Other Types of Log Homes

RUSTIC

Courtesy of Andrew Griffith Griffith Home Analysis

A home built using the "Rustic" style.

HEWN TIMBER/LOG

Conventional timber-framed homes and log homes are fundamentally different methods, but within each are a number of variations. As the methods become more similar, they can reach a point at which it’s difficult to define a home as either log or timber.

Once such case is when a home is built using hand-hewn timbers laid horizontal with the corners notched log-style. In the photos below, logs have been hand-hewn with a broadaxe into rectangular timbers assembled log-style. Modern hewn timbers are typically cut to size using conventional sawing methods, then hewn with a broadaxe to replicate the appearance of historical hewn timbers. Gaps between timbers are often filled with a spline which fits into a slot in the upper log . Lower logs may or may not be slotted. Slots typically will be hidden by chinking.

Courtesy of Permachink Inc.

The hewn timbers shown here have a spline installed. The splines serve as backing for modern chinking. This home was built in 2002. Note tool marks left by the broadaxe.

INSPECTION CONCERNS

Inspection of these homes is the same as with any log home; corner notches should be self-draining and tight, wood/chinking should be in sound condition and proper building methods used.

CORDWOOD HOMES

Source

Cordwood homes don’t fit well into any category and are rare over most of North America. Most homes will be found in the Northern U.S. and Canada.

These homes are built using logs cut to the same length and embedded in mortar with end grain facing toward the interior and exterior, resulting in walls which look like stacked cordwood. Other names for this method of building are cordwood masonry, log-end and stovewood construction.

Inspectors may find homes with wall thicknesses varying from 10 inches to 24 inches.

One concern with homes built using this method is that large amounts of end-grain are exposed to the elements. This can be a concern because end grain absorbs moisture more easily than the sides of logs. This may cause a greater amount of annual expansion and contraction cycling which can cause gaps to develop between wall logs and the mortar in which they're embedded.

Log ends should be kept well-sealed with an appropriate sealant. An appropriate sealant would be one which designed to be permeable to moisture vapor but impermeable to water in it's liquid form.

INSPECTION CONCERNS

• Log shrinkage- Logs used for cordwood homes should be allowed to dry until they reach Equilibrium Moisture Content (EMC) with the homesite environment. Logs installed before they have reached EMC may shrink away from mortar, creating gaps.
• Wood species- Different wood species will have differing expansion and contraction rates. Species with more extreme expansion and contraction properties are more likely to develop gaps between log and mortar as they shrink and may damage mortar as they expand. Although inspectors are not responsible for identifying wood species, this is a concern.
• Sealing log ends- Log end-grain is porous and absorbs moisture as both liquid and vapor more easily than the stem surfaces of logs. As logs absorb moisture and dry they expand and contract. As with most log homes, short roof overhangs are NOT DESIRABLE on these homes, since they offer less protection from weather and roof runoff.
• Increased moisture absorption rates (from exposed end-grain) resulting in higher log moisture content (MC) means that logs may also develop problems with decay or wood-destroying insects more easily than conventionally-built log homes.
• Recommend good finish maintenance- Although inspectors are not responsible for identifying log finishes, they should mention these potential problems in the report and recommend diligent maintenance of the log finish.

PIECE en PIECE

Piece en Piece style log homes use sections of shorter horizontal logs separated by vertical intermediate and corner posts.

The French originally introduced this method in the Great Lakes area by or before the early 18th century.

The home in the photo to the right has lower walls of scribe-fit logs and Piece en Piece upper floor walls.

CUSTOM HOMES

Inspectors may see homes which match none of the log home building methods or styles described in this course. Imagination is all that limits log home building styles. Well...  imagination, building codes and the opinions of spouses. The fundamentals will still apply with respect to log home inspection. Inspectors confronted with construction methods with which they're not familiar should state this in the inspection report and disclaim conditions as appropriate to limit liability.