Free Log Home Information

On this page you will find much technical information, some hard-to-find information, and LOT of practical stuff.
Check the bottom of this page for some great deals on a variety of tools and books, and more..
I update my on-line log-building-library from time to time, so check back to this page now and again to see what's new.

New in January 2008: Dovetails, EU Log Standards, Georgia Forestry on Insects, Infrared Study of Log Homes, and Seismic article from Structure Magazine

Also, news about my upcoming Log Home Construction DVDs (available summer 2008).

You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view or print these "PDF" downloads. Get a free copy of Acrobat Reader by visiting www.adobe.com

Can't find what you are looking for? Please send me an email, and if it is about handcrafted, scribe-fit log building I might be able to find what you're looking for. E-mail to Robert

Spiral Grain in Logs Spiral Grain—The Inside Story (270Kb) a 3-page article from Log Building News 63 (July 2007) about what spiral grain is, where it comes from, and how it affects logs in log walls. Lefthhand spiral is one of the leading causes of badly fitting corner notches and grooves in log homes. Written by Robert W. Chambers, this is a good introduction to the problems caused by left-hand spiral building logs.

Log Building Code ICC Website For sale by the International Code Committeee, this is the new (2007) residential building code for log homes— the world's first building code for log homes. It will go into effect in your area only if your local (state, county or city) government adopts it. For some places that could be soon. For other places it could be years from now (or never, since there are places in the USA that do not use any building code). It is called "ICC 400-2007 Standard on the Design and Construction of Log Structures" and costs $25 plus S&H. Also for sale by the ILBA, 800-532-2900.

Log Notch Selection Calculators Download one of these files to figure the "Desired Shoulder Heights" for your set of logs. These are Microsoft Excel files, and you can open and use them if you own a copy of Excel software. One file is for metric builders, and the other file is for imperial (feet-inch) builders. Download just the one file that you will use. These files are copyrighted by Robert Chambers and they are free for you to download and use. You will need a copy of my book, the Log Construction Manual to understand how to use the numbers this spreadsheet produces. Contact me with questions, bugs, problems, compliments (!) Note that both spreadsheet files contain "Macros," and they are virus-free, if downloaded from this link.

1) LOG SELECTION CALCULATOR -- Click on this link to download the Log Selection Calculator
2) METRIC LOG SELECTION CALCULATOR -- Click on this link to download the Metric Log Selection Calculator

Log Building Video Clips Something new for this site, and just a trial version for now. These are PDF documents with embedded video clips. There is a link at the top of this page for free Adobe Reader software, and you will need Adobe version 6.0 or newer to view the video. Please let me know what you think of these video clips— are they helpful? Which ones would you like to see next? These files are very large and will be difficult to download if you have a "dial-up" modem connection to the Internet. If I make them any smaller, then the video is too blurry to be of much use. Please do not download and then post these videos on another website--they are copyrighted by Robert Chambers.
I have finished filming, and am now editing my DVD of how to build with logs. I hope to have this for sale starting summer 2008. Watch my website for updates about when it will be available!

1) How to SCORE a saddle notch with a chisel and mallet -- 1.5 minute "video book." Click this link to view or to download 3.3 Mb video PDF of "How to Score a Saddle Notch"
2) How to CUT a saddle notch with a chainsaw -- 4.0 minute "video book." Click this link to view or to download an 11.0 Mb video PDF of "How to Cut a Saddle Notch"

"Natural Log Homes" Technical Sheets Thanks to Natural Log Homes (www.NaturalLogHomes.com) for permission to post various information from their production manual from time to time. Feel free to download and print and use this info for yourself, or email the files to friends. But please do not post these files on another website, they are copyrighted by Natural Log Homes.

Windows and Doors in Log Openings 1 (100Kb) a 1-page sheet on the choice between flanged and non-flanged window styles for log homes, the difference between Carpentry Rough Opening and Log Rough Opening, and how to frame bucks into openings. Photos and drawings as well as helpful words of advice. Feel free to download and print and use this information.

Windows and Doors in Log Openings 2 (100Kb) a 1-page sheet including detailed head, sill, and jamb drawings of installing doors and windows, how to flash the opening, how to air seal it, and using settling boards and settling space a safe way. Photo and drawings as well as a description. Feel free to download, print and use this info. Architects and designers may find the drawings useful--and carpenters and DIYers definitely will.

Gasket Material, Design, and Installation (180Kb) a 1-page sheet about the gasket (rubber seal), that Natural Log Homes uses inside their grooves and notches. NLH uses a rubber seal that they designed, tested, and that they have made just for them -- it is not an off-the-shelf item available anywhere else. Good close up photos of how it is installed in logs.

Log Building Standards (360 Kb) This is the full version of the Log Building Standards and Chinking Standards. This download is the entire Log Building Standards provided free by the International Log Builders Association. Great and VERY useful information.

Log Building News #38 (1.1 Megabytes) One full copy of the ILBA newsletter, 20 pages. Issue #38 is from August 2002. This newsletter (Robert Chambers is the editor) is sent to all members of the log organization. Contact the ILBA to become a member and receive LBN 4 times a year.

Log Builder Interview Form (28 Kb) A 3-page form that can be used when you call or talk with log builders - - interviewing them as possible builders for your home. The questions are good, and it's also a way to organize your knowledge of several log building companies to make comparing them easier for you. This is an excerpt from the ILBA booklet, "From Land to Lockup."

European Union Log Standard A document called "ETAG 012" -- 48-page PDF (180Kb) of the 2002 draft of a log home kit construction code. This document is in English. Some EU countries are using this code, but some are not. This copy says "draft" but it is being used as "code" in some EU member countries. You will need local advice in the country you are going to build.

R-Value and Thermal Efficiency of Log Walls

Energy Performance of Log Walls (600Kb) a 29-page booklet copyrighted by the Log Homes Council website that has information on the thermal efficiency of log walls. The Log Homes Council is an organization of companies that build milled or manufactured log home kits, but much of this information also can be applied to handcrafted log homes.

R-Values of Log Walls (260Kb) A 3-page article by Dalibor Houdek of Forintek Canada, that first appeared in Log Building News #38.

Infrared Study of Log Homes (1 Mb) 9-page 2005 study by two engineers that used a blower door combined with infrared thermal imaging cameras to study air and heat leakage of log homes. The blower door is used to reduce the air pressure inside the house, this makes cold air leak into the house quickly, and the camera "sees" the cold air, and identifies where air leaking is happening.

Dovetail Notches Robert wrote two articles about full-scribe, full dovetail, hewn-log construction for Joiner's Quarterly magazine. These used to be available from JQ as back issues. There is plenty of other info on chinked dovetail construction in print, but these are the only detailed articles I know of about full-scribe (chinkless) dovetails. Click here to go to the Fox Maple website where you can ask to order back issues # 13 and # 14 (it's a 2-part article), but I've been told they are not available.

Click this DOVETAILS link to download a very large (9 Mb) pdf that contains both of Robert's JQ dovetail articles. Dovetails.

There is also an article written by Robert for Fine Homebuilding magazine, Issue #34, about a large dovetail project that Robert built. This article is interesting, and has a lot of great photos, just not as much technical information on "how to do it" as the JQ article mentioned above. Back issues of Fine Homebuilding #34 are not available from Taunton Press (sold out) -- so please try finding it at your local library, or used book stores, or search at Amazon.com.

Maintenance and Preservation of Log Homes

Maintenance and Preservation of Log Walls (200Kb) a 14 -page article copyrighted by the Log Homes Council including information on insects, decay, removing iron stains from wood, and more.

Finishes for Log Walls (570Kb) A comprehensive 16-page booklet on finishes for log homes-- penetrating stains, water repellancy, mildew, and much more. A very valuable resource. How to protect log homes during construction, how good design helps protect logs, your choices for chemicals and finishes, wood cleaners. (Skip Ellsworth seems to be spreading some mis-information about drawknife-peeled logs and their ability to withstand weather - - if you have heard what Ellesworth has said, then you better get a copy of this independent and objective information.) Produced by Forintek Canada website , a top government research institute for everything about wood.

Log Home Tips About Insects written by the Georgia Forestry Commission. (800 Kb) 23-page brochure that includes advice on preventing insect attack, avoiding bluestain and decay—advises use of deep roof overhangs, some chemicals (borates), and the like. Some very good color photos of bugs that attack wood. The emphasis here is on bugs--which makes sense, in Georgia.

US Army Rigging Manual - - or, "How to Lift Things (the low-tech way)"

Gin Poles (400 Kb) Chapter 5 from the army field engineer's manual, this chapter shows you how to build and rig lifting devices like gin poles, derricks, A-frames, and more. Simple, practical information. There is not much about gin poles that is in print, and this is some of the best that I have uncovered - - 19 pages of free information. (Please note that the ILBA's Log Building News also had an article about a gin pole .. please email the ILBA for a copy of that back issue, it is not available on this, or any other, web site.)

Anchors & Guys (480Kb) Chapter 4 from the field manual on how to build anchors (stakes, deadmen, tree wraps) and how to guy them to support a gin pole, derrick, etc. Also, how much you can expect each sort of anchor to hold.

Hoists (520Kb) Chapter 3 from the field manual on how to rig for lifting and pulling. Includes block & tackles, mechanical advantages, and more.

The Wood Handbook The Wood Handbook is an encyclopedia on wood as an engineering material. It has chapters on engineering specs, drying and shrinkage, decay, gluing, preservation, fire resistance, glu-lams, fasteners, finishing, wooden bridges, and plenty more. Totals more than 400 pages. Written by the USDA, Forest Products Laboratory website in Madison, Wisconsin. Each chapter can be downloaded for free as a PDF. The whole book (hardcover) can be purchased from the US Government Printing Office. This has a lot of great information, and much of it de-bunks the half-truths and misunderstandings that are widespread.

Index to all chapters that can be downloaded . Not a download, this is a web-link to the Forest Products Laboratory (Madison, Wisconsin, USA) site where you can see what's in each chapter, and then choose to download chapters one at a time. All chapters in the book are available for free download from this web site.

Decay & Insects (620Kb) Chapter 13 from the Wood Handbook deals with deterioration of wood. Mold, mildew, decay -- what it is and how it happen. Clicking on this link will download this one chapter onto your hard drive.

Drying of Wood (500Kb) Chapter 3 from the Wood Handbook deals with the drying of wood -- what is "green" wood?, how does wood dry?, what about fiber saturation point and equilibrium moisture content? This is very important information-- even some log home builders do not understand how their logs actually dry, and how long it takes, or that shrinkage may not have even started when their logs weigh half as much as they used to. "It's so much lighter in weight now, so that means it is dry" . . . . Wrong, no it doesn't!

Round Timbers and Ties (400Kb) Chapter 18 from the Wood Handbook has information on logs, poles, timbers, and ties -- durability, strength, and grading standards.

Alaska Log Building Construction Guide Written by Mike Musick for the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation in 1999, this book is not copyighted. Mike has good chapters on foundations, energy standards, scribing and cutting notches, plumbing, venting, insulation, and more. The focus is on Alaska's need for energy-efficient homes, but there is plenty of material here about other log building topics. The entire book can be downloaded as one file (20 Megabytes). Or you can choose each chapter one at a time. The Log Home Guide Info Center (www.lhgic.com website ) sells the paperback book for $25.

Index of all chapters that can be downloaded--- Not a download, this is a web-link to the Alaska State Gov Finance Department site where you can see what's in each of the log building chapters, and then choose to download chapters one at a time. There is also a button for downloading the entire book as one file. A new page will open if you click on this link.

Mechanical Systems in Log Homes (365Kb) Chapter 5 from Musick's book. This chapter is about mechanical systems-- heat ducts, plumbing, electrical and so on, and how to install them and deal with settling--good drawings. Click on the link to download this one chapter.

Fire Resistance

Fire Resistance of Log Walls This file is copyrighted by the ILBA. Written by Dalibor Houdek, PhD, and first published in Log Building News #35 (September 2001), this is a reprint of a 3-page article about scientific testing done on scribe-fitted log walls and their resistance to fire. (Log walls come out great, by the way.) This download is courtesy of the International Log Builders Association.

Structural Engineering of Log Walls

Lateral Loads on Log Walls An article by Tom Hahney from Log Building News #32 (ILBA) of interest to structural engineers and to anyone building a log home in an earthquake or high-wind zone. NOTE that the ILBA has a special reprint of several articles about structural engineering for log homes - - please contact the ILBA by email: info@logassociation.org

Lateral Resistance of Handcrafted Log Walls (3.6 Megabytes) A 33-page report of research published by Forintek Canada. Technical, and probably of interest only to structural engineers. Very hard to find a copy of this, but if you need to calculate wind or earthquake loads on notched log walls, then this is what you're going to want! This research was done at the request of the ILBA. They built log walls and log corners and tested them to the point of destruction in the laboratory. Ground-breaking stuff. Very large file.

Lateral Resistance of Log Walls, an article by Leichti, Scott, Miller and Sharpe, from Structure Magazine, March 2006. 5-pages (305 Kb PDF file) Good stuff. Every engineer should have a copy in their library—technical work with finite element analysis for seismic resistance, and more.

Strength Values of Softwoods -- "Allowable Property Values" (500 Kb) A 30-page report of many softwood trees, and the values allowed for bending (MOR, F-sub-B) and stiffness (MOE), shear, compression, and more. Published by the West Coast Lumber Inspection Bureau, File APV-2 (website has more free downloads). This download includes many species from Europe that are tough to find information about, but has many of the common softwoods, too. Meant for engineers—it is a booklet full of tables of numbers that are used when designing structures. Here's another web-link for similar info, though not nearly as detailed: http://www.hobbywoods.com Also, the "Wood Handbook" (see above) has design values for a large number of hardwood species from around the world, and a few of the more common softwoods.

Tool & Book Specials from others . . .

My favorite notching saw is the Husqvarna 357XP -- mid-sized, fast, powerful, and low vibration. The lowest price I've found is at Bailey's -- but they do not sell it at their online store or in their catalogue, you have to call them -- call Caprice at 1-800-322-4539 extension 258, during west coast business hours and tell her "Robert Chambers sent me." The 357XP powerhead, without a bar, is about $499. Bailey's has a reasonable supply of them in stock, but they call it a "special order."

One of my all-time favorite log home books is the 1938 "Park and Recreation Structures" by Albert Good. It is a wonderful picture book (1200 or so B&W images) of some of the greatest log buildings in the USA--the national and state park log structures built by the CCC and WPA in the Great Depression. The logwork is fabulous, the designs are wonderful, the scale of the building is perfect. If you are designing a log home, use this book as your guide and you'll be on the right track. It is available hardcover for about $54 as "Park and Recreation Structures," and with really good paper and photographs reproduced like they are artwork. But it also available for the bargain price of less than $19 in paperback with a different title "Patterns from the Golden Age of Rustic Design," with photo reproduction and paper quality that is not nearly as good. 632 pages! These are the same book with different titles and different publishers. An encyclopedia of great log buildings, and more.
Patterns from the Golden Age of Rustic Design ($19)
Park and Recreation Structures ($54)

Mold on Wood, and in Houses

"Mold, Housing, and Wood" An article by Robbins and Morrell (226 Kb pdf) is a good introduction to mold, health, wood, and homes. Includes some very basic tips for cleaning and killing mold. More mold links are available on the Western Wood Products Association website. But there are tens of thousands of links to information on mold in homes on the Internet, and this is by no means complete! It's only a place to start.

All pages, photos, files, text, video, and drawings are © Robert W. Chambers 2008. This page was posted on February 15th, 2008.