![]() ![]() Note – Try and avoid using any seals on the wood, as this can trap moisture inside and prevent the wood from breathing. Been sure to consult with your builder the proper hardware that is going to be used and for any other additional areas of the home that will be properly cared for. ![]() Keep in mind though, these systems need to be properly put in place or you’re just causing extra damage to the home. When it comes to big structural areas such as the roof and walls, rebar will often be used to combat the settling and a space will be left in-between, also referred to as “chink” – the narrow opening also more commonly known as a crack. It’s also important to note that any cabinets being installed in the home will only be attached to one log. Slip joints will be mounted around windows and doors so that the openings remain square even as the wall settles. This also applies when constructing steps, to make them slightly shorter in anticipation for the floor heights to settle. To get the correct tightening systems in place a builder will add settling space above doors and windows by adding screw jacks or steel posts to lower them as the log walls settle to account for any height differences that will follow during settlement. A tightening system is typically recommended to ensure ample pressure is applied and to ensure the log system compresses properly. This process is usually quite minimal unless again, the logs have not been properly installed. Wood compression is the squeezing and pressure that occurs between the wood fibres as the weight of each log is being applied on one another. What is compression and why is it important? Therefore a builder will know and take into consideration the moisture content of the material and its environment when assembling the log home and its compression. The correct terminology for this is called Equilibrium Moisture Content (EMC). Not to get too technical, but once the moisture content of wood matches the humidity level of its current environment the wood will stop shrinking. We’re talking windows cracking, doors not closing properly, stairs becoming uneven, you name it… What’s worse than your new log home having structural damage a year into living in it? About a year later when the logs have finished drying, the settling will be noticeable if not installed correctly. Settling occurs in any type of log structure that has the ability to come apart. Why is log home settling bad if not done correctly? During the first few years when the majority of log settling takes place, a wall may lose anywhere from ¾-1 inch per foot of wall height. Most wood shrinkage if not accounted for will take up a homeowners time and cause unwanted expenses. All wood shrinks from its original size to a smaller diameter as the wood dries over time. To put it simply, settling is the compounding effect of logs shrinking as they dry and compress during installation.Īnticipating shrinkage and compression prior to construction (which any good builder will do), will help the whole building process and quality of your log home. Log home settling from wood shrinkage is a natural characteristic that you should be prepared for when constructing a full-scribed log home. If you’ve been looking into building a log home, you’re probably familiar with the term “settling’. ![]() This means that logs are cut out with specific notches to allow them to be stacked horizontally on top of one another to form walls. When you see a traditional log home, it is usually referred to as a ‘full scribe’ log home. Log homes consist of stacked logs that become the interior and exterior walls, but are also the structural support for the entire home. It is no surprise why people want a Full Scribe Log Home – they are equally as beautiful on the outside as they are on the inside. What does “log home settling” mean and what do you need to know? ![]()
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