A log cabin can be your primary residence or a recreational building, depending on what you intend to do with your investment. Log homes are traditional housing options with their share of inherent strengths and shortfalls. A log house is a good insulator, but it is also prone to cracking, shifting, shrinking, and checking. Wooden structures can be expensive or affordable, depending on various factors such as the quality of materials, the length of the log cabin manufacturing process, and additional treatments and features.
Know the Log Cabin Manufacturing Process
The ultimate in log house living allows you to enjoy a hassle-free and healthier lifestyle while enjoying the midst of nature. Learn the step-by-step log cabin manufacturing process to have an informed view of your investment:
Step 1 – Select the Best Wood for your Log Cabin
One of the essential first steps to manufacturing your log house is to select the best wood species. High-quality timber is an important feature in the overall construction of the log house, especially popular species include Western Red Cedar and Douglas fir, among many others.
Douglas fir possesses multiple superior qualities such as strength, hardness, and its ability to easily dry up and minimal checking tendencies. Revealing the natural cleanliness, bright appearance, and uniqueness of Douglas fir requires hand peeling. Western Red Cedar offers great resistance to moisture as well as bug infestation, making it suitable for log cabins in different locations.
Step 2 – Log Scribing
Hand scribing the log cabin follows the natural and unique contour of the timber or log in order to fit the next log underneath. Most log home manufacturers use a customizable full scribe method in cutting out the logs using a chainsaw and detailing it with a chisel. The process makes a lateral groove formation on the log’s bottom while insulation is applied during the reassembly process through inserting the insulation to the lateral groove and notch of every timber or log. The manufacturer then installs an expandable foam gasket during this process.
Step 3 – Notching Out the Log Home Corners
The log cabin builder scribes and notches out the corners of the structure using a power saw. The process is then repeated for every log and the majority of log homes usually have 10 to 12 rounds high. A trusted and reputable log house builder will send the pictures of the progress throughout the construction or manufacturing process. You will feel a sense of excitement and fulfilment with the eventual unfolding of your log home every step of the way.
Step 4 – Erection of the Roof Support System
The next step in the manufacturing process of your log cabin is the construction and erection of the support system of your log roof. The log roof manufacturing takes place right after the log walls have been completely finished. The log roof support system is inclusive of the purlins, posts, and ridge pools while the roof support beams have an average mid-span diameter of 18 to 20 inches.
Step 5 – Construction of the Log Cabin Window Openings and Doors
Your log home is slowly taking shape and the next step to its construction is the manufacturing of the window openings and low home doors that will give the log house an almost complete look. First, the log house builder trims and sands these features while the doors and windows are cut out, depending on the original layout and design of the cabin. The windows and doors are then trimmed using the keyway and flaring process. The preparation of the installation of the log cabin doors and windows takes effect after this step.
Step 6 – Log Home Reassembly
This step is applicable to log cabins that are manufactured in the premises of the manufacturer and not on the exact location or site of the client’s property. The manufacturing site of the contractor is where most log houses are built, dismantled, labelled, and loaded for delivery using a flat deck truck. Trusted log cabin manufacturers send their reliable supervisors to your location in order to facilitate the process of reassembling the cabin. The log cabin reassembly duration usually varies depending on the size and style of your log house. The typical length of reassembly takes between 2 and 7 days.
Step 7 – Finishing Work
The supervisor of the log cabin manufacturing company makes a comprehensive coordination with your general contractor in order to address all the necessary details of the log home construction. Choose a good log house manufacturer that will ensure a smooth reassembly of your log house from start to finish. You can find reputable log cabin manufacturers with open lines of communication so that their clients could easily get in touch with them.
Other Processes in Log Cabin Manufacturing
Manufacturing your log cabin is a huge venture to begin with and you need a trusted manufacturer for the job. The selection of wood for the manufacturing of your log home is an important phase where you can find the ideal wood species or timber. Reliable manufacturers help you determine the best wood species that addresses the variables in your project, such as your location, typical climate of the site, and site landscape or layout, among many others.
Why is Kiln Drying Important?
Kiln drying is the process that controls the moisture in the different wood products for your log cabin construction. A proper kiln drying process stabilizes, sanitizes, and dries your timber, making it a high-quality material for the log cabin.
What is laminating?
Laminated timbers are stronger with more uniform features, making them ready to use throughout the log cabin and other building trades. Timber that undergoes the laminating process has quality and inherent strength to ensure the overall quality of your log house.
The manufacturing process of the log cabin requires comprehensive construction details and maintenance in order to safeguard the quality and lifespan of your investment. The key to enjoying a remarkable log home with structural integrity and aesthetic appeal is to find a reputable manufacturer in the industry.
