: : Process

Looking for help understanding the log house construction process?

We recommend Robbin Obomsawin’s book Small Log Homes: Storybook Plans and Advice; or another book by her titled Log Cabin Classics, for prospective log home owners. Both books have a lot of excellent information for someone building a log home (regardless of size) whether you plan to build your log house yourself, or hire a company like Angel’s Log Homes Inc. to build for you. She will walk through all the stages of making a log home dream come true – from design to construction.

We can also send you a package of resources that we have pulled together that may be useful to your planning process, including FireSmart, alternative energy ideas, and resource maps.

: : Terminology

Checking: Longitudinal splits in a log resulting from internal stresses caused by drying.

Grain: Direction of arrangement of fibres in wood.

Header: Structural log that supports other logs (such as joists or rafters where they are cut around a horizontal opening, such as a window or door.

Lateral Groove: Groove cut the length of a log (under side) so that it will fit onto the log sitting below.

Lintel: Horizontal log spanning an opening in a wall, such as a door.

Mortise: Square or rectangular recess cut into a log where a tenon will fit.

Notch: Recess cut into a log, where another log will fit into.

Plate Log: Log on the top of a wall that supports the rafters.

Purlin: Horizontal roof beams, running parallel with the wall.

Rabbet: Three sided groove cut into log.

Ridge: The top-most purlin.

Scriber: Tool used to mark parallel lines to match log-on-top-of-log.

Sill: Bottom log for wall, door, or window.

Tenon: A square or rectangular extension at the end of a log to fit into a mortise.

Truss: Part of the roof support system – supports purlins and ridges.