Replies

1. 
   Piffin | Oct 10, 2002 02:21am | #1

   You can probably do some searching but I'm afraid you'll NEVER find anything quite like Breaktime!

   http://www.backwoodshome.com/forum/yabb/forum.pl

   .

   Excellence is its own reward!

2. 
   mosseater | Oct 11, 2002 08:21am | #2

   It`s not like FHB but it is the best place for info on the subject. http://www.logassociation.org

   Are you building, buying, or just curious?

1. 
   lechel | Oct 11, 2002 04:33pm | #3

   Building, and spending lots of time fixing builder errors.

1. 
   Paularado | Oct 11, 2002 07:55pm | #4

   I like the forum at Log homes on the internet:

   http://www.lhoti.com

   We are also building a log home and have a few issues. There are lots of builders on that forum and lots of lively discussion.

   There are also a couple of email lists for log home folks at yahoogroups.com. Look for loghometalk

   What type of things have come up? There are folks here who have log home experience.

1. 
   lechel | Oct 11, 2002 08:14pm | #5

   Thanks for the reply.  We've had a number of problems such as interior walls severely out of plumb (tough to put up drywall), window leaks and leaks in the garage.  We had the shell put up, and I've been doing the electrical and other work, or managing other contractors.  However, I'm spending too much time fixing what should be have right in the first place.

1. 
   mosseater | Oct 11, 2002 08:30pm | #6

   Was wondering what type of log house it is and who the manufacturer/builder is. If you`d rather not say, that`s ok. Just curious because I`ve been studying this subject for over 10 years now and am building my own house and have come across much misinformation on the subject. I`m working towards starting my own log home business and am always interested in others experiences and perceptions and where they get their information.

   I`m by no means recognized as an authority on the subject, but have considerable experience and knowledge. As an ILBA member, I`ve dedicated myself to the furtherance of correct information so that quality structures become the norm rather than the exception.

2. 
   lechel | Oct 11, 2002 08:46pm | #8

   We used laminated logs.  Shell was put up by a small local builder.  We've had no settling problems, but the overall quality of construction leaves a lot to be desired.  It's caused us no end of problems.  For example, when the builder would drill vertically through the logs to leave a channel to pull wire, they would not really clean the sawdust out.  After a few logs, the sawdust piles up and makes pulling wire very difficult.  Now I've leaks that appears to be coming from where the soffit contacts the logs.  Rather than cutting a deep kerf and setting the soffit in the kerf, they scribed the soffit and relied on caulk.  Unfortunately, with house movement and acrylic caulk which shrinks, gaps have appeared. 

   Just need to keep after it I guess.

3. 
   PostnBeam | Oct 11, 2002 09:48pm | #10

   Are your 'logs' in a dimension of 4"X8" ish?? Are they the cedar laminated type? What type of roof system do you have, and are your soffits vaulted or flat?  We have done quite a few 'dimensional' log types and have come across the same thing. One thing for sure is the electrical and plumbing layout.

   If the crew didn't take the time to "clean"out the holes for recepticles and switches with a piece of romex or two, you will run into all sorts of problems. Those little chips for an auger bit pack about as tightly as the wood itself.  Try taking a piece of #4 or larger copper wire, bend a little "V" on the end that sticks out about1/4". Inselt this into the hole and twist it in circles. Some of the guys will attach it to a low RPM drill and move up and down. If access is available from below at the rim joist, try it that way, as the chips will fall down. An electricians "fish tape" works well too. Don't know if you have tried it or not, just trying to help.

   As far as the sofits, it sounds like they are vaulted. Maybe installing a trim piece along the top of the wall, butting the soffit would work. ('frieze board?')

   Good Luck

4. 
   PhilEves | Oct 12, 2002 04:26am | #11

   As another experienced log builder, I am willing to offer any help or answer any questions as well.

   Where are you building? I'm up in Vancouver, B.C., Canada, and have done alot of building in Whistler, where we can face extremes of weather, from 30 below(Celsius), up to 40 above( Celsius). With the current exchange rate, that's about22 below up to 104 above, LOTS of wood movement, but problems with fits are rare.If it is to be, 'twil be done by me..

5. 
   mosseater | Oct 12, 2002 08:23am | #12

   What type do you build? I`m doing a pulpwood palace in round notch. Dealing with loggers around here is a challenge. The`re very independent. You must have it pretty good log-wise out there, huh? Are you a hand crafter? ILBA member? I haven`t posted on their forum yet. (Too chicken, I reckon) I did the Mackie school in `90  and had a great time in B.C. Beautiful place!

6. 
   lechel | Oct 13, 2002 07:54pm | #14

   Thanks for the offer.  I may email you from time-to-time to ask some advice.  We're building at 9400 feet elevation in southern Colorado.  Lots of wind and snow.  The shell was completed in 1999.  Since then I've completed electrical and heat, replaced trim and sealed windows, rehung doors, insulated the crawl space, started the drywall, and sealed the garage (last winter we found snow blowing around inside). 

   My latest problem appears to be water leaks around the soffit on a gable end (30 foot to peak).  With weather turning cold, I'll work on that next spring.  My thought was to recaulk (with something that won't shrink), and maybe place moulding.  The problem with moulding is the "scalloping" of the logs.  It would be almost impossible to scrib moulding - so maybe only caulk.  Any suggestions would be helpful.  thanks. 

7. 
   DaveMason2 | Oct 13, 2002 08:34pm | #15

   I have used Perma-Chink with very good results. It is a rubberized caulk for chinking logs but it comes in the big caulking tubes or you can buy it in 5 gal. buckets and get a special caulking gun, depending on the amount of work that you are doing with it.

                                                                                                 Dave

8. 
   lechel | Oct 13, 2002 07:50pm | #13

   Thanks for the advice and information.  I've worked out the electrical problems.  Now I'm into sorting out various leaks, the latest of which appears to be coming from the soffit.  With weather turning cold, I'll start to fix that next spring.  thanks again.

9. 
   Paularado | Oct 11, 2002 08:31pm | #7

   Our home is built from milled logs and we have had some settling issues. Some our fault (design), some the builder's and some, well, who knows! Our logs were stacked in December, and we are just now getting around to putting in windows...which is a good thing. This is our second log home, so we kind of knew to expect some quirks when building a home from solid wood. We had our structural engineer over to look and he thought the house looked fine, so that was good to hear! We will have to pull out some posts and "shave" them down in the front of our house to drop the house an inch or so. If we had the windows in, we wouldn't be able to do it. We put in a couple inches of settling space above those posts, but the house settled about 3 inches, so.......lucky us!

   There are definitely some old threads on lhoti.com about windows leaking. Just do a search and then ask away.

10. 
    lechel | Oct 11, 2002 08:46pm | #9

    thanks

3. 
   SantaS | Jun 09, 2020 12:42am | #16

   I can suggest http://filwud.com/ Go and take a look