How to build a house from a log with your own hands? Standard mistakes in the construction of log houses Do-it-yourself log house

Natural wood is an eco-friendly, durable, inexpensive, aesthetic material. The log for construction has been used for a very long time and does not lose its popularity today. Today, when people make a choice in favor of natural and environmentally friendly products, log houses are becoming especially relevant.

A huge number of companies are engaged in the construction of turnkey wooden houses. Most often they are also engaged in the preparation of logs. The final price of the finished dwelling will depend not only on the size of the house, but also on the quality of the log, its diameter and the method of production.

Building a house with your own hands is twice as expensive. In this article, we will take a step-by-step look at how you can build a house from a log yourself.

Peculiarities

Wood has the ability to release moisture. Living in such houses is much more pleasant than in stone ones: warm in winter and cool in summer. A wooden structure is lighter than a concrete or brick structure, therefore, the foundation will be cheaper.

Compared to timber, a log house will be much more expensive and will take more time for the construction process, but the unique color and high performance easily compensate for these shortcomings.

One of the important points is the preservation of the wood structure in the interior. The interior design of a wooden log house can be decorated in a rustic style like a hut with a Russian stove or, for example, Provence.

Despite the emergence of new technologies in the construction industry, log cabins continue to be built in traditional ways. Logs are stacked in a horizontal structure forming walls. Each set row is called a crown, and the lowest one is called a crown. A log house, which consists of 4 walls, is called a four-wall, where the logs are tied at the corners. If there is an internal partition - a five-wall.

Pros and cons

A log house has a number of advantages. Construction industry specialists and log house owners note the following advantages:

Environmental friendliness of the material. Such houses are built from natural wood, which allows you to preserve the natural qualities of the material. In such a dwelling, a pleasant woody aroma and a cozy atmosphere will always be preserved.
The most important thing that wood is loved for is its excellent thermal insulation properties.. For example, a dwelling made of 20 cm logs is much better insulated than similar brick dwellings. Therefore, building a log house, you will save on heating.
The weight wooden house will allow you to lay any type of foundation.

Structure wood allows the house to "breathe". It is comfortable to be in such a house.
From a material point of view wood is an affordable building material. Building the bare box of a log house will cost you a small amount that you would never have put up for a brick house. Also, due to the cheap foundation and the lack of decorative wall treatment, a house made of wood ends up being much cheaper.
The tree is natural. Pleasant appearance allows you not to finish it additionally either from the outside or from the inside.

Wood has high strength and load resistance, which allows you to build a house with several floors.
Ability to assemble and disassemble if necessary, allows you to move the house to a new location.
The project of wooden houses is simple design drawing which will be understandable to any reader.

In addition to the advantages, there are also disadvantages of such buildings:

susceptibility to decay over time;
complete shrinkage of a log house occurs after three years, although you can move in already six months after the end of construction;
although special treatments reduce the risk of fire, the risk of fire is still high.

Choice of wood

In preparation for construction, an important step is the choice of material. The main requirements for wood as a building material are resistance to external aggressive factors, aesthetic appeal, accessibility, durability, heat and sound insulation.

It is also important to understand that no matter how high-quality wood is, if the construction technology is violated and technical instructions are not followed, then the durability of the building in this case is not guaranteed.

Usually the choice of wood species is made between larch, pine and spruce.

Larch

Larch is a coniferous tree that is distributed throughout Russia. The most suitable for construction is larch from the Siberian regions.

This type of wood has a huge number of advantages. It is durable, strong, does not rot and is not affected by fungus.

Materials made from larch do not swell or deform even in rooms with high humidity.

Larch has a beneficial effect on a person, bringing great benefits to his health. The price of products from this material will be available to each buyer. In addition, larch does not require additional processing, unlike other species, which can also be significantly saved.

In the process of rounding logs from larch, a very narrow sapwood is removed, as a result of which the logs will not turn blue in the future.

Logs of this breed do not need additional processing. The resin of the tree itself acts as an antiseptic, disinfecting and preventing tree beetles from developing.

Larch has a higher fire resistance compared to other species.

Spruce and pine

Both breeds are actively used in the production of building materials. These are the main competitors in the consumer demand ranking. The beam from these breeds differs in durability and durability.

Spruce and pine are identical in physical terms, but spruce timber is looser, which is why it is warmer than pine.

Both breeds are similar in strength and chemical properties, but pine is more susceptible to damage by blue - sap color, which can initially be prevented by special means. As a preventive measure, it is recommended to use antiseptics. Over time, the color of spruce wood does not change.

The natural humidity of both rocks is 12%. Logging for spruce and pine falls on the winter season due to the fact that in the summer deformation is possible during the shrinkage of logs. Pine logs of large diameter are preferred in the construction of large buildings.

There are also differences in the structure of the fiber: in pine it is pronounced and has a certain pattern, while in spruce it has a homogeneous structure.

When choosing a material, an important factor is its combustibility. But this can be combated by using flame retardant compounds for wood processing.

During the construction of wooden houses, various types of logs are used.

A rounded (calibrated) log is obtained by processing on a rounding machine. The advantages of this type of raw material are high quality, the possibility of forming a profile of any complexity, low cost and high speed of building a log house. Houses made of rounded wood look beautiful and do not need additional processing.

A planed log is a more suitable option for a warm and durable log house. It is processed with an electric planer, while all irregularities are removed. Such logs are obtained even and smooth. The price of a house made of planed logs is much higher compared to houses made of other types of wood. A scraped log is the most durable even without special treatment. And with additional antiseptic treatment, a log house made of this type of log can last more than a hundred years.

Minor processing helps the debarked log retain all its protective properties, which significantly increases its service life.

Glued log combines the advantages of profiled glued beams and beautiful rounded log shapes. Differs in the increased durability in comparison with the massif. The main advantages of this type of log: it does not crack and does not change its shape during a long service life, and also has a slight shrinkage of only 1-2%.

Requirements

There are certain norms and requirements that must be considered before starting the construction of a house.

So, for example, first you need to get permission to build housing on your site. When receiving it, such documents as: certificate of ownership of a land plot, permission to use land for summer cottage construction or individual housing are checked.

After obtaining the necessary permission from the administration, you need to start planning the site. As a guideline for the location of the future home, neighboring buildings and a fence are selected. The distance to them must be at least 5 m.

There are also requirements for building materials: the absence of cracks, defects, curvature. For solid timber and glued, the indications may differ. For example, in a solid one, the appearance of cracks up to half a log deep is allowed, and in a glued one, their allowable depth is only 1/3. The curvature of the web of glued laminated timber can be up to 10 mm, and in the case of solid - 17 mm.

Design

Any house is an architectural and engineering structure that cannot be built without a project that will require certain calculations. When designing, it is best to contact specialists or choose a ready-made project.

It should be borne in mind that a two-story house with an area of 50 m2 will cost a little more in terms of financial costs than a one-story house of the same area due to the fact that costs are reduced due to the foundation, engineering systems and roofing.

Before starting the design, it is important to conduct a geological survey of the area, which will give an idea of the properties of the soil and groundwater. This information will help determine the choice of the type of foundation.

To begin with, the total weight of the future house is calculated, according to which the type of foundation is selected. Then the layout of the rooms is thought out, as well as the design and appearance. It is necessary to think over in detail precisely at this stage of preparation, since subsequently it will be impossible to make any changes, since the partitions in log houses intersect with the crowns of the outer walls.

The next step is to calculate the number, places and sizes of windows and doors.

Next, choose the type of roof. Before designing a roof, you need to consider that the simpler it is, the more reliable it will turn out in the end. After that, a sequence of work is developed, as well as a phased assembly of the log house. At the end of the design, the installation of all engineering communications is thought out.

Do not forget to think about the storage of building material on the site. To do this, they usually build a canopy where logs are laid with the obligatory relaying of thin wooden bars.

Important nuances:

decide in advance what kind of timber the construction will be made of;
do not forget to calculate the effect of shrinkage on the roof;
choose a place where the house will stand, given the 5-meter distance from the boundary lines of the site;
do not design window openings on the roadway, in the future it will be noisy in the rooms.

Projects for country houses and houses for permanent residence will differ in some details. For the latter option, a more durable monolithic foundation is selected, the installation of communications, careful insulation and special sound insulation are taken into account.

A typical project is the most common type of design that does not require special modifications. The most important thing in this option is to take into account the features of the site for future construction.

A draft design is a drawing that shows only the facade of the house without calculations.

An individual project is developed taking into account all the wishes of the future homeowner.

Training

Today, a home is not just a place to live or spend a weekend, but also a financial investment. Therefore, before you start building, you need to thoroughly prepare. Errors in design, in the choice of materials, installation can lead to serious consequences in the future.

Horseshoeing for construction consists in the following actions:

If you are already a proud owner of a plot of land, before construction you will need to think through the design, obtain technical specifications from the authorities servicing communication systems, and also obtain a building permit.
If there is no electricity and water on the site, you must definitely take care of this at the preparation stage. The issue of water supply is solved by drilling a well, and in the absence of electricity, it is necessary to stock up at least with an electric generator.
To prevent outsiders from entering your site and to preserve building materials, it is advisable to protect it.
It is also necessary to install a small utility block, which will simultaneously serve as a place to store tools and shelter from the weather.

Then you need to level the site for the foundation, uproot stumps, tree roots, clear the construction site of debris.

Construction stages

After completion of preparation, design, purchase of materials, construction can begin.

When building a house with your own hands, it is important to follow the stages of action.

At the first stage, the foundation and basement are erected. Trenches or pits are dug, depending on the type of foundation. For log houses, a tape, pile-grillage or slab version of the foundation is usually chosen. At the same stage, communications are laid, drainage is arranged. The foundation of the house is best laid in the warm season.

After the marked log is delivered to the site, the walls are erected and the floors are covered, as well as the installation of stairs and internal partitions. The assembly takes place according to the technological maps of the walls in the sweep. All crowns are fastened together in a checkerboard pattern.

The next stage is the construction of the truss system of the house. It is very important to follow all the necessary technological rules. When building wooden houses, rigid fastening of the rafters is not used due to the fact that during shrinkage, the entire structure may break. The most popular roof coverings are metal tiles, corrugated board, soft roofing, ondulin.

The next stage is the grinding of the walls and insulation. Cracks may form during shrinkage, so it is very important to inspect the house and, if necessary, seal the cracks. Walls after sanding can be coated with special tinting solutions to change color.

Then doors and windows are installed, leaving gaps for insulation. Engineering work is being carried out, a heating system and stairs are being installed. At the end of all work, exterior and interior decoration is carried out.

Warming

A house made of wood is considered warm and pleasant to live in due to the fact that the walls breathe, retaining heat. However, not always the thickness of the logs can withstand severe frosts. In this case, it is best to carry out external and internal insulation of walls, roofs and foundations. Insulating your home will help reduce heating costs, as well as reduce heat loss.

A vapor barrier film should be present in any type of home insulation, whether it be external or internal.

The film is installed between the wall sheathing and the heat insulator layer. The vapor barrier layer helps not to get wet the main insulation.

Outside

Owners of log houses should take into account that not all materials are suitable for outdoor installation of insulation.

Ecowool, granulated sawdust and mineral wool are well suited for log objects - these materials do not prevent water evaporation, are resistant to combustion and increase the thermal insulation parameters of a log house.

Before installing the external insulation in a log house, it is necessary to treat the facade with antiseptic agents to prevent wood damage by rot, mold and insects. Also, the structure must be carefully caulked, that is, all walls must be examined for damage and cracks.

The cracks can be easily detected with the help of a candle, for this it is enough just to move a burning flame next to the wall. If it deviates, then there is a gap in this place that needs to be repaired. When caulking, jute or tow is used.

After that, the crate is mounted in the form of horizontal and vertical guides with a step equal to the thickness of the insulation. A vapor barrier film is first laid on top of the crate using a stapler, and on top of it - insulation material. A waterproofing film is laid on top of it, which will protect the insulation from moisture.

Finishing in the form of siding or lining is done at the very end. This cladding will give protection from winds and bad weather, as well as give a beautiful look to your home.

It is desirable to insulate the house in the dry season and only a year or two after the start of its operation.

For external insulation, in addition to a heat insulator, you will need wooden beams for the frame, a vapor barrier and a hydrobarrier, and fasteners.

It should also be noted that thermal insulation work on the outside is the best compared to other insulation options.

From within

Insulation from the inside can sometimes reduce living space, so many choose external insulation. However, if the external version of insulation is not suitable, but you still need to protect your home from the cold, then you can do it from the inside. But it should be remembered that this method can create a threat of rotting of the walls, this is especially true for baths due to the constant high humidity.

Before insulation, you need to caulk, close up all the cracks and cracks with tow, foam or felt and treat the walls with a protective solution. Next, a “pie” is created, consisting of several layers. At the beginning, a vapor barrier film is laid. Then a frame is installed from a bar 5 * 5 cm, after which a layer of insulation is applied to the frame and closed with another layer of vapor barrier film.

You should never rush into any finishing work if the room has not yet been insulated. It is important to insulate not only the walls, but also the ceiling and floor. Popular materials for this are mineral wool and glassine for ceiling and floor; glass wool, expanded polystyrene and ecowool - for walls.

It is possible to insulate the building from the inside no earlier than a year after the construction of the house, in which case the insulation will last a long time. External roof insulation is a rather laborious process consisting of several steps. To begin with, it is necessary to carry out a thorough waterproofing of the entire roof space. In this case, a membrane film is most often used, which is easy to install and affordable. Next, the flooring is made of insulation, and at the end the roofing material is laid.

For insulation inside, the attic is most often trimmed with fiberboard sheets, which create additional sound insulation, and also create a beautiful view.

Loose and liquid heaters are often used as external insulation for the roof, which must meet the following requirements: have low thermal conductivity, light weight, high vapor permeability, good sound insulation qualities, be fire resistant and have high density.

Insulation of the foundation can also be carried out both from the inside and outside. The most optimal time for warming the foundation is before the construction of the walls begins. If you are not planning a basement, then the entire space should be covered with expanded clay to the level of the future floor. To create this type of insulation, it is necessary to make formwork along the perimeter of the inner walls, while using durable materials (boards, slate). Further, expanded clay is poured inside, and the subfloor is covered with a hydromembrane layer and mineral wool.

The outer walls of the foundation must be treated with special sprayed heaters.

Installation of partitions

In addition to load-bearing walls, wooden houses have interior partitions that can be made of various materials, but in a log cabin they are usually made of wood, in harmony with the log walls. They are mounted, as a rule, after shrinkage.

With the help of interior partitions, you can divide one large space into several small rooms to your taste. At the same time, they do not carry any load, but are responsible for sound insulation. Such partitions can be moved from place to place without the involvement of outside help.

When designing a house, interior partitions are usually placed so as not to create a large number of walk-through spaces. To date, there are a lot of modern programs where you can create a three-dimensional model and immediately evaluate the future layout.

Partitions should be made of high-quality wood, treated with an antiseptic, and have lightness, reliability, rigidity, and heat and sound insulation.

There are several types of interior walls.

Frame-panel

The most popular and economical option that you can easily do with your own hands. They are constructed from timber beams, which are interconnected by a horizontal strapping. This binding gives strength and reliability. Insulation of frame-panel partitions can be made of mineral wool, while on both sides the wall must be overlaid with some kind of material for vapor barrier.

Frame-panel walls are considered the best in terms of sound insulation compared to other types. Also, the surface can be sheathed with plywood sheets to give a perfectly flat surface.

solid

This type of partitions is made of the same material as the load-bearing walls, but fiberboard is sheathed on top. Above and below, a solid partition is fastened with bars, and on the sides with nails.

Shield walls

Made from several layers of boards that fit into a dressing, a rather heavy structure with a thickness of 6 cm and a weight of about 80 kilograms.

Partitions are placed after shrinkage of the log house. To make them, you will need a hammer, a hacksaw, a screwdriver, a chisel, a screwdriver, an electric drill and a jigsaw.

Despite the abundance of building materials, many developers, when building their own home, prefer traditional natural materials - timber, logs. However, the installation of a house from an ordinary raw log cannot be completed without the help of specialists. Another thing is the construction of houses from rounded logs, here you can do all the work yourself if you have minimal skills in handling carpentry tools. In our article, we will consider the features and sequence of installation of a house from a cylinder.

Preparatory stage

It is better to order a project from the relevant organization, since even at the design stage it is necessary to take into account many nuances, from the shrinkage of the house to the calculation of the thickness of the walls, taking into account the climate.

For a log house, it is very important to choose high-quality material. It is better to buy logs harvested in the factory. There are several reasons for this:

Blanks that have undergone a special chamber drying will give minimal shrinkage (up to 1%), while shrinkage of products with natural moisture can reach up to 10%.
Moreover, factory blanks undergo special treatment with antiseptics and flame retardants, so you will not need to perform it on the site before installation.
It is rather difficult to make a mounting longitudinal groove perfectly accurately on your own. For factory products, this groove is cut on the machine, so it has the correct size and shape.

In order for a log house to be warm, beautiful and durable, when choosing a material for building a log house, you should pay attention to the following points:

Shade of wood - the elements should be yellow or rich yellow.
On the surface of the blanks, there should be as few knots as possible and the complete absence of resin pockets.
Permissible crack size - no more than 1/3 of the diameter.
The elements must be even throughout, without deformations and bends.
On the cut, the log should be sufficiently dense and even, the core of the wood should occupy no more than ¾ of the diameter.

Tip: It is best to purchase winter wood. It has minimal moisture, so it is least prone to shrinkage and deformation.

Give preference to logs made of coniferous wood growing in the northern regions of our country.
To make embedded crowns and strapping, it is better to use larch or aspen blanks. This is the most durable, resistant to negative influences wood.

On average, for the construction of a house from cylindering, you will have to pay from 300 USD / m². The final price depends on the materials used, the complexity and dimensions of the building, as well as the diameter of the logs used. The larger the diameter, the higher the price of the material.

Construction technology

We start building a house from logs with the preparation of the site. The construction area must be cleared of debris and green spaces that interfere with the construction process. It is also necessary to allocate a site for unloading and warehousing of the securities, to provide access roads. A small free area should be near the future structure so that it can be used to prepare logs and lift them up.

The most favorable time of the year for building a wooden house is winter. The thing is that in winter the air is the driest, so the wood absorbs less moisture. As a result, a house built in winter will give minimal shrinkage. The exception is the process of arranging the foundation. It is better to complete it before the onset of cold weather.

Attention: winter construction is beneficial only for those regions where there is low humidity and prolonged sub-zero temperatures in winter.

If in your region the winters are not so severe, it is sleet with rain, then it is necessary to equip a special shed for storing logs.

Foundation

The choice of the type of foundation for your wooden house should be done taking into account the characteristics of the soil, groundwater level and climate. As a rule, a house made of wood is light in weight, so one of the following types of foundation can be used:

shallow-depth tape structures;
pile-screw foundation;
tape pile foundations;
column structures;
shallow slab bases.

We carry out foundation work in the following sequence:

First of all, let's do the markup. To do this, we use surveying tools, a cord and pegs. To check the correctness of the angles (they should be 90 degrees), you need to measure the length of the diagonals. It must be the same.
Next, we carry out digging a trench or foundation pit. The depth of the foundation can be 50-100 cm, for the arrangement of pile-screw and columnar structures, you need to go deeper by 1.5 m.
At the bottom of a trench or ditch, we make a pillow from a mixture of gravel and sand, which we carefully level and ram.
Next, we make formwork from boards, moisture-resistant plywood or special shields. At this stage, do not forget to lay the pipes in the formwork, which will then serve as air ducts.
We make a reinforcement cage. Before installing it in the formwork, we pour concrete with a layer 5 cm high. We install the frame on the hardened concrete. At the same time, we make sure that the reinforcement does not approach the formwork by more than 50 mm.
We pour concrete and ram it.
After 28 days, the formwork can be dismantled and further installation work can be carried out.

Important: the height of the plinth must be at least 30-50 cm to protect the logs from getting wet and subsequent decay.

Walls

Before you build a house from a rounded log, you need to perform a horizontal waterproofing of the base. To do this, we lay two layers of roofing material on bituminous mastic on the surface of the base. If the work will be carried out in winter, then after removing the snow, the surface of the base is heated with a heating pad. The waterproofing layer should protrude beyond the boundaries of the foundation on each side by 30-50 mm.

Stages of building a house from round logs:

We make the lower harness from wooden support beams. It is better to use blanks from aspen or larch. Before laying, the elements are subjected to antiseptic treatment. We fix the beams to the base with the help of reinforcement pins. To top it all, we coat these beams with bituminous mastic.

Important: before the final fixation of the beams, you need to check their position. The difference in height can be no more than 5 mm.

Now we lay the mortgage half-logs. The base of these elements should fit as tightly as possible, without gaps, to the support beam. That is why the lower part of the logs of the embedded crown is cut off so as to ensure the tightest possible fit. First, we lay two elements on opposite walls, then the other two parts. In the corners for a bunch of logs in the upper elements we make a groove. The place of the corner joint is additionally fixed with steel brackets, and the logs are fastened with dowels to the support beams.
The sequence of laying the remaining crowns is the same as for the mortgage crown. That is, all elements are mounted on top of each other. At the same time, a tape insulation is attached to the longitudinal groove. The elements are interconnected by wooden pins, which are installed in a checkerboard pattern with a step of 1-1.5 m. The fastening element must pass through the entire upper crown and go deep into the lower element by half. Before drilling holes for dowels, the logs are temporarily connected with nails. The optimum diameter of the dowel is 20 mm. To drill holes, we use a drill 5 mm smaller in diameter than the cross section of the dowel.

Floor and floors

Building a house from rounded logs with our own hands, we make a wooden floor on logs. To do this, follow the following sequence of actions:

Even at the stage of laying the first crown, it is necessary to cut out recesses in which logs can be laid. Usually the lag step is 60-70 cm. The depth of the groove should be such that the lag can lie freely on the base.
Logs also need to be impregnated with antiseptics and fire retardants.
After that, we attach cranial bars to the bottom of the lag. On them we can lay rough boards.

Important: sometimes, for additional strength, support posts are made of logs, bricks or concrete under the beams. They go with a certain step.

After that, a waterproofing film is laid on top of the boards and the log. It is fastened with brackets to the beams.
Further, heat-insulating material is laid in the gaps between the lags.
From above, the entire structure is covered with a vapor barrier membrane.
Subfloor boards are being laid.

If the house has an attic or second floor, then the arrangement of the floor is carried out in a similar way, with the only difference being that heat-insulating material is needed to dampen noise, and steam and waterproofing is not used. The insertion of interfloor beams is done so that they are 90% in the groove of the upper log and only 10% in the lower one.

Roof

When arranging the roof of a log house, the last crown beam acts as a Mauerlat. The rafters are fixed in a special way. To do this, a cutout is made in the Mauerlat at an angle equal to the angle of inclination of the rafters. The rafter is fastened in the cutout with the help of special metal fasteners, which can easily slide during shrinkage of the house, maintaining the strength of the connection and the angle of inclination.

The assembly of the roof takes place in the following sequence:

The first pair of rafter legs goes up and joins at the right angle above the first pediment. The pair is attached to the Mauerlat.
Similarly, the procedure for installing the second pair of rafter legs above the second pediment is carried out.
A cord is stretched between these pairs of rafter legs. All subsequent pairs of rafters are installed along it with a step of 800-900 mm.
All rafters are interconnected by a ridge beam.
Waterproofing is laid from above across the direction of the rafters. It is fixed to the rafters by means of a counter-lattice.
Next, a solid or thinned crate is performed. The selected roofing is laid.
From the inside, the roof needs to be insulated. For this, thermal insulation material is laid between the rafters. From above, the entire structure is sewn up with a vapor barrier membrane. From below, the roof is hemmed with drywall, clapboard or OSB.

The process of building a wooden house from logs is shown in detail in the video below:

The construction of a log house involves the use of various technologies. A log house can be built from a chopped log (hand-planed) or from a log house, rounded on a special machine.

A log house can be built from a chopped log or from a log house, rounded on a special machine.

Rules for choosing wood

To build a wooden house with their own hands, various technologies are used. Modern construction methods make it possible to process a log house to the desired shape, cutting a groove in the logs for subsequent fixation into crowns. Each dimension is measured to the nearest 1 mm. Building a house (according to this method) is presented in the form of a constructor assembly. When carrying out such work, you will need to make a drawing.

If the house is being built from rounded logs, then the bark and upper layers, including sapwood, are first removed. The next stage involves the processing of wood with special impregnations. The diameter of each element must be more than 300 mm. The project, on the basis of which the construction of a log house is made, can be bought ready-made or done independently.

The price of such a building depends on the following criteria:

number of storeys;
material;
design complexity.

The walls of the object can adjoin each other at different angles. This is due to the fact that in logs you can cut a bowl of the desired shape. Builders distinguish 2 methods of building a house:

harvesting logs at the construction site;
assembly of the building according to the drawing using pre-prepared rounded wood.

The 1st method is characterized by the use of forests of natural moisture. When choosing a material, its density is taken into account. Logs should have a yellow or dark yellow surface. The cut should be even and tight, without resin pockets. A crack in wood can have a depth of no more than 1/3 of the cut.

Preparatory work

For self-construction of a log house, you will need to buy beams, rafters, logs, roofing material, tape measure, level, buckets, boards, self-tapping screws, a screwdriver. Then the site is prepared for the future building. Wood must be stored under a canopy. Since the building being erected is of low weight, it will need to make a shallow foundation. For these purposes, experts advise pouring a pile-tape base, slab, pile or buried tape structure.

To equip the pile-strip foundation, you will need to mark the site. Then the top layer of the earth is removed. A recess is made to the width of the structure with a depth of 30 cm. Wells are equipped along the perimeter of the building, the diameter of which is 180 mm and the depth is 150 cm. A layer of crushed stone and sand is poured into each well. A frame is prepared from the reinforcement, which is lowered into the well. The next step is to fill the hole with concrete. A vibrator is used for tamping.

Boards are used for arranging formwork. The structure is mounted above the ground so that it protrudes 50-60 cm. For a strip base, it will be necessary to weld a frame that is connected to the reinforcement protruding from the wells. The next step involves pouring the base. If the foundation has hardened, then it is waterproofed. To do this, you will need to lay roofing material on the surface (3-4 layers), additionally smearing the material with mastic.

Wall building rules

Mortgage (1st) crown cannot be mounted on the base of a log house. Previously, a board (from linden) is laid on the foundation. To do this, you can use a beam, the thickness of which varies between 50-100 mm, and the width - no more than 150 mm. The next step involves the assembly of the frame.

The scheme of erecting walls from logs: I - cutting with a cup down; II - cutting with a cup up; III - correct laying of a log with a cup; IV - corner of the log house; 1 - processed log; 2 - groove; 3 - cup; 4 - residue; 5 - dowel (thorn).

Initially, logs (1-2 pieces) are laid on opposite walls of the base (parallel to each other). Each log house has a factory longitudinal and locking corner connection. The next stage involves laying the forest on the remaining 2 sides. A heater is placed on top. The groove and recess of the bowl are filled with moss, tow, jute and other material for caulking. The insulation is laid in such a way that it hangs 5-6 cm from all sides. A construction stapler is used to fix it. Since the jute tape completely covers the groove, and passes in the middle in the bowl, the material is installed in the last element in 2 segments. The recess is filled with insulation.

2 logs are mounted on the transverse sides of the foundation. They rely on a mortgage crown. Between the wood you need to observe an angle of 90 degrees. Builders are advised to regularly monitor their horizontal position. The remaining crowns are installed in a similar way. Some modern technologies for the construction of a log house include the use of dowels (for fixing crowns).

The elements under consideration are presented in the form of wooden slats made of dense wood. In each log, you need to make a hole into which the dowel is inserted. The remaining 2 crowns are not fixed (for shrinkage). The factory rounded logs have holes for door and window openings.

Roof installation

The next step involves the installation of the roof. Beams and rafters are included. The last elements are mounted on the logs of the upper crown. If desired, the Mauerlat is pre-laid. If the project provides for a veranda, then shrinkage compensators are inserted into the supporting frame (vertical arrangement). To prevent the structure from skewing, each vertical log is equipped with the last elements.

To connect ridge analogs, metal studs are used. The rafters are mounted in increments of 600 mm. This will require a beam with a cross section of 50x200 mm. Sliding supports are used to fix the structure to the last crown. A waterproofing material is laid on top. When installing the battens, a step is observed, which depends on the type of roofing material used. The next step involves installing the roof.

Upon completion of the installation of the roof, it will be necessary to caulk the insulation. This will require a special tool. The material is wrapped 5-6 cm down, pushing it into the gaps between the crowns. In this state, the house is left for a year (for its shrinkage). After a specified time, the caulking process is repeated. Formed gaps close up with jute or hemp.

Some builders recommend caulking a building after its annual operation. An important point in the construction of a log house is the installation of doors and windows. Partitions and openings are mounted a year after the construction of the building. Casing boxes with special fasteners are pre-installed. Windows and doors are inserted into the resulting structure. Since wood tends to expand and shrink, the process in question takes a long period of time.

The construction of the floor of a log house provides for inserting a lag into a mortgage or a subsequent crown. The last elements must be securely fastened. Mortgage crown needs good ventilation. Experts recommend mounting the floor covering on the logs of the upper crown. At this stage, installation of various communications is carried out, including the heating system, baseboards, plumbing.

If the construction of the house is made from logs of insufficient length, then their docking is allowed.

A wooden house is a separate category of construction. Its smell takes us back to childhood, and the atmosphere that is created inside fills us with comfort and gives a feeling of calm and tranquility. Log houses are easy to live in, maintain a comfortable climate, and their environmental friendliness is good for health. In order to obtain all these effects upon completion of the building construction process, it is necessary to understand how to properly build a house from a log house and what features it has.

A log house built according to all the rules will become a real fortress before the owners

Choice of material: log cabin or planed (chopped) log

All log houses are divided into 2 types of buildings:

the buildings from planed logs, that is, those that have been processed manually;

buildings that are built from round logs.

In order to understand how to properly build a house from a log, it is necessary to have an idea not only about the external difference between the 1st warrant and the 2nd, but also about the constructive one.

"Wild log house"

The history of architecture tells us that all the log houses that were built before the end of the 19th century were built from a "wild log house". This meant that the future building material was processed manually. A freshly sawn log was stripped of bark, while the bast layer should remain unharmed. It was he who protected the wood and its deep layers from moisture. This provided the log house with reliable protection against fungus and mold, and increased their “service life” at times.

The main feature of the house from the "wild log" was a bright and expressive form. Such individuality was given by non-cylindrical bars. A sawn log tends to taper from bottom to top. After processing wood with tools, such a difference in the size of the diameter still remained. The farther from the end, which was located at the roots, the thicker the log.

Houses from a "wild" log house completely bring its owners closer to nature

A tall tree can be processed and divided into several logs. Sometimes it turns out 2 building elements, but it would be ideal to get 3-parts.

The classic rule for dividing the beam as follows:

1 log - butt. This is the part that is closer to the roots;

2 log - friend. This is the middle part of the wood;

3 bar - third or peak. Accordingly, this is the last part of the log that came up to the top.

For the construction of the house, 1 part was used - the butt. The frame in this place was the thickest, had high strength and the smallest change in diameter. And in order to compensate for those differences that remained, the beam, when laying the walls, alternated: in one row, the butt “looks” in one direction, in the next in the opposite direction.

When laying a beam, each top of the logs lies on the previous opposite side

But, despite such opportunities to simplify the construction of a house from chopped wood, it is worthwhile to approach the selection of building materials very carefully. After all, you need to reproduce an even and durable structure from logs of different diameters. And this is not an easy task for them.

The construction technology itself has not changed much since those times. Houses are built in the same way: “wild log cabins” of different diameters are adjusted as close to each other as possible. It should be noted that houses that are built in this way are classified as elite and differ in price. This is dictated by a certain complexity and laboriousness of the process. Indeed, after the construction of the frame, the house should stand from 1 to 2 years. During this period, it will “sit down” in height up to 10%. This factor should also be taken into account when designing. So, in addition to spending time and effort on the selection of building materials, it will take a lot of time and patience to see the result.

In the completed house, you can see the location of the logs in relation to each other

rounded log

The round log cabin is a planed log in industrial conditions. On the machines, the tree is brought to an ideal state: it becomes smooth and even along the entire length. On special machines, all the necessary grooves for fastening are cut in the timber. At the same time, the dimensions are adjusted to the millimeter, which minimizes inconvenience during construction. Building a house with the help of such a log house is similar to collecting a children's designer.

Rounded logs are made in approximately the same size

For all its convenience, the round log house has its drawbacks. Ideal evenness in size and smoothness is achieved by removing several levels of wood. During the production process, “useful” layers (sapwood) are also removed, which protect the log from moisture, fungus and mold. Only the mature and sound central part of the tree remains. It is not protected from external factors. Under such conditions, it is necessary to additionally impregnate the timber with antiseptics, antifungal and antihelminthic drugs. The result is a beautiful and lightweight material for building a house. The downside is the low level of environmental friendliness and, oddly enough, durability.

The walls of the rounded timber look smooth and more accurate.

The choice of material for construction

In order to properly build a house from round logs, you need to know how to choose it and what material is more suitable in your area. Coniferous wood is most suitable for log houses. These are such trees as: pine, spruce, cedar and larch. But in the absence of the desired options on the market, you can use oak, ash, aspen and other hardwoods. Spruce and pine are the most affordable in the price category. For this reason, they are the most popular.

The trunks of coniferous trees are more even and easier to process.

When choosing this type of building material, the felling period is very important. It is necessary to choose a timber that was harvested in winter. It is he who has the best indicators of moisture resistance.

The region where the tree grows is also important. If possible, opt for the wood of the northern regions. This material is the most durable. Good options: Baltic pine and Canadian spruce. The variant of softwood, which was correctly harvested in compliance with all conditions and requirements, from the regions of the middle lane is also very good.

note the fact that the choice of the diameter of the beam depends not only on the design decision, but also on climatic conditions. The main criterion is the maximum temperature in the winter season.

if it is winter in your area not lower than -20 degrees- you can stop at a diameter of 200 mm;

when winter maximum -30 degrees- 220 mm;

with thermometer readings up to -40- choose a log that is not less than 240-260 mm and more.

For laying a log house, special equipment is involved, which facilitates the construction of a house

The thickness of a log for building a house in the northern regions should be at least 25 cm

The main parameters of the log and its sections are indicated in the table

It is also worth noting that by choosing a beam of a slightly larger diameter than recommended according to the climatic zone, it perfectly compensates for temperature changes. The main thing is not to choose a material smaller than the specified one. Despite the fact that the house will be insulated by laying a jute or linen-jute pad between the logs, it will not be able to give the comfortable temperature that a log of the right size can provide.

Additional Criteria, which you need to pay attention to when choosing a log house:

quality log yellow or dark yellow;

on the cut there should be no stains;

with good material core dark shade and occupies ¾ of the cut;

OK, when knots are absent, and if they are present, they should sit tightly without gaps. The reverse picture indicates a damaged core;

best ringing for a log - ringing. Try to hit the butt with an ax and listen to how it rings;

Availability cracks possible, provided that their depth is no more than 1/3 of the log;

the beam should not be twisted: during the construction of a house, such a log can only be used for laying the floor - for this it is dissolved into boards and bars.

The beam is selected according to several criteria, if at least one does not meet the norm, the material is changed to the desired one

Construction technology

At first glance, all houses are built the same way. But with a careful study of this issue, certain nuances and features of construction come out in one way or another. So the very and correct construction of a house from a log has its own distinctive characteristics.

Video description

Without knowing the technology of building a house, it is easy to make many mistakes. About them in the video:

Foundation

The main and most important element of any building is the foundation. Its depth and character depends on the soil on which the house will stand, on the nature of the material of the walls and on the number of storeys.

A log house is relatively light in weight. This quality of construction allows you to make the foundation shallow. Almost all variants of the existing types of foundations are suitable for the construction of a log house. Often make a tape version. In difficult soils, a buried strip foundation or a pile foundation is performed. You can also make a slab version.

It is worth noting that any version of the foundation should be deepened by 300-400 mm into the ground. After pouring it and completely drying it is necessary to carry out waterproofing (roofing material with mastic). This is a very important process, despite the fact that the house is made of logs.

If a strip foundation is used, it begins with the arrangement of the formwork

Walling

Upon completion of the stage of laying the foundation, they move on to the main thing - the construction of walls. It is important to know that the first crown (the first row of logs) is never placed directly on the foundation. First, a “backing” board is laid. It is made of linden timber with a thickness of 50-100 mm and a width of at least 150 mm. Only then they proceed to the collection of walls from a round log house.

Mortgage crown on a shallow monolithic foundation

The first mortgage crown should be cut off from below. Its end in width should match the backing board. This is necessary in order for the house to rest firmly on the foundation.

Logs for walls are laid in circles (crowns). First, logs are placed that are parallel to each other. Then the other two sides, and the insulation is laid on top. It is attached to the log with a construction stapler and should hang down at the edges by 5 cm.

Then the transverse sides of the house are laid, which will rest on the mortgage crown. And we repeat the "procedure" assembling the house as a constructor.

The assembly of the house is carried out in the likeness of a "constructor": each log has its place

Each of the logs has its own number, by which it is easy to determine where the beam should be located.

Roof installation

The wooden house must not be left uncovered. After laying the last crown, it is necessary to immediately proceed with the installation of the roof. When building walls from a tree, you can not lay a Mauerlat (a special retaining beam for rafters), but put the rafters immediately on a log. The recommended distance between the rafters is 600 mm. It is this gap that will ensure the stability of the roof, and reduce the risk of its possible sagging.

Since the tree belongs to the "living" materials - the rafters must be mounted on sliding supports. Then lay the waterproofing and after that - the crate. The step of the lathing depends on the chosen roofing material. At the end, they “cover” the house with the chosen finishing material.

After the erection of the walls, proceed to the assembly of the roof frame

Log house caulk

Caulking a house is a separate important stage in its construction. Upon completion of the construction of walls and roofs, it is necessary to caulk inwards all the insulation that was initially laid between the logs. To do this, with the help of a special caulking tool, the hanging 5 cm of the gasket is wrapped down, and then it is pushed inward between the slots of the logs.

After completing the caulking and roofing, the house is left for a year to shrink. A year later, the caulking of the walls must be repeated. Some experts recommend carrying out the “procedure” again after a year of operating the house with the heating turned on.

The insulation laid between the bars must be hidden

After “caulking”, the insulation is almost invisible, and there is no draft in the house

Installation of doors, windows, installation of ceilings and floors

Important points when installing doors and windows is that they are installed only after the house has completely shrunk and only in special casing boxes that are installed in openings in the walls.

Installation of doors and windows is carried out after the complete shrinkage of the log house, with the exception of houses made of chamber-drying logs - in this case they can be installed immediately

Such precautions are due to the fact that the tree is a “living” building material and will completely shrink in size for another 5-7 years.

The floor is installed on logs that cut into the first, and preferably the second crown. The mortgage crown should be well ventilated in order to be subjected to rotting processes as little as possible.

After installing the entrance doors, windows and laying the floor, you can install a heating system, conduct communications, connect an electrician, as well as install interior doors, slopes, skirting boards and install plumbing.

Wall decoration may not be carried out. After all, the beauty of a log house is not only outside, but also inside. The bas-relief of slightly yellowish walls will fit into almost any interior. The main thing is to correctly emphasize the texture of the tree and complement the design with the necessary accessories. And your dream home is ready!

A log house in the forest above the water is a great place to relax from the bustle of the countryside

Inside, the house does not require additional finishing, and natural wood can complement the stone.

One-story house made of hand-cut logs combined with stone trim

The first floor is built of stone, the second - of logs: this combination also looks great

Video description

How a log house can turn out, see this video:

On our website you can get acquainted with the most popular projects of log houses from construction companies presented at the exhibition of houses "Low-Rise Country".

Conclusion

Despite the apparent simplicity of building houses from prepared logs, there are quite a few pitfalls that can only be bypassed by experienced professionals who know the technology thoroughly. Therefore, the construction of a cottage should be entrusted to professionals who will not only do everything quickly and efficiently, but also give a guarantee for their work.

For a long time in Russia, the main material for building houses was wood. The most interesting thing is that such buildings have survived to this day. Despite the fact that today there are different technologies and materials for building houses, they still could not push the tree. There are many reasons for this. Wood is a "live", natural and environmentally friendly material created by nature itself. Wood has high heat-saving properties and is able to accumulate and release moisture, so living in such a house is much more comfortable, and breathing is much more pleasant.

One of the important advantages is the economic factor, since the construction of such a house can be cheaper than brick or stone. The thing is that finishing work for such a house is not needed, just sand the wood, which has a pleasant color and appearance. Moreover, if you compare a wooden house with a similar house made of stone or brick, then it will be much easier. In this case, you can save on the foundation device. In the end, such a house looks very beautiful. Based on the foregoing, let's look at how you can make a log house with your own hands.

If you want to build a wooden house, you should know that there are 3 types of wood processing that are currently used in construction:

construction from natural logs;
construction from rounded or profiled logs;
construction from simple, profiled or glued beams.

Basically, houses are built from natural or rounded logs. The first option is an ordinary chopped tree, which was cut off by hand, got rid of the bark. In this case, you have to adjust the tree in size and make grooves manually. But due to the fact that the upper layers of wood were not affected, the construction is reliable, resistant to moisture, mold and fungus.

Harvesting material manually is not an easy and time-consuming task, since the logs have different diameters, and the structure must be even and strong. That is why log houses are considered elite. After all, services for the construction of such structures are much more expensive.

The disadvantage of this technology is that after the construction of the house, it must stand for 1-1.5 years in order to dry. During this time, the building should shrink. It is possible to install windows, doors, conduct communications only after shrinkage.

This method was used by our grandfathers and great-grandfathers. But modern technologies allow to avoid all these inconveniences. Purchased logs can be processed in an industrial environment using special machines. As a result, logs of an ideal cylindrical shape, length are obtained, and also, according to the project, all grooves and joints are made in them. Everything is done with millimeter precision. In this case, building your own house is much easier, just fold it like a designer according to the drawing and instructions. Such logs are called rounded, they are more convenient to use.

The only drawback is that during processing the log lost its top layer, thanks to which it was protected from external factors. Therefore, before work, such logs must be covered with a special antiseptic, antifungal and anti-rotten agent. But, despite this, its advantages are obvious:

Simplicity in work.
Thanks to machining, all trunks are perfectly even and grooves are made in them.
Based on your project, the logs are adjusted. You only need to fill the foundation and assemble the house.

If you are planning to build your house yourself, it is much easier and more efficient to use round logs. Let's look at how you can turn your plans into reality.

Where to start?

The first thing you need to do is the project of the future home. Here you have two ways: do it yourself or resort to the help of specialists. If your knowledge of design is not very deep, it is better not to try to experiment. Design mistakes can cost you dearly, and worse, they can be uninhabitable. What to do in this case?

Many ready-made projects of premises can be found on the World Wide Web. Some of them can be obtained for free, while others are available only for money. If you are not sure about the reliability of such sources, you can turn to specialized companies that will think over the project of your house to the smallest detail.

Next, you need to choose which tree the house will be built from. These are mainly such species: pine, spruce, larch, cedar, aspen, oak and ash. Often, coniferous wood is used for such purposes, since their trunks are quite even, and the wood itself is easily processed. Moreover, pine and spruce can be purchased at an affordable price. And thanks to the resin, which is impregnated with wood, moisture resistance and a pleasant smell are provided.

It is better to purchase logs in winter, since then the moisture resistance indicators are highest.

After that, you need to order wood sawing according to the finished project in a company that provides such services. After discussing all the issues at the factory, a whole set of logs for your house, floor beams, rafters and logs will be manufactured. To make sure that everything is done as it should, the house is assembled for the first time at the factory. After checking, it is disassembled and delivered to you.

Now your participation is required. You inspect a set of wood for quality and prepare a place where you will store the material for subsequent work.

To prevent the tree from getting wet when it rains, the storage place must be equipped with a canopy.

On this, all the preparatory work is completed, you can proceed to the next stage.

Laying the foundation for the future home

It's no secret that the basis for any building is the foundation. It is thanks to him that the entire building will stand reliably for many years. What exactly your foundation will be depends on the number of storeys of the house and its size. Since wood is a relatively light material, it is not necessary to deepen the foundation by 2 m and make it massive. This is one of the advantages of wood over brick. The foundation device can be varied, but the main thing to remember is that it must be done in accordance with all standards of reliability and strength. To make a foundation, you can use several options suitable for a wooden house:

tape shallow foundation;
slab foundation.

Basically, a strip foundation is chosen for the foundation. But the pile foundation is also often used. And if the soil on the site is wet and loose, then they resort to the manufacture of a slab foundation. To choose the right foundation, you first need to analyze the soil.

For example, you have chosen a strip foundation. Due to its design, it is quite reliable, as it follows all the contours of the building: load-bearing walls and piers between them. To do all the work, you need:

Mark the site according to the project of the house, transfer it from paper to the ground. To do this, it is necessary to hammer stakes in the corners of the building and in places where there will be walls, and pull a rope between them. Thus, you will make for yourself a guide for further work.
Dig a trench based on the intended landmark.
Make a formwork for pouring concrete. It can be either from plywood or from simple boards. The main thing is to do everything without cracks, holes and securely fasten it so that the concrete does not knock it down with its weight.
In the trench, a pillow should be made of small gravel, stones or sand. The recommended cushion height is 50 mm. It must be well tamped.
If the load on the foundation is large, then you can make a frame of reinforcement.
Directly pour the foundation with concrete. It is important that the pouring occurs quickly and in several layers throughout the foundation. If you only do vertical sections or only partially pour concrete, there is a chance that the concrete may crack in those places.
Expel air from concrete with a deep vibrator.
Level the surface and leave to dry for a month.

After pouring, it is important to carefully check the surface with a hydraulic level to ensure that it is even. The difference can be up to 10 mm. If it is larger, those places need to be leveled with mortar or waterproofing. After all the work, the concrete will dry in a week, but you need to continue working in a month, when it is fully strengthened.

As practice shows, if you live in a climate with severe winters, where snow can stand knee-deep, the basement of the building should be high, about 500 mm. If it is made smaller, the first two crowns or logs, which are at the base, will constantly be under the snow, which will negatively affect their properties and further suitability.

Now you have moved on to the main type of work - the construction of walls and the formation of the frame of the future house. But before laying the first crown, it is important to ensure good waterproofing of the material, especially when it comes to wood. Since if you just put the first mortgage log directly on the foundation, it will quickly become unusable. Therefore, the first thing to do is to lubricate the concrete with molten bitumen. After that, 2-3 layers of waterproofing (roofing material or waterproofing) must be laid on the foundation. Then you need to put a laying board. It is better to choose a linden beam with a thickness of 50-100 mm, a width of at least 150 mm. After that, another 1 layer of waterproofing is laid on the board so that it extends beyond the edge of the foundation by 250 mm on each side. Thanks to this, the first stowing log will be protected from moisture and will serve you for many years.

Now, you can safely proceed to the assembly of walls from rounded logs.

All logs must be treated with an antiseptic so that they do not rot in the first winter.

At the stages of building walls, it is important to constantly check whether the laying is done correctly. It is important to ensure the horizontality of the logs and the strict verticality of the log house. Since there are openings for door and window openings in your house, you need to carefully lay the short logs, carefully securing them.

That's all, now you can see the result of your work - the house is almost ready. But note that doing everything yourself will be unrealistic. Logs need to be raised to a certain height. Therefore, ask for help from relatives, friends or neighbors.

Roof over your head

You should know that log walls cannot be left uncovered, so you should not hesitate to install the roof. Floor beams and rafters should be included with your home. You can install the rafters both directly on the upper logs, and on the laid Mauerlat (special beam for rafters).

If there is a veranda in the project, then a special shrinkage compensator must be inserted into the vertical log supporting the structure. After all, logs that are laid horizontally will shrink and dry out, but logs laid vertically will not. Therefore, in order to avoid skewing the house, each vertical log must be equipped with a compensator.

Ridge logs need to be connected with metal studs. The rafters must be installed in increments of 600 mm. For this, a wooden beam 50 × 200 mm is used. To the last masonry log, the rafters must be fixed on sliding supports. After that, a waterproofing film is laid on the rafters. Depending on the roofing material, the crate is attached. And at the end, the roofing material of your choice is laid.

If, when laying the walls, you left 50 mm of insulation that hangs from the logs, it must be carefully caulked. To do this, use a special caulk, wrapping the insulation down and pushing it inside the cracks between the logs.

The final stage is the installation of windows, doors, floors and ceiling installation.

Although for construction you used logs that were dried, and there was little moisture left in them, you still need to give the house time to shrink. It is impossible to immediately proceed to the installation of windows and doors.

When the shrinkage of the house has occurred, you can make the final touches. Install windows and doors in the right place. Please note that you cannot insert them directly into the opening. First you need to install a casing wooden box with an expansion mount. Only then should doors and windows be installed. For what, you ask? Since the tree tends to expand from moisture and shrink in its absence, this can critically affect windows and doors, they can deform and completely collapse. And thanks to the casing, the window and the opening become independent.

This completes the construction. Now you know how to build your own wooden house. If you did everything right, your "fabulous" home will serve you for many years. Such natural material has a beneficial effect on well-being and health.

Video

This video shows how the house is assembled from rounded logs: