Log Cabin Construction Methods
There are four main construction log cabin construction methods; Full Scribe, Post and Beam, Timber Frame and Fusion or Hybrid. You might also see Log Decor or Accent cabins.
Meadowbrook Cabin, our home, is a Full Scribe cabin made of Red Cedar. It is gasketed, notched at the corners and there are steel pins holding the logs together. The exterior walls are treated and stained. The interior walls are left natural. The ceiling is also red cedar in wide rough sawn planks. The non-structural walls are 2×4 and drywall. The base, crown and trim on the windows and doors is all cedar.
Full Scribe
- Highest cost
- Most labor
When most people think of a log cabin, they are thinking of the Full Scribe style. This is a log cabin that looks like it was built with Lincoln Logs.
A Full Scribe log cabin has logs stacked to form the walls. The logs are notched to interlock at the corners.
“Scribed” means the logs are shaped to stack tightly. Grooves are cut into the logs so they fit closely together.
These are the strongest, sturdiest log cabins. Full Scribe log cabins can stand up to hurricanes and earthquakes. If they are fit together tightly and are gasketed, they are very energy efficient.
Milled full scribe is where each log has been machine processed with a lathe to meet the same specification. They have a more uniform shape, diameter and circumference, like Lincoln Logs. This means the cabin requires very little chinking, fits together tightly and is energy efficient.
Full scribe log homes are the most expensive to build.
Hybrid or Fusion Style
- Costs less than Full Scribe, more than Post & Beam
- Less labor than Full Scribe, more than Post & Beam
This style of log cabin is easier and less expensive to build. One method starts with three logs at the bottom, then a traditionally built wall above. Other times logs are used just at the corners or only on the front of the house. You still get a rustic feel at a significantly lower price.
Post and Beam
- Lower cost and less labor
Round timbers are used as the posts and beams, then the walls are framed conventionally. It uses much fewer logs. Additional logs can be added to give it a more rustic feel.
Timber Frame
- Lower cost and less labor
A timber frame home is built using precisely cut timbers as the posts and beams. Often the timbers are left visible inside the home for a rustic look.
Log Decor or Accent
- Lowest cost
Some log cabins are not log cabins at all. A traditional house has had log siding added.
More about Log Cabin Look Siding >
Log Species
Red Cedar
Red Cedar is considered the best overall type of wood for a log cabin. It has less moisture and tension than other species and is more stable and naturally resistant to decay. But it can be hard, heavy and difficult to work with.
Red Cedar has a high natural oil content that helps preserve it. It has natural anti-fungal and antibacterial properties. It is resistance to rot and insects. It is extremely durable even in the most severe climate conditions and is an excellent natural insulator.
Douglas Fir
Douglas Fir is the strongest wood available for log cabins. It is good for structural elements such as floor and roof beams, but is less stable than cedar. It is more prone to swell and shrink when the temperature and humidity change.
Pine
Not all pine is created equal.
White pine is relatively inexpensive and easy to work. But it is prone to decay. Eastern White Pine is especially prone to shrink, warp and check. It can an absorb transparent protective stain, but will require significantly more maintenance than other wood species. Excessive log movement creates a cabin that is not air and weather tight.
Pre-dried Lodgepole pine absorbs preservatives well and, with maintenance, should endure. It is one of the most controllable against checking of any soft wood species.
Other Species
Spruce, Fir and Larch have limited use for building. The wood does not preserve well. Stain, sealant or preservatives do not penetrate consistently and the wood twists and warps excessively.
Log Types and Construction
Machined Logs
Machined logs are milled with a lathe to create uniformity. Each log has a consistent size and shape to fit together well. This creates a weather tight, energy efficient cabin.
Handcrafted Logs
Handcrafted logs use the full log, cutting away only what is necessary to get the length needed. The gaps between the logs are filled with chinking.
Notch Style
The notch style is how the logs fit together at the corners. Notches provide stability to the cabin.
Gasketing
Gasketing is a long seal that is inserted in the underside of the scribed grooves in full scribed logs. It costs more, but it pays off in energy efficiency.
Log Home Kits
Average costs
- Full Scribe Shell $60 – $160 per square foot
- Post and Beam Shell $55 – $85 per square foot
- Timber Frame Shell $45 – $75 per square foot
- Hybrid or Fusion Shell $45 – $85 per square foot
Log home kits cost anywhere from $45 to $160 per square foot. The kit is NOT the entire cost of your home. It does not include site preparation, the foundation, the interior or the labor. It does not include electrical or plumbing.
There is a lot more needed before this pile of wood is a home.
Log Home Maintenance
If you are looking at a log home to purchase, make sure it has been properly maintained.
A log home should be re-stained every 4-5 years.
It should be washed about once a year to remove dust and mold spores.
An older log home should have the caulking and chinking inspected and touched up where needed.
(Close the blinds and curtains during the day and see where any pinholes of light come through the logs. If you don’t see anything, you’re good!)
