Replies

1. 
   Steve_Racer | Jun 29, 2000 07:15pm | #1

   *
   Pat, I may have an answer for you...that is, if I had any idea what the hell you`re talking about. Please elaborate in English for we dummies. I understand the log home part but, you lost me after that.

2. 
   Guest_ | Jun 29, 2000 10:30pm | #2

   *
   Some log walls are preloaded to allow for "tight" walls after post-occupation shrinkage. I assume she was referring to "turning down" the preload bolts.

   My advice would be to do this when infiltration becomes real noticable......oh wait, that won't work. Log homes are always drafty. I guess you want to do it sometime before you see daylight between the logs.

   -Rob

3. 
   Pat_Eagan | Jul 05, 2000 11:51pm | #3

   *
   Steve, When the log home is erected because of the green lumber the will shrink up to 6"'s over the course of construction. In order to accomodate this the postings that run through the home i.e. supports to the roof are placed on turn down anchors where they connect to any foundation pads or caissons. All the perlins and rafters are also bolted together. Here is where the problem lies the log walls which sit directly upon the foundation walls can shrink down on their own. All the supports can not move down without adjustments to the adjustable plates. If it is not turned down on a routine maintenance the supports will push the roof ridge and all other connections up as the exterior walls settle. Hopw that clarified some. And yes log homes are all drafty!!

4. 
   Guest_ | Jul 06, 2000 02:48am | #4

   *
   Pat, the log distributers I use tell the consumer that the maintenence can be part of the contractors job or one the homeowner does themselves. In either case it comes down to money. Some log homes I have built, the home owners do their own. On one particular house I've constructed I have a six month maintanence schedule I follow to adjust all the load bearing hardware and check for problems. A pain in the ass but the referrals are great. Hope this helped. Jon J.

5. 
   Steve_Racer | Jul 12, 2000 07:40am | #5

   *
   O.K.! Now I think I`m on the same page, I had not heard that procedure termed that way before. I assume you`re talking about a "kit" home, or "milled" home. I`m sorry to say that I don`t have much knowledge about those particular products. My interest lies in hand crafted, full scribe log homes. I can tell you that your homes settling characteristics depend on several factors. Type of lateral joint and size of supporting surface area, wood species, heating system, roof loads, log size, etc. It can be hard to know when and how much to turn it down. I`ve heard some houses can take as long as 8 to 10 years to reach an equilibrium point. There`s an old joke I`ve read; when does a log house stop settling? When the eaves touch the ground. I doubt that`s 100% true. Green logs (freshly cut, 20% or more m.c.) built swiftly and bearing weight quicker should settle about 3/4" per involved foot of wall height, maybe a little more. Since I presume yours is a milled home, it`s mosty a heart wood-on-heart wood situation, so it could be a little less. Heart wood is denser and tends to shrink a little less. If you have measurements from initial lay up you could figure it out mathematically. At any rate it shouldn`t be rocket science. Look for gaps or air leaks or obvious signs of stess at windows, doors, chimneys, plumbing,etc. Just be sure there`s enough settling allowance...better too much room instead of too little or there`ll be hell to pay. I think most hand crafters think of it in terms of letting the building come down instead of forcing it together. But again, I don`t have much knowledge of the pre-cut industry. Try contacting the American/Canadian Log Builders Assn at http://www.logassociation.org or 1(800)532-2900 for more imformation. Or you could ask for more answers from Rob; he seems to know everything. Hope I`ve been some help. SR

6. 
   Pat_Eagan | Jul 12, 2000 07:40am | #6

   *
   Heres one for all the log home builders, How often following the initial frame up of the log home should the logs be turned down and in what increments? How long should the home be turned down after closing assuming an 8 month cycle time? Who's responsible?