FOUNDATION

[GENE13]

I have looked at several cabins being built "here and the web" and I was wondering why on the foundation no one used a termite plate "in very cold areas I could understand" and what would be wrong with first using a 1" or 2" x foundation width, treated wood sill, and then lay your first row of logs down. Just seems better than laying your logs on a bare moisture holding concrete foundation. ??

[Shark]

Most members here treat their logs with some type of insecticide & since most are built with logs 18" above grade, helps keep the termite away.

Also, most members do in fact use a moisture barrier, sill seal, or builders felt, along with a treated sill before laying the logs on the concrete.
Which ones did you see that didn't?

[GENE13]

One that comes to mind right away without going back and doing a search, is the one in which the couple posted it on their web site at http://home.mindspring.com/~kahle11/log.html. It was their step by step as they were building it.

Also with the logs being so wide they may not appear visible, at least to me. However, it's great that they do, it couldn't hurt. When I was looking at the pictures where the foundation and the first row of logs meet, I couldn't make anything out that might be between them.
Maybe I just need new glasses, hmmmmmmmm LOL

TX's

[Klapton]

They took Skip's class back in the 70s, and didn't actually build until many years later. So there are at least a few things they did "wrong", and others that might not have been part of Skip's class back then. For example, they did their rebar pinning every four feet instead of two. If they had done every two feet, they would not have needed to put those steel reinforcments around their doorways. I honestly don't know if they put builder's felt on top of their foundation. But it's definitely part of the class now. I don't recall now if they talked about termite plates in the class, but it's in one of the articles here on the site, hehe.

That step-by-step is great for showing the basics of how BnP is done, and I link it frequently for folks who are wondering if they really CAN do it themselves. It helped me decide to go ahead and take the course. But it's definitely not exhaustive (showing EVERY step in the process.)

Another thing to keep in mind about LHBA and the course is that the course focuses on teaching people the simplest and least expensive way to get their home built. It teaches the basic construction methods and concepts related to the butt and pass method. But what each person does with it, and whatever variations they decide to put into their home is 100% up to them, their pocketbook, and their ingenuity. For example, Skip's house, the model of rugged simplicity is heated by one direct-vent propane stove in the corner of the living room. Other folks will do radiant floor heating. Donna wants forced air heat pump (I don't really, but not gonna fight with her about it), so that's what we are going to do.

That's really one of the great things about BnP. The outer "box" of the home is so simple and sturdy, that you can do pretty much anything you want inside.

[Loghomeguy]

Hi again Gene !

In Washington State as opposed to say Louisiana there is not so much of a termite problem.

I did indeed use those plates on a post-Katrina project as they are a local requirement of the Parishes there. BTW when I got back from Katrina relief and told someone I was working in "Orleans Parish" they retorted " oh, I did not know you were religious" . There are no counties in Louisiana : ) he grins.

Obvioulsy, you have a great eye for detail !

In the 80's when I took the class from Skip and got my journeymans certificate, he did advocate building materials that protected the logs from the concrete and the sil-plate from the concrete.

I can assure you any UBC or other code updates are certainly included by Steve, Ellsworth and Mr. Rock the professional engineer associated with them.

These guys are hip to changes and updates in codes and engineering specifications as they understand it is to your benefit and to theirs.

Best wishes in your quest, I posted another reply to one of your other questions earlier so track me and find it !

Mikey