How do I to begin a log stack process?

two logs stacked in  corner

 6 x 8 D shape white pine from Original Log Cabin shipped in random lengths and cut to size per print on job site . Home owner  Frank Merron laid first log, as shown in here in our  video. the process is time consuming and noisy!



1.CHALKING  The first step is rather easy yet, is a  very important step. A  chalk line  is snapped out 4 inches all around the  deck from outside of the concrete foundation. This is done  to square up  the deck which  needs to prefectly square.  For   if its off at all,  it will  show up at the roof. A 1/4 of inch off at this level can show up at the roof as much as an entire inch or more. Shinglers, homeowner and myself all    would not be happy.
Why drag the chalk line in 4 inches?
 By dragging it in  4 inches , since  the logs are really 5 1/2 from flat inside to fat of the round, the log that sist on the deck 4 inches  puts the fat of the round hanging  over 1 1/2  inches over your sub-floor . This is what we want. The   reason for this is that when half log siding goes up,which is  an 1 1/2 inches thick they were both match, i.e.  the fat of the round to the half log siding.
2.Mark out electric on the sub floor with a red crayon so we know where to drill out the electric out we get to this process and importantly  so we don't put any lags  in this location which we do not want when installing log electric  outlets. I work closely with the electrician on my log homes, as it is common that an electrician has not had experience with running electric threw logs.

We also mark out center of doors and windows. so we know where to stop the logs

3.Apply sealant  of either caulk or  log tape which  the log is placed on. Then we    follow straight down the chauk line corner to corner to get a real straight first log. Much care is taken in this, once again to ensure an accurate  and plum beginning.

zinc Lag Screw

Oly Scews

4.FASTEN  the logs . Builders or log home companies  use either Oly screws or Lags. On this house we used Lags. I prefer to use olys,  however  for speed.Yet lag screws are in many ways more effective for example when and  if you run into a twisted,  warped, or bowed log. Using a  lag I can often fix or  take out the problem with a lag screw.

 It is important that Lags should be at least 3 inches longer than the log so they go into the next log as shown above. A special  electric lag gun is used and the oly requires a very strong drill, a common drill will quickly burn out.

Lag gun on large beam

5.Window and door allowances  after running 2 full logs we had to compensate for window openings on our last log home. On Franks home, there was a window shipping delay, even through window openings are on the print, you need the actual window to measure. Print openings are rough  size and not true size.

Allowances have to be made for the  2 x material and compensation for window buck  roof openings, such as adding at least 3 inches to the  opening. Since actual measurements were unattainable we simply extended the full  log  threw all window and door openings and then chain sawed them out later once the windows arrived and we could get our measurement.

Example of  how we over hung the logs so later we could come back,  cut  the logs out to  the exact size
of the window and door openings

Pre cut logs  verses  random log home packages 
Precut system you have to sort to find your logs this is very time consuming. They often are not shipped in any meaningful manner.  With pre cut you do not have to read the print, go find a log and cut it to size however  I have found that  what you are not spending in cutting time you do  spend in sorting.

A real disadvantage to a precut log  system is  when  the foundation is slightly off, which happens far too often. I suggest that homeowners and general contractors  use extreme care in selecting  their  concrete man. Remember that  this is where it all begins, if this is done poorly or carelessly it will show up in many aspects of the building process. When this happens, we are in an  unfortunate position indeed! With a pre cut system logs will hang over if the foundation  is poured too large in spots, the  logs will  stick out past your sub floor. And obviously  if  it is too small, the logs hang over. So it follows that it is  very important that the foundation with a pre cut system is as close to prefect  as possible.


Random length package, I can accommodate and make changes to compensate for an  inaccurate foundation.  In addition, it is easy to make last minute changes  for the homeowner,such as moving  a window, changing  interior walls, as long as it is not a structural change , then I can do it. I can not when it is a precut system. Also if there are extra logs, which there generally is,  you might even be able to  run an extra course. Simply put with precut, your options are limited.

If a log is damaged in shipping, which does happen, with random logs I find one to replace it,  cut off the damaged part and reuse it somewhere else. It is really two  different mind sets concerning these tow options. Neither is better really than the other, but I find that I prefer them  not to be precut. One of my talents, and something I really enjoy , is conserving l  and finding additional uses for excess material
How many logs  are needed to do a log stack?
It depends on the type of log you are using. Standard height  with a 6 x 8 is 13 courses,which gives  you a 8 foot log stack hieght. When a 6 x 12 it is about 9 courses for the same height. T hey sack faster as they are about  5  less courses, but remember a bigger log is a  heavier log and more to lift.

Jeremy Sinur and homeowner Frank Merron discussing the 8 logs that were stacked for a window opening, we tend to work from corners, making them plum and level to insure a square home.

second floor is squared again, refined