My request for advice and suggestions on the design of a permanent cabin produced a remarkable post from a lady who obviously has a lot of knowledge about scabins. Unfortunately, I had a computer glitz that wiped out her return address. I wanted to ask a couple of questions. If she would contact me agailn, I would appreciate it. Thanks.

Hermit in the Woods

-- Gordon Crump (hermit@duo-county.com), September 08, 2001

Answers

Response to Looking For Good Samaritan

check the archives

-- stan (sopal@net-port.com), September 08, 2001.

GORDON...SINCE YOU DIDN`T INDICATE WHAT TYPE OF CABIN I`LL ASSUME A LOG CABIN.THERE IS A HIGH DEGREE OF SKILLS REQUIRED TO BUILD A CONVENTIONAL LOG HOUSE.I STRONGLY SUGGEST YOU TAKE TRAINING FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS. [1]IF YOU DON`T KNOW HOW TO ALLOW FOR LOG SHRINKAGE YOU WOULD PROBABLY CRUSH ALL YOUR WINDOW AND DOOR JAMBS. [2]SPIRAL GRAIN LOGS CAN TWIST AND POP OUT OF YOUR WALL. [3]LOGS SHOULD BE KEPT 24" OFF THE GROUND[RAIN WATER SPLASHES 24"] [4]IF YOU LEARN HOW TO KNOTCH THEM AND SCRIBE THEM YOUR WALLS WILL BE TIGHTER[LESS AIR /WATER PENETRATION] [5]WHAT TYPE OF LOGS CHECK/CRACK BADLY.LOG BUILDERS HAVE WAYS TO CONTROL THIS. [6]HOW DO YOU TREAT THE LOGS TO PROTECT THEM FROM UV,ROT,TERMITES.

NOW IF I WERE YOU I`D LOOK AT CORDWOOD CONSTRUCTION.IF YOU DON`T LIKE IT YOU CAN ALWAYS GO BACK TO CONVENTIONAL LOG HOME CONSIDERATION.THIS STYLE REQUIRES VERY LITTLE SKILLS.UNSKILLED PEOPLE HAVE BUILT INCREDABLE HOMES WITH THIS SYSTEM.BUT I RECOMMEND HANDS ON TRAINING OR BUILD A PRACTICE WALL TO GET THE MORTAR MIXING DOWN RIGHT.THERE ARE CORDWOOD HOMES OVER 1000 YEARS OLD.[QUITE A FEW IN NORTH AMERICA FROM 100-200 YEARS OLD.] I`LL ANSWER ALL YOUR LOG BUILDING QUESTIONS OR IF YOU WANT TO RESEARCH CORDWOOD DROP BY MY BOARD.I WAS LICENSED TO BUILD CORDWOOD AND CONVENTIONAL LOG BUILDINGS BACK IN 1979.I WORKED ON MY FIRST LOG CABIN BACK IN 1966. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/cordwood TAKE SPECIFIC INTEREST IN THE NEWBEE PAGE AND MY PHOTO ALBUMS. FROM THESE YOU WILL LEARN THE BASICS AND SEE WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE.THESE BUILDINGS HAVE A HIGH R-VALUE AS WELL AS A LOT OF THERMAL MASS.[CONVENTIONAL LOG HOUSE WOULD HAVE AN R=9.5 WALL ACCORDING TO COMMERCIAL BUILDERS.CORDWOOD CAN GET TO BE R=48,I HAVE POSTED HOW TO GET AN R=96,THIS CAN BE INCREASED TO AN R=150-180 POSSIBLY IF SOME CURRENT REPORTS BY THE NATIONAL HOME BUILDERS ASSOCIATION AND HUD ARE TRUE.] SO FEEL FREE TO ASK ANY QUESTIONS.

CORDially YOURS CORDWOODGUY

-- CORDWOODGUY (cordwoodguy@n2teaching.com), September 09, 2001.