Introduce yourself

**mattharris5000** · 01-16-2014, 03:19 PM

The pillar and post foundation per my internet research is simply cardboard tubes dug below the frost line and filled with concrete every 6-8' under the Sill Log, thus (ostensibly) allowing air beneath the home to aid in drying the underpinning.

The severe taper in spruce logs is the reason I plan to use D-logs simply milling 3 sides from each log so that they lay flat on the log below while allowing me to take full advantage of the 8" of insulating qualities of the log as (in my mind) the chinking/daubing would be the weak link in -40 temperatures, allowing for drafts and wind should any loss occur.

**task** · 01-16-2014, 04:00 PM

Hiya Steve and all!!!!! Very nice forum, I look forward to cont my reading of your forums

**Sarahax** · 01-17-2014, 08:29 AM

We are two ladies living in southern England. In 2009 we bought 15 acres of ancient woodland overlooking a pond, and last year bought the adjacent 15 acres. Some of the wood contains the remains of a Scots Pine plantation, planted by the Forestry Commission about 50 years ago. The plantation hasn't been well looked after, and doesn't have much commercial value. So we are gradually thinning it down, and plan to use some of the trees to build a small log cabin overlooking the pond. I'm afraid we won't be attending the class - as you are rather a long way from us! However the forum is extremely useful. All of the expertise in log cabins seems to come from the States - we don't have a tradition of building log cabins in Sussex.

**phlnrth** · 01-17-2014, 08:52 AM

Hi! I'e been lurking here for a few years and have finally ponied up and bought a seat in the March class. Looking to learn, dream, work and grow! I hope to add value to you all as time goes by.

Phil

**panderson03** · 01-17-2014, 09:28 AM

Hello Uncle, hello Pinky, Hello Matt, Sara, Task, Phil (can't forget PHIL!!) !! SO good to see so many new folks here! welcome aboard!

SARA a word of caution. not all info needed to build this way is on these public forums. much is reserved for class alone (and are discussed on the members side)

take care. stay safe everyone.

**loghousenut** · 01-17-2014, 09:37 AM

I was wondering if Ronbo could get a work visa.

Welcome aboard Phil of the North!

**sdart** · 01-17-2014, 10:38 AM

Hello Sarah,
How lucky of you to have all that woodland! Land in the UK is not that easy to find, but I have been on the Woodlands websites and had a look around a few times. Now, if only the British Pound would collapse, it would be affordable for those of us in the rest of the world

Land and housing prices remain so high in the UK that we see many British people coming to buy here in France (where we are at the moment), since it is much less expensive.

I'm sure your cabin will be beautiful-- the setting is certainly lovely!

**rocklock** · 01-17-2014, 12:04 PM

Originally Posted by mattharris5000

The pillar and post foundation per my internet research is simply cardboard tubes dug below the frost line and filled with concrete every 6-8' under the Sill Log, thus (ostensibly) allowing air beneath the home to aid in drying the underpinning.

The severe taper in spruce logs is the reason I plan to use D-logs simply milling 3 sides from each log so that they lay flat on the log below while allowing me to take full advantage of the 8" of insulating qualities of the log as (in my mind) the chinking/daubing would be the weak link in -40 temperatures, allowing for drafts and wind should any loss occur.

Check out my photo's. The space between the logs has more insulation value than the log it's self.
Think about building with carrots where you want to keep the top of every second carrot flat... If you are milling a highly tapered log on three sides, you will be wasting more than half the log, IMHO. A member not far from my log home built with bug killed spruce, hence it is very possible to use spruce with out whacking the heck out of them...

I googled "pillar and post foundation". Guess what came up? A log home built by one of our members in Darrington Washington...

The foundation you describe is referred to as using sono-tubes. I built a well shed that had an insufficient foundation. Its a long story... Don't ask. So I drove rebar through the bottom log, dug a hole for the Sono-tube, then poured the cement into the tube. Presto-instant foundation added. Then we went on to finish the 10 by 12 shed for my well. See pictures.

Anyway, there are more questions than can be addressed.

I have a good friend that is building on slab lava on the big island. She is using very small footer and a "U" bolt thing for attaching a 4 X 10 then the house... There are lots of ways to skin a critter...

**Tarlin** · 01-18-2014, 05:44 AM

Hi everybody,
I come from Slovenia, a small and beautyfull country in Europe. I think it is 3rd in terms of percentage of wood coverage in Europe, and we have very high quality wood, so it was used for centuries to build traditional houses, until it was outlawed under the rule of Maria Theresia (19th century), so a lot of traditional knowledge was forgotten. Many methods were used, from, what you refer to as scandinavian, to method very simmilar to butt and pass, with chinking between the logs. In the countryside you can still find examples of this buildings more then 300 years old. I had a wish to build a loghome for many years, recently I have aquired a nice piece of land in the countryside, but i was never satisfied whit what was on the market in terms of log homes...until I found this site. The method makes perfect sense to me, and I will take the class in the future. unfortunatelly I cant take the march one, as I work as a commercial diver, and I am currentlly in China, but I will keep my eyes open for any future dates, and organize my schedule. I see that there are not many members from Europe, which is strange,... I hope to get to the next class and join the members section.

best regards, Ales

**loghousenut** · 01-18-2014, 08:24 AM

I look forward to seeing you on the other side, Ales.

**phlnrth** · 01-18-2014, 02:38 PM

Ha you liked that!

. Thank you for the welcome.

**Prissy Pink** · 01-18-2014, 05:20 PM

Originally Posted by phlnrth

Ha you liked that!

. Thank you for the welcome.

Good to hear of someone from Europe coming to the class. Just curious why was log home building outlawed.

**Neuby** · 01-18-2014, 06:09 PM

My name is Isabelle and my husband Rik and I attended the class sometime in the fall of 1997. Rik attended again in 1998 taking 3 friends along. We were so impressed that we had to share this experience with others. We used to participate in the forums many years ago as RikandIsabelle. We are still looking forward to building our home, and just have had a lot going on in the past 15 years that prevented things from happening the way we thought they should. Getting older

but are definitely encouraged by some of the fantastic work of other members. We also look forward to hooking up with some of the people we used to have contact with.

**panderson03** · 01-19-2014, 03:05 PM

welcome back, Isabelle and Rik!!

**eagle** · 01-19-2014, 03:18 PM

Originally Posted by Neuby

My name is Isabelle and my husband Rik and I attended the class sometime in the fall of 1997. Rik attended again in 1998 taking 3 friends along. We were so impressed that we had to share this experience with others. We used to participate in the forums many years ago as RikandIsabelle. We are still looking forward to building our home, and just have had a lot going on in the past 15 years that prevented things from happening the way we thought they should. Getting older

but are definitely encouraged by some of the fantastic work of other members. We also look forward to hooking up with some of the people we used to have contact with.

It's never too late! where are you from? You may want to see about getting your member status changed to view the other side.

**Tarlin** · 01-19-2014, 11:45 PM

Originally Posted by Prissy Pink

Good to hear of someone from Europe coming to the class. Just curious why was log home building outlawed.

It wasnt the log home specifically, but the wood, so all types of wooden houses were outlawed, because of fire hazard, but that just lasted a few decads, then after the WWI it was legal again. And now its legal of course, but you need toadd insulation to your log home to meet the insulation/thermal properties code. But, many loghome owners just put it in the project and then «run out of money» and line in an «unfinished» house

**Neuby** · 01-20-2014, 10:59 AM

We live in eastern Washington. Bought acreage there in 1998, got 160 logs at the time to build our house and a shop but at the time just weren't able to proceed. There was a lot of work preparing the land (building site, road, etc) and since the two of us did everything ourselves it all took much longer than anticipated. The logs are good for firewood and we are starting over beginning with looking for house logs. That about it in a nutshell

**Neuby** · 01-20-2014, 11:00 AM

Thank you!

**rawson** · 01-20-2014, 12:19 PM

Originally Posted by Neuby

We live in eastern Washington. Bought acreage there in 1998, got 160 logs at the time to build our house and a shop but at the time just weren't able to proceed. There was a lot of work preparing the land (building site, road, etc) and since the two of us did everything ourselves it all took much longer than anticipated. The logs are good for firewood and we are starting over beginning with looking for house logs. That about it in a nutshell

You got grit and a positive mindset, I'd wager a log home an shop will happen for you.

**Neuby** · 01-21-2014, 09:20 AM

Thanks for the encouragement!

**rockinlog** · 01-26-2014, 11:21 AM

hello everyone this is my first post and i have been reading alot on this site good topics and really helpful people and i am soo looking forward to attending a class and eventually build my own log home hey neuby just curious are you near the okinogan highlands area? i have been looking at land on this website in that general area looks beautiful! anyway i look forward to doing alot of research on this site and learning thanks to all for the help!

**bayou316** · 01-26-2014, 12:45 PM

Hi everyone. My name is Steve Millsap. I am currently in Missouri. I retired early in life at the age of 45. I am now 60. I lost my wife in December of 2011.

I have sang southern gospel throughout the southeast and southwest with a group based out of Louisiana. I am a original "Louisianaian" but have come to love Missouri.

I am very new to log home building and want to learn all I can as I am fixing to build my final home. Trying to see if I can learn. I have heard about nightmares concerning settling and that is why I am here.

Thanks.

**StressMan79** · 01-26-2014, 01:01 PM

Hi Steve, you are in the right place... no settling in our buildings. Welcome.

**rocklock** · 01-26-2014, 07:16 PM

Originally Posted by bayou316

Hi everyone. My name is Steve Millsap. I am currently in Missouri. I retired early in life at the age of 45. I am now 60. I am very new to log home building and want to learn all I can as I am fixing to build my final home. Thanks.

Steve;
Sorry to hear about your wife... My wife and I are going on 46 years... I would be, well never mind...

I am soon to be 70. My sons and I have built a log home. Look at my pictures... Do not think that you are too old.

Read all you can.

good luck

**ivanshayka** · 01-27-2014, 01:07 AM

Welcome Steve and rockinlog. This is a good place for you to start. Read as much as you can and then consider taking a class. Next class is in March. You will her the "take the class" echo. There is a reason for that. But for now it's good to read bunch on settling issues on this forum. You can search specific threads/posts on settling. Read those and go on searching other info you are looking for. 60 years young is not bad, you can do it. Do you want a loghome or are u thinking stick build. If a log home, then this is the best place to be.

**rockinlog** · 01-27-2014, 07:28 AM

Originally Posted by ivanshayka

Welcome Steve and rockinlog. This is a good place for you to start. Read as much as you can and then consider taking a class. Next class is in March. You will her the "take the class" echo. There is a reason for that. But for now it's good to read bunch on settling issues on this forum. You can search specific threads/posts on settling. Read those and go on searching other info you are looking for. 60 years young is not bad, you can do it. Do you want a loghome or are u thinking stick build. If a log home, then this is the best place to be.

thank you very much ivanshayka for the warm welcome i look forward to getting to know some good people on here and learning!

**Plumb Level** · 01-27-2014, 01:57 PM

Hello Steve and Rockinlog - welcome to our forum. Read all you can on the public side, and then there is about 15 - 20 times more info on the members side. The only way to get there is to take the class. Whether or not you end up building using this method, taking the class will be enlightening and well worth the experience. Many things you learn you could apply to a stick-built home.

Steve - I'm building in central Missouri, where abouts are you?

**rockinlog** · 01-27-2014, 04:58 PM

Originally Posted by Plumb Level

Hello Steve and Rockinlog - welcome to our forum. Read all you can on the public side, and then there is about 15 - 20 times more info on the members side. The only way to get there is to take the class. Whether or not you end up building using this method, taking the class will be enlightening and well worth the experience. Many things you learn you could apply to a stick-built home.

Steve - I'm building in central Missouri, where abouts are you?

thank you plumb level! i intend to take the class hopefully i can make the march class im only a couple hours away from vegas but i have no idea where im going to build yet but looking forward to the adventure as i retire in a few months!!