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Log Cabins and Wooden Homes

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Log cabins are beautiful buildings that make beautiful homes. For thousands of years we have lived in wooden homes, and although there has been a small decline in the last few hundred years or so, because of the popularity of bricks-and-mortar homes, wooden homes are now making a big return to popularity.

With the cost of homes increasing, and us all become more and more aware of the environment, and the materials we use for construction, wooden homes are more popular than ever.

Many home owners and builders are learning more about traditional building materials, methods and materials. Today it is very possible to have a home made from trees from a sustainable forest, that is finished and insulation with natural materials such as lambs wool.

Terminology

Terminology can get a little confusing. "Log Cabin" generally refers to buildings that are one-and-a-half stories high and with a more basic finish than a home. Typically a "log cabin' will be made from logs or machined timbers to resemble logs.

History

Whilst log cabins are often associated with North America, but historically log cabins have their roots in Eastern Europe and Scandinavia.

Log cabins were probably first used in Northern Europe in 3500BC (Bronze Age). When European settlers migrated to North America they were well practised in used log cabins for homes and other buildings, and so, with limited resources on the new continent, but plenty of wood, log cabins quickly became the de-facto building.

Building Techniques

Originally logs were placed one-on-top-the-other with the gaps secured by moss. But today the most common building technique is to machine the logs to the exact dimensions, with notches top and bottom that lock together exactly. This later process is what we call interlocking. Almost all log cabin kits that we can buy today are interlocking.

The interlocking technique is favoured as it allows the walls to be built quickly and without any type of fastening, such as nails or screws, which can later rot or rust.

Also commonly used today are dove-tail joints that allow the ends of the wall timbers to lock together, giving further strength without requiring additional fastenings.

Permission

Permission to build a log cabin varies greatly from country-to-country. However, as a generally rule existing wooden buildings or log cabins can be replaced with similar buildings. Also, buildings deemed as mobile, such as caravans, can also be replaced with log cabins than can to some degree be disassembled and moved. This is commonly achieved by constructing the log cabin in two halves that can be later separated, and the building moved.

Log Cabins Manufacturers and Suppliers

Building a log cabin, whilst easier than a bricks-and-mortar building, still requires considerable time, resources and skill. If you are looking for a log cabin manufacturer or supplier please see my recommendations below.

North Coast Log Cabins - Designing & Building log cabins and wooden homes in Cornwall & Devon. More than 20 years of experience

Log Cabins South West - Providing high-quality & affordable log cabins and other wooden buildings across the UK

Jolly Log Cabins - Supplying log cabins across England, Scotland and Wales

Cooper Log Cabins - Supplying beautiful log cabins to Northern Ireland.

Log Cabins Eire - Supplying log cabins and other wooden buildings across Ireland.

Log Cabin Article - great article about log cabins as vacation homes

Log Cabin Blog - log cabin blog with information

How to build a log cabin videos

Here are some great videos on how to build a log cabin.

Log Cabin Build - Laura Chalet: by logspan | video info

79 ratings | 128,391 views

curated content from YouTube

Log Cabins on Amazon

by darrenlambert

darrenlambert

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