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Thanks for sharing
Saying hi to everyone. We are not so new to this web site, having found it over a year ago. But are finally in a position to purchase land and begin building. So, now we are here with more serious intentions!!
Looking forward to learning from ya'll, as we say here in tx.
teatime
My wife and I are flying in to Seattle this month from Kentucky. We are looking to start building this fall. Will we have to take copious notes or will we be receiving written materials?
I took the class in April - there is a note books with drawings & lots of explanations - but you will also want to take some yourself - just to clarify things in your own way! Enjoy! You will be very glad you came!
Hey Steve,
did you ever get to build you scale model?
If so post a pix.
T.
Howdy all!
I was looking around at land with log homes to see how feasible the costs were for our future dreams and stumbled on this website. I am so excited and can't wait to attend a class. I sometimes think I should've been born in an era long ago as I long for the ability to do for myself and have life skills to teach my children. I have a desire to get back to the basics as our world is so fast paced. Hopefully my dreams will be realized soon. I would love to build in 3 to 4 years. We'll see where our dreams take us!
Tracie
Hi folks,
My name is Jason and I'm from South-Central Missouri. I have been wanting to build a log home on my 450 acre family farm on the Gasconade River. I have been contemplating/mulling over/thinking about this for several years now. I had originally planned on purchasing a kit, but haven't really found what I'm looking for. Even before I found your website, I considered trying to tackle building the house myself with logs sourced from our property. I thought that maybe it would be too big a task to tackle until I poked around on this site a bit. I'm starting to think that maybe it is something that I can do myself. I am a pretty handy guy with tools and such (being a mechanic by trade). I have cut firewood for my family for more years than I care to remember. I have a Logosol M7 sawmill, so I am familiar with handling logs. And most importantly, I have 450 acres of every type of tree that you'd find in central Missouri. Including an over-abundance of Eastern Red Cedar. I have built a few things out of Cedar and really enjoy working with it.
Coincidentally, we actually have a log house on the farm. It was built in the late 1920's by my Great-Grandfather. It was a pretty substantial structure for central Missouri at the height of the Depression. It is around 3000 sq. ft. with a 900 sq. ft. great room. It is built from Oak logs harvested locally. Tragically, it has fallen into quite a state of disrepair (it's a long story dealing with uncooperative family members) and I'm afraid that it's fate is probably sealed. One of the only positives from the old house going downhill is that I can see several places in the construction that I would do differently if/when I build my own log home.
One of the things that I'm not sure about is that most of the folks here seem dead-set on using the butt & pass corner style. I'm really not that crazy about it myself (I'm more of a traditional style kind of guy), but...that being said...I'm not going to say that I can't be convinced/converted.
I look forward to visiting with folks here and asking for advice and/or opinions.
Thanks!
well like you, i was not to thrilled with the butt and pass style at first-and thought this site was a "gimmick".? the butt and pass has more advantages than disadvantages.
no settling...means no roof jacks ... no key-ways above windows and doors. NO wood on wood--no notching and hacking into your logs. that alone could make a class last a couple of months/plus add tons of back breaking hours to your build (not for the beginner)
this is truly the best method of building a log?home.
welcome Gascozark,
I definitely think you can do this. My husband and I had no experience building before, but we have now mostly built a small log structure and are ready to move on to a full size house, starting to peel logs now.
I really had an open mind going in, really just wanted a house made of logs and wasn't sold on any particular style.
Your Great-Grandfather's house sounds really cool.
2 cents
Jason,
If you've been a mechanic, and have run a sawmill, I doubt you'd have any issue doing your own build. Sorry to hear about your Great-grandfather's home, but now you have a chance to leave a legacy, too. I am building now in NC, and I have altered the stock plans (like most I'm sure) to better fit my environment and needs for a home. Look forward to your postings, and good luck with your decision: "To build, or not to build".
Thanks for the warm welcomes.
I do have to admit that not having to notch the logs makes me want to investigate the butt & pass style.
I nearly forgot. If anyone would like to see a couple of pics of my Great-Grandfather's log house (as well as read a little bit about him) you can go here: http://www.oldstagecoachstop.org/webgeezer/Gazette07/Gascozark.pdf
The big picture of the farm can also be found here: http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg283/ramcharger_dodge/Vintage%20Pics/Jonesfarmpartial.jpg
The log house is in the foreground with the semi-circular porch. Directly behind is a 2 story 3-car garage with an upstairs apartment. In the extreme background of the picture you can make out a road running across the top of the picture. This road is Rt. 66.
I hope you enjoy the pics.
Thanks for sharing it! such a sense of history your place has. in one of the pictures it sees as though our grandfather's place was butt and pass. in the pic described as 'a group arrives outside the log lodge....'.
I wasn't too fond of butt and pass in the beginning either but now I'm not only convinced that its the way to go, but I actually prefer the loo:)
welcome!
Hey Jason, Welcome to the forum. So what size are those cedars? Also how about a photo or two of the log mansion in its present state of disrepair. Seems to me like you have quite a legacy to live up to. I'm lucky... all my ancestors were failures.
Sorry, not a butt & pass. It is what I think is called a tenon joint notch. Similar to the way toy Lincoln Logs go together. The logs are spiked together and chinked with concrete. Here is a better photo that might show some better detail: http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg283/ramcharger_dodge/Vintage%20Pics/Groupinfrontofloglodge2.jpgQuote:
Originally Posted by panderson03
This photo also gives you an idea of the size of the house. I can imagine it was quite something in rural 1920's Missouri. Supposedly it was the first home in the county with indoor toilets. And prior to rural electricity, they had 3 gasoline generators powering the house with 28 volts DC! My Great Grandfather had experience with "electrification". He was contracted to install electric streetlights in small towns in Anderson County Kansas (where he was born) early in the 20th century.
I can't imagine how much work it would have been to build the place by hand, without power tools (remember it was the late 1920's, there wasn't even electricity!). I actually even have 16mm film of it being built. The basement was poured wheelbarrow by wheelbarrow. All the notching would have been of course done by handsaw and chisel. I really need to get the film converted into DVD so I can share it with others, maybe even get it hosted online.
Loghousenut, we have acres upon acres of Eastern Red Cedar of all sizes. I'd say the bigger trees are around 24" at the base but most average around 10-12". Most of them have a pretty good taper, but there are some with a pretty straight trunk that (to me anyway) would make great logs for use in a log structure.
I'd better stop as I could ramble on for hours...
And again, thanks for the welcomes. :-)
how great that you not only have these great pictures but also film!! that's unbelievable! you are very lucky!
quite right. I see its not BnP. Thanks for pointing that out.
let us know when you make your decision. to build or not to build. BnP or not BnP.
good luck!
Hiya everybody,
We are Will and Julie + 6 kids. We are modern era backwoodsmen. We enjoy the nostalgia of yesterday's living couple with a real need of simplicity. We have 8 acres of land and are going to start building a 6 bedroom cabin this fall. I have to say hands down throughout all of my research this site is beyond informative and a must read for anyone who desirs to build their own log home! Nice job guys!
hey! where in VA are you? I am down in Roanoke building right now!
Don't ever take the class!
You'll never stop kicking yourself. ;)
Sounds like you won't make any major mistakes, and you have kids to help out too...Why 6 BR? if each kid gets their own, then you'd need 7. Is one going off to college soon? If so, you'll have even better (older) help.
-Peter
Hey teatime, I thought I was the only one from this part of the country that wanted to build a log home. I was beginning to think I was going to have to move out of Oklahoma to build the home I am dreaming about. I have not taken the class and it looks like it may be a while before my husband and I will be able to get in on one. We are looking for a peice of land and have gotten some helpful hints from this site. We're city people that are running as quickly as we can to get out! :-)
Hey everyone, I'm just in the planning stages of building a cabin I don't even know were yet. Anyway you have an amazing site with beautiful cabins. Awesome for research.
Jack Hunter
im looking at building a log home, over here in the UK.
just wondered if the class is taylored for this neck of the woods. or if anyone else has done this in the uk.
land is soooooo expensive!
its either that, a caravan or wait till i have a decent job and do the same as everyone else. lol
welcome to LHBA! we do have a few members in UK. not sure if anyone's built yet, though.
In my class, there was a guy from the UK, who was going to build in France... dunno if land is cheaper there?
Welcome, in any event.
-Peter
Hello to all & thanks Steve for this forum. I am new but have been researching log homes in the last 2-3 years. My dream is to build my own Log Home here in Carlisle, MA without a mortgage. I am looking forward to learn more about log homes from this website.
Cheers,
Taina.
Welcome;
?? We are building in Asford Ct, which is just bit over the mass line off I84. Once you take the class and get your plans rolling give me a shout. I might have some resource info that might be helpful to you.
Stu
???<a href="http://s165.photobucket.com/albums/u64/hemlock77/">http://s165.photobucket.com/albums/u64/hemlock77/</a>
Hello There!
I am planning to build my own log cabin in a very primitive location(no power or utilities) and like the butt and stack method.I will be cutting Beech wood for the project on site.I want to know if this type of wood is acceptable and is there any special fastening system you prefer to join the logs?Log Hog screws?Also wouldn't mind finding some free labor to do the project with. Any and all advise would be greatly appreciated.
Todd