One of the main attractions of handcrafted log homes is the large-diameter logs from which they are made. The typical handcrafted log home has a mean diameter of 13+ inches for the wall logs. This means the logs can range downwards to about 11 inches at the crowns or swell to about 15 inches at the base. The logs are also hand-peeled with a draw knife pattern.

The drawback to these lovely large logs can be COST. A handcrafted log package requires more skill than a milled log home to craft and fit together. A handcrafted log home requires full-length wall logs whereas a milled log home often utilizes end joints within the walls making each log member not as heavy and challenging to handle. A handcrafted log home requires a crane to lift the logs into position, meanwhile, a milled log home is not pre-stacked in the yard (saving on time and labor) and the logs can be lifted with a Telalift on-site instead of requiring a crane for all the assembly.

To straddle the desire for both large logs and a more economical price, a solution is our premium-grade house logs of larger diameters such as the 10 or 12-inch round logs. These big boys stack with stack with either a Swedish Cope or Tongue and Groove Pattern. Larger-diameter turned-logs are also available upon request.

Let’s take a minute and look at the large-diameter logs and how they are made. Our round logs of 8, 9, 10, or 12-inch diameter are derived from cants that are processed through our Pendu Log Profiler. This provides a very consistent diameter to the log with very precise milling from one end to the other.

For logs over 12 inches in diameter, the logs are turned on a log lave. The logs are turned round and round until a consistent diameter is achieved. Turned logs can be 13, 14, 15, or even larger in diameter. A telltale sign that a log has been turned on a log lave is the hole in the middle of the top as this one shows. This is where the log is “gripped” by the lave during the turning process.

Another attractive feature of handcrafted log homes is the traditional draw knife pattern for the hand peeling. After a log is turned or processed through the log profiler, the surface is left smooth. To get a handcrafted look, we can hand peel the surface.

Here we see 12-inch half-log siding that is hand peeled. Notice that the siding has grooves inserted on the backside. This is a stress-relief groove that helps maintain the straightness of the siding and prevent cracking

Large-diameter round logs can be used as whole round logs for locations such as support posts. When chosen as ridge beams, we pitch cut the top two sides of the log that are adjacent to the roof so that the roofing material can sit flat. Log purlins and floor joists are flattened on one side to make the building on-site easier. The most difficult to deal with on-site is a ridge beam that has not been pitch cut. Having to do this task on-site is sort of like trying to cut a fat carrot with a chainsaw while you are 22 feet in the air — not an ideal situation!

Moving on to the log stack, the closest match to the traditional Scandinavian Full Scribe handcrafted logs in the milled log world are the Swedish Cope logs. These logs stack with a half-moon-shaped scallop on the underside of each log. The top of the log is left round.

Here we see a log sample corner that utilizes a Swedish Cope stack with a hand-peeled finish. Most log tails are 12 inches in length, as this one shows, but can be extended to two, three, or even four feet. Some owners feel the log walls look more rustic if the log tails stick out 36″ on the top row or two. Other times a designer will extend the log tails into the great room by even 48″. While this does look rustic, it is important to remember that all log tails need to be protected by an overhanging roof. If a tail extends beyond the roof edge water will follow that log like a wick and travel back towards the house wall causing rot and damage. Extending log tails into the interior of a great room can also eat up floor space. The log tails can be left at whatever length you desire and are planned for and designed during the preliminary design stage.

Large-diameter logs can also be stacked with a tongue and groove stack. Here we see a log sample corner from our Appalachian Style flat/flat logs with a dovetail corner and a hand-peeled finish. This is a large log with a stack height of a full 12 inches. The precision milling makes the corners fit together like a dovetail. The “beefiness” of the log is impressive when you stand next to it.

Another point to ponder is the larger the logs, the higher each row stacks, so fewer logs are necessary to reach a typical wall height of 9 feet. Here is our Bear Creek plan shown here in a traditional Scandinavian Full Scribe handcrafted style with a mean diameter of 13 inches. It only takes 9 rows of logs to reach 9 feet high because each log provides a stack height of 12 inches.

A standard 8″ milled log usually requires 16 rows to reach a height of approximately 9 feet. Here we see the Montana Plan built from an 8″ double-round tongue and groove stacked log. The fewer the rows of logs, the more massive the house feels while the more rows of log can provide appearance of loftiness.

Montana Log Home Plan

One important fact to remember is that all logs for log homes need to be premium-grade house logs. Cabin-grade logs are the other extreme. They are much harder to work with and provide a lower-quality finished product. We are a TPI grade stamp facility so all of our logs are selected for premium quality. Any of our log home packages can be independently inspected by TPI personnel and have a grade stamp applied. For a log home headed to Washington State TPI grade stamping was required.

Premium house logs are worthy to be TPI grade stamped, whether or not you choose to invest in this extra level of grading.

Another consideration is Random Length logs or Precut Packages. If you are looking for a more cost-effective solution to an expensive handcrafted log home you would still want to invest in a precut package. Our Architectural Series is precut with the logs cut to length for the door and window openings and the corners pre-notched. Corner styles include Saddle Notched, Alaskan Wedge, or Dovetail. Beavertail or staggered ends are also possible.

If you are seriously considering a handcrafted log package, one of your last concerns may be the full-length wall logs. Handcrafted log homes are noted for each log traveling the full distance from one wall to another up to about 35 or 40 feet or a corner is weaved into the side. The Bear Creek plan was built with all full-length wall logs. The longest in that plan was about 40 feet in length. Our milled logs can also be very very log, but it does increase the cost. For full-length wall log requests, we review the necessary lengths and quote the package accordingly. A log wall can have an end joint woven into it to make the longer length possible. This is commonly done for both handcrafted log homes and milled log homes. There is the challenge of not only locating logs of the required length, but there are also the limitations placed on us with shipping. A single log needs to still fit on a semi-trailer for shipment. About the longest single log we milled was for a lodge and it topped out at 70 feet– and was a nightmare to ship…

Our minimum order is approximately 2,000 linear feet (one semi-load). Larger houses can require as many as three or four semis, especially if other log members such as floor joists, posts, staircases, log railing, header beams, etc are included. Our matching log siding is also a great choice for the exterior of dormers and gable ends. Log siding is also a popular choice as coverage for a garage and breezeway instead of utilizing the more expensive stacked logs for those locations.

A quick note on our random length packages. We marked these packages under our Woodcrafter Series name. The logs come with longer logs on average than many companies provide, which translates into fewer end-joints (where one log ends and the next begins) within the walls. Random length log packages typically come with a few bunks of 8-foot to 12-foot long — but heavy towards the 13 to 16-foot long logs AND another bunk of 17-foot to 20-foot long (per truck load). All cutting is done onsite for the door and window openings. Corner notches can be added to any package for an additional charge. Also, all pitch cutting, notching, flattening, etc are done by the builder on site.

The interior log staircase and log railing for one side and at the loft edge AND exterior log railing may be added to the package.

The pre-cut Architectural Series is the formal name for our pre-cut log packages. Here the logs are pre-cut to length for door and window openings, corners saddle notched (or another corner style such as dovetail), pitch-cutting ridge beam and purlins (as per plan), top wall log flattened (as per plan), and logs are tagged and number for ease of assembly on site. The construction drawings come with a corresponding log schedule denoting log placement within the log shell. Log staircases and log railings can be added to the package.

So if you have seriously considered a handcrafted log home but couldn’t quite bear the total cost, consider letting us quote your home in a large-diameter log of whatever size and style you prefer. And remember, shipping is included with every quote that we send.

Cowboy Log Homes