I Want To Build A Log Cabin!

Many of us dream about relaxing in our own garden log cabin, but is it possible to make that dream come true?  Quite a few kits are on the market, but you will get the most satisfaction from building a log cabin yourself.  Here is how to do it.

The traditional log cabin design is rectangular or square, with only four corners.  More complicated shapes are inevitably more expensive.

Although easy to build, log cabins must be designed thoroughly from the start and you should get professional quality plans and expert advice to help you do this.  It helps to have the all-important material list done for you as well – this is a tricky job which is easy to get wrong if you choose to do it yourself.  Good quality plans are well worth the small investment involved, and will save you doing all the tedious design calculations.

A good size for a log cabin home would be about 20 ft by 30 ft.  Look for an elevated site to avoid damp and make a reasonably level area a bit larger than the proposed building.  

Traditional garden log cabins either have a hard-packed earthen floor or wooden planked flooring.  The latter would be better and more hygenic.

Your plans will specify the size of logs to be used, and these might be quite rough and ready.  Don’t be alarmed – all log cabins get their charm from this!  The method for joining logs at each corner is called the lock-joint.  To form this joint a notch is cut at each end of the log and about one foot in.  The notch goes about halfway into the log diameter, and is mated with a similarly-notched log at right-angles to give the walls the characteristic log cabin look.  

If you have built a proper foundation, such as a concrete base, fix the first course of logs to it using anchor bolts and ensure these logs are levelled properly.  Set floor joists into the side logs at about two foot intervals. Build further courses of logs up to the planned door height, about 80 inches.  At this stage cut out openings for the door and windows – fastening wood battens to the logs to ensure stability – and instal the door and window jambs.  Finish the log courses until the final wall height has been reached.

Now start laying shorter logs on the end walls, the length determined from the plans to give the required roof pitch and mated as before to the side logs.  Finish with a ridge pole.  The roofs of garden log cabins can be planked (shiplap being the most common) or laid with shingles.  Your plans will have various options and how to build them.  Fill in the gaps between logs by caulking with a mud and moss mixture – the kids will love to help at this point!

Lastly fit the floor planks, door and windows to your log cabin.  Some people will choose to make the door from various planks and cross-beams, but these often warp badly in time and it is much better to find an old door in a salvage yard or disused barn and customize your log cabin to fit it.  You could decide to have unglazed windows since many garden log cabins merely have shutters but, if not, your plans should tell you how to make or buy suitable windows.

You can use all kinds of ideas when building a log cabin interior. Often people want to have fires or stoves – it is part of the dream.  You should be careful about installing one, however, because there is a real risk of fire or heat damage to the surroundings.  Many states have local regulations governing the design and installation of fires in wooden buildings, and you are the one responsible for complying with these.  Good plans should include proper advice and guidance on this subject.

Also, it is worth considering making and fitting solar electricity panels and solar hot water heaters to give your cabin a zero environmental impact.

And remember to plan well ahead when building a log cabin, so that it is ready in time for winter!