hardcover] By: Ortho Books
Smart Guide: Basements : Step-by-Step Projects (Smart Guide) [Paperback] By: Mark Feirer, et al
Stair Builders Handbook [Paperback] by Love, T. W. [Paperback] By: T. W. Love
Small Log Homes: Storybook Plans and Advice [Hardcover] By: Robbin Obomsawin
Timberframe [Paperback] By: Tedd Benson, Norm Abram, Jamie Salomon
The Book of Masonry Stoves: Rediscovering an Old Way of Warming [Paperback] By: David Lyle
The Forgotten Art of Building a Good Fireplace [Paperback] By: Vrest Orton
The Log Home Plan Book [Paperback] By: Cindy Teipner Thiede, et al
The Owner-Built Log House: Living in Harmony With Your Environment [Paperback... [Paperback] By: B. Allan MacKie
The Stonebuilder's Primer: A Step-By-Step Guide for Owner-Builders [Paperback] By: Charles K. Long
Working Alone: Tips & Techniques for Solo Building [Hardcover] By: John Carroll

[2 cents]

Rocklock,

Which foundation/basement book did you find most valuable?


2 cents

[sparky]

Spooky, Adubar is right in sending you in the direction of general construction reading before taking the LHBA course. I had read everything I could possibly find about the construction of log homes before taking the LHBA building class. I have even taken a six week hands on log home building class learning notching of all kinds. However after taking the LHBA class much, not all, but much of that went out the window. If your serious about a log home take the LHBA class and you will then have a much more educated and broad base of understanding with which to evaluate your next step.

Until then my recommendation would be to concentrate on researching books that offer more ideas on a style rather than a particular building method. Begin to collect pictures of the look and feel of what constitutes a log home to you. I would suggest:
Small log homes
Rustic Revisited
Cabin Fever
Hand Made Log Homes
Inside Log Homes
The Log Home Plan Book
Cabins of Minnesota
The Adirondack Cabin
Living Homes by Thomas Elpel

and ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING written by Ralph Kyloe

Two other books that I particularly enjoyed about the general psyche of the process are "The Builders Secret" and "Hammer, Nail, Wood: The Compulsion to build".

Dave's list contains a lot of great suggestions for general construction books. (Which by the way Dave to bad we didn't live closer I had every one of the books on your list with the exception of about six in my library.:( $$$$$ cha-ching!:() To Dave's list I would add just about anything any thing put out by Taunton Press especially the "For pros by pros" series.

That ought to keep you busy until a class opens up!
Good luck and welcome.

Sparky

Angela, the Taunton Press By Pros for Pros book Foundations is a very good choice. And I think they have an updated eddition coming out in Febuary.

Andrew, you mentioned books on saving money in you your life. What are some of you recomendations?

[rocklock]

The best book was the book below.
Foundations and Concrete Work (For Pros By Pros Series) [Paperback] By: Fine Homebuilding Magazine
In fact, the best series of books are the For Pros By Pros Series.
I have tried to distill the elements of footer building in an entry in this forum...
Also, there are key pictures that are instructive...
If you need more, I will be happy to post them on my photo bucket site...
Washington state has stuff on line that minimums and dimensions. The very first entry is building on undisturbed soil... which may be a challenge for some...

[2 cents]

Thanks Bruce & Dave!

Time for me to start doing some reading "from the ground up"....

[manoka]

Hello,

I would like to build a vertical log cabin with round logs sawn lengthwise through the middle in two equal halves and then overlapping them. With some airtight insulation between, this seems to be a more straightforward job, the entire log is utilized and it avoids the checking of the logs, if the pith is removed.
Does anybody know a book about this particular building type, and does anybody know the book "The Craft of Modular Post & Beam: Building Log & Timber Homes Affordably" by James Mitchell, and whether the vertical log construction is described there?
Also, I am looking for some how-to step by step practical detailed information about the construction of a basement as a cool dry food storage and root cellar.

Thanks
manoka

[Shark]

I know that the "for pros by pros" series was mentioned, but not sure if this book was.
I just picked up "Graphic Guide to Frame Construction" by Rob Thallon

so far it's answered all my framing questions that I am going to need for this coming weekend.....
plus reinforced the things I have already done (all according to the book so far, thanks google LOL)

Anyways, it's great & alot of detailed diagrams for any situation.

Cheaper online than in the store though.