Log Cabin Walls

L0G-CABIN walls are of two general types. In one
the logs stand on end and in the other they lie horizontally. Cabins with logs vertically sometimes are called pole houses, probably because small logs or poles are more conveniently used in this manner than in a horizontal position. Among the advantages of the pole-house construction is the greater ease of erecting the walls, and the fact that short logs can be utilized. The forming of window and door openings is merely a matter of omitting logs. The biggest arguments against the pole house are its relative weakness and the fact that it is somewhat more difficult to chink than the conventional type.

Because cabin walls with logs placed vertically are pleasing in appearance and can be treated architectur­ally in a considerable variety of ways, and because of the other favorable points, the summer home, hunting lodge or lake bungalow might very well be a pole house. The objection that the construction is inher­ently weak can be overcome by careful spiking of the various elements as they are placed. As for the chink­ing, a little attention to fitting the logs will make most of that easy.

After you have completed the foundation walls or piers, and made certain that they are level all the way around, the next job, and the first operation in wall-building, is to construct the sills. These are logs laid on the foundation to form the bases for the walls. Sometimes true sills extend only beneath two opposite walls; sometimes all around—as in a pole house. With a broadax or an ordinary ax having a long cutting edge, hew each of the sill logs flat on top and bottom. Make the top as smooth as possible, for on it must rest the squarely sawed ends of the vertical logs. In

An example of a cabin built with upright logs, In this case it would he better had the rear of the cabin been rained clear of the ground

hewing, the amount of wood necessary to be removed will depend on the straightness of the log and the amount of taper. Use the soundest, straightest, and least tapering logs for sills. Frequently it is desirable to hew the log on four sides to produce a square timber whose width is about the same as that of the vertical poles, or slightly greater. At the corners, where the sill pieces come together, make a lap joint by cutting wood from each piece to a depth of half the thickness of the pieces, and for a distance from the end of each piece equal to the width of the other piece. Fasten the joint with heavy spikes, or by boring holes and in­serting heavy wood or steel pins. It is not a bad idea to apply creosote paint or other preservative to the wood surfaces at the joints.

A plate is a log laid horizontally, resting on the upper ends of the vertical logs of a wall. It is con­structed exactly like the sill. After the sill is finished,

Here is the best manner of setting logs in an upright position in a cabin wall. Manner of making inside partitions is also shown

set a vertical log at each corner, fastening it to the sill with heavy spikes (something like 40-penny size) driven at an angle through the post and into the sill. This is called toe-nailing, Temporary braces can be used to give rigidity and safety during subsequent operations. These braces can be 1- by 6-in. boards set at an angle of 45 degrees to the sill and corner post. Hoist the plate logs or timbers to the tops of the corner posts and spike them in place. Incidentally the plates and sills can be constructed of 2-in. planks nailed together until the desired thickness is produced, if suitable logs are not available. It is highly important that the plates and sills be level. See that they are, before you proceed with the placing of vertical pieces.

The poles or logs should be no less than 4 in. in diameter. It is desirable that their tapers be uniform, as this makes construction easier. For a good, weather­proof job, hew each log on opposite sides, and fit it carefully against the neighboring one. Cut each log so that it will fit snugly between silt and plate, and fasten it in position by driving spikes diagonally into the sill. These can be driven so that the next pole will cover them. Ends of the poles should be treated to prevent rotting. Creosote applied as described is ex­cellent, or paint can be used.

When a point is reached where a door or window is to be made, hew the last pole so that the side next to the door frame is plumb. Determine when this condition is obtained by testing the pole with a car­penter's level. Allow sufficient space for the door or window casing, and begin the next series of poles. Continue this until the walls are finished. Remaining details of construction are practically the same as for the horizontal type of log cabin.

If the construction of a log house were complicated, the early settlers, with their few simple tools, would have developed some other type of dwelling. The chief ingredient is heavy work. Getting the logs into position can be accomplished without difficulty by two men using a block and tackle. For the average cabin, the wall-building should not require more than a week or two of time.

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How To Build A Log Cabin