Log Cabin

$F:\DCIM\101MSDCF\DSC02433.JPG$

Log caibns sean hard to build but are not hard to build if you have the know how. My friend and I started a log cabin about a year ago.Im planing to build an ne part on the cabin that will come of the door and make a L shape. I m planing a camp out in it this weekend.

Remove these ads by Signing Up

Step 1: Materials

$F:\DCIM\101MSDCF\DSC02432.JPG$

Land to build on (Common Land or anyother land)
Logs (About 10-12ft long)
Axe
Hatchet
Buck saw
Small sledge hammer
Large spike nails
Planks or Plywood
Roofing tin
Tin screws
Hex bit for tin screws
Cordless drill
Rope
Wood stove (Optional)
Windows (Optional)
Chain saw (Optional)

jamob says: Mar 11, 2013. 6:58 PM

Also to make it more permanent you are suppose to have a foundations, could you build on an existing cellar hole left behind from hundreds of years in the woods?

jamob says: Mar 11, 2013. 6:50 PM

How much did it cost you? Do you need to season the wood? How many does it sleep? How did you insulate it? And can you build it without nails or what not? Me and my friends are planning to build one like this in the Vermont as a sugar house in winter and a camp in summer!

crazwolf says: Jun 14, 2009. 1:55 PM

looks great guys,good job.

badboynick7 in reply to crazwolfDec 11, 2009. 7:42 AM

not bad for your fisrt one, me and my dad made one that we are now living in, it is pretty cozy 4000 square feet. its my dads 7th "cabin" he built. good job

mjarthur in reply to badboynick7Dec 10, 2012. 8:06 PM

a 4k sq ft log cabin? got any pics? how long did it take to build?

kallithdragonna says: Sep 17, 2011. 9:59 AM

My parents built numerous log cabins in my tween years and do it myself cabins are pretty easy. I'm glad to see that at 13, you and your friends didn't get hurt while building the top half.
A couple stupid suggestions from someone who lived years in a log home.
1. $10 for a small iron fan that goes on top your wood stove. The heat coming up the base of the fan causes it to turn and blow warm air around the cabin.
2. under your floor should have a layer of weather proofing, I.E vapor barrier. Very important for longevity and mold .

n79c in reply to kallithdragonnaFeb 29, 2012. 7:36 PM

Two great sugestions

rakol1 says: Mar 9, 2008. 12:30 PM

that is a pathetic lookin log cabin, they shouldnt come out like this

rakol1 in reply to rakol1Jul 7, 2011. 1:29 AM

Well pardon me. I just read you were 13 when you built it

pfred2 in reply to rakol1Jun 26, 2011. 8:32 AM

What exactly are your qualifications to make that judgment? Personally I think it looks just fine.

spa31rky in reply to rakol1Jul 30, 2010. 7:22 PM

THIS CABIN LOOKS GREAT!...........I WOULD LIVE IN IT. NOTHING LIKE THE TRUE FRONTIER STYLE CABIN.

Atvr4u500 (author) in reply to rakol1Mar 12, 2008. 2:50 PM

k say that after you build one. Then show me the pictures. I know what went into it and come on i was 13 when i built it. If you build one use only the tools that i used.

baggot in reply to Atvr4u500May 31, 2009. 2:06 PM

Oh 13 that explains it. It looks bad for an adult built one but awesome for a 13er. Id say avoid the expanding foam crack filler everywhere to anyone else planning to make this just flatten the sides of the logs so they sit flat.

pfred2 in reply to baggotJun 26, 2011. 8:26 AM

Typically logs are chinked with a mud grass mixture. If the gaps are really big you can leave nails or pegs hanging to bridge the gaps.

vincent7520 says: Dec 3, 2010. 4:51 PM

nice job …
would love to live in one … but then Not sure the Paris - France authorities would let me build on on top of my apartment building -LOL …

josuchav says: Sep 9, 2010. 8:37 PM

pretty cool cabin! I've always wanted to do this but I lack the time and space to do it for right now... but soon I might just be PMing you with a bunch of questions.

sasgty9 says: Aug 13, 2007. 8:26 PM

I want a cabin, but it seems like a lot of hard work... o well

spa31rky in reply to sasgty9Aug 1, 2010. 4:32 PM

AMERICA was built on HARD WORK!.............JUST DO IT!!!!

The_Beast says: Dec 30, 2008. 7:58 AM

I'm not trying to be mean but it's kinda an ugly duckling. I understand that you were young and didn't know much about building but there could have been improvements to the design (like the roof pitch) BTW I live in a log cabin and it's very cool looking house

spa31rky in reply to The_BeastJul 30, 2010. 7:25 PM

PICTURES...??? WHO BUILT YOURS?

hcold in reply to The_BeastFeb 7, 2009. 4:42 AM

It's not ugly, it just doesn't reflect the modern house, which imho, IS ugly. This house is organic for lack of any better word. It's very cool, and I would've been proud to build it.

maffiou says: Jun 13, 2007. 9:24 AM

I'd be very carefull before I fire that thing, you don't want to die because of carbon monoxyde

Atvr4u500 (author) in reply to maffiouJun 14, 2007. 6:05 AM

Are you talking about the stove, because It is all sealed off so we can't get cardon monoxyde posining.

maffiou in reply to Atvr4u500Jun 21, 2007. 5:33 PM

I don't know about the specifics of your installation, but a very good friend of mine lost a little brother through carbon monoxyde intoxication coming from a badly tuned refurbished oil stove !

spa31rky in reply to maffiouJul 30, 2010. 7:14 PM

Hence the word.........."OIL BURNER"........dddaaaaaa!!! Come on here! Kerosene and oil burners are not covered by a smart insurance company. Being a former Fire Fighter......these were the ones that caused most fires and deaths.

conrad2468 in reply to maffiouMay 31, 2009. 2:31 PM

my cousin died that way.....

Atvr4u500 (author) in reply to maffiouNov 30, 2007. 2:48 PM

Thats to bad about your friends brother. But yes my dad is sheet metal worker and he checked it out and it does not leak. But having it leak was a big concern of mine too.

$F:\DCIM\101MSDCF\DSC02436.JPG$

Dr.Bill in reply to Atvr4u500Jan 18, 2012. 9:48 AM

I put a stove like this in my fireplace and it worked out good when the power went out. If I left a cast iron fry pan on it all night it would be heated just right for bacon and eggs in the morning.

spa31rky in reply to Atvr4u500Jul 30, 2010. 7:17 PM

Wood burner stoves if they have a small leak all it does is make it burn the wood faster because it lets air IN and sends the smoke out the pipe. Think a bit here guys. This stove in the picture is a small one compared the the one in my cabin. Dam thing could get it 90 deg inside if not careful, and opening damper all the way will pull the SMOKE through and burn all the wood in the belly. Much experience with Pot Belly Stoves.

jsummerlin in reply to Atvr4u500Apr 16, 2009. 1:51 PM

In such a small area I would crack a window to make sure you don't pressurize the cabin, so when someone opens the door it doesn't back draft. Leaks for the most part should draw smoke up the pipe. Like these folks tell you be safe first.

spa31rky in reply to jsummerlinJul 30, 2010. 7:20 PM

Do you think that after looking at these pictures that this cabin will hold vacuum? Don't get me wrong......I do like the work of this cabin.......I might even ask if the builder will build some for other people. ( just kidding about the contracting part.....maybe!)

pickford78 in reply to jsummerlinFeb 11, 2010. 12:17 AM

In my cabin (not log) and my house, we have wood heat. we have 2 carbon monoxide detectors in each of the rooms. without opening a window or any of that stuff we have not ever had a detector other than the smoke detector go off. Just dont use a old rusted out stove and keep your stove vents open so it burns properly and you should be fine.

Szklisty says: Jul 30, 2010. 6:01 PM

Here is a copy of the manual for my stove. It might give you a general idea about proper instalation. Enjoy your stove, but stay safe :-)

distance.pdf(612x792) 708 KB

ddelia says: Feb 20, 2009. 5:15 PM

Be very careful with your stove. There should be 3 feet minimum distance between the Stove and any wall. Same with the stove pipe. Also keep your wood at least 3 feet away. Get yourself a smoke detector too.

Szklisty in reply to ddeliaJul 30, 2010. 6:43 AM

Yeap, that stove is way too close to the walls. I have a wood burning stove in my house and even with a heat-shield and being 3 feet away from the wall, the wall gets quite warm. I would move your stove to prevent a disaster.

magnumj says: Jan 12, 2010. 1:07 AM

The stove is fine man. I've lived with woodburning stoves as primary heating sources all my life. smoke and carbon monoxide will take the path of least resistance. Up the stovepipe. and as long as you have an opening in the sheet metal (I notice you do), you'll be fine.

mr_man says: Mar 13, 2008. 7:48 AM

It looks like you sealed the gaps between the logs with some of that expanding foam that comes in a can. How about using plaster? cement/mortar? adobe with plaster waterproofing? Is there any good way to insulate a log cabin? or do you just rely on a relatively large stove and extra layers of clothing? At the very least I would insulate the tin roof with some natural or construction material, preferably something non-flammable (not foam). A $30 carbon-monoxide detector would be a good life insurance policy. thanks for the instructable.

aseaheru in reply to mr_manMar 17, 2009. 11:16 AM

MUD!!!!!

Cyrus in reply to mr_manMar 13, 2008. 5:49 PM

Logs themselves have an extreemly high R Value, so additional insulation inside is not needed. However the roof, floor, and cracks between the logs are a problem if not properly insulated.

mr_man in reply to CyrusMar 13, 2008. 8:38 PM

I disagree, the R-value is not "extremely high", it's R~1/inch according to this:
http://www.daviddarling.info/encyclopedia/W/AE_wood_R-value.html

It's not my intent to criticize this cabin design. I like it, and we can all learn from it. I'm just saying, in cold climates, it would be an improvement to add insulation, because it seems like less work to add insulation than to cut extra firewood. Maybe some insulation could go in the rounded space next to the logs, thus making a flat(er) wall. Wood ash is a great insulator, but it may settle and lose R-value. Maybe an adhesive binder would help; maybe it could be mixed as a wet slurry and then dried. Maybe another way would be to heat ash in a mold inside the stove to form a clinker of the right shape.