Hand felling log for building a log house

Recommendation points

• 1. Species of wood
• 2. Place of timber harvesting
• 3. Harvesting season
• 4. Diameter of the log
• 5. Method of processing logs
• Option 1. Cylinder
• Option 2. Manual processing with a plane
• 6. Unacceptable defects of wood of logs used in the construction of buildings

One of the most crucial stages in the construction of a hand-cut log house is the acquisition of high-quality material. We will tell you what you should pay special attention to when selecting logs for felling, as well as about the means by which you can extend the life of wooden elements..

Analysis of the points below will help you make an informed choice of wood for a log house or a bath..

1. Species of wood

Mainly coniferous wood is used as a building material: pine, spruce, larch, fir. In central Russia, spruce and pine timber of similar price is the most applicable in construction..

Compared to spruce, pine has a higher density, strength and lower water absorption capacity, which allows it to be used for the construction of load-bearing structures of wooden buildings. The recommended area of ​​application for spruce is interior decoration. Spruce wood differs from pine wood in a lighter, almost white color and a less intense coniferous smell, it is lighter and looser.

Important! It is recommended to place larch wood planks, such as oak, under the lower crown..

2. Place of timber harvesting

The geography of the growth of trees, materials from which in the future will serve as wall elements of your house, is one of the key factors affecting the strength, durability and cost of a log house.

A higher density and homogeneity of the structure of the material is characteristic of forest harvested in the northern regions (Arkhangelsk, Vologda, Novgorod, Pskov regions, parts of the Kostroma and Kirov regions, the Republic of Karelia). Such wood is less infected by woodworms, practically does not contain fungal infections. Timber harvested beyond the Urals and in Siberia has similar properties (for example, in the Perm Territory, Omsk and other regions).

The main disadvantage of the timber harvested in these areas is the high cost of materials and delivery. Depending on the diameter, the price is 1 cu. m Kirovsky forest (pine) will be 7.0-7.6 thousand rubles., Arkhangelsk – 10.8-12.6 thousand rubles. Add to this the cost of delivery on the basis that one timber truck transports about 30-35 cubic meters per trip. m.

The forest of the central part of Russia (Smolensk, Bryansk, Kaluga, Yaroslavl regions) is more affordable (on average, from 5.5 thousand rubles per 1 cubic meter), but in this case, logs for construction work should be selected more closely due to the significant probability the presence of biological and fungal infections.

3. Harvesting season

Almost all forestry and carpentry experts claim the benefits of logging in winter, when the flow of sap stops. Freezing wood has a positive effect on its shrinkage properties.

4. Diameter of the log

The wall thickness of a log house is determined by the diameter of the logs, which, in turn, should be selected depending on the climatic conditions of the construction area, the purpose of the object, the presence or absence of additional insulation. The recommended diameter of a log for a residential building is 24–32 cm, for a bathhouse – 22–28 cm. At the same time, to ensure smoother vertical surfaces, a large difference between the dimensions of the cross section of the logs should be avoided (no more than 3–4 cm).

Important! The heat loss of the building through the outer walls is determined not only by the thickness of the wall, but also by the technical solution for the insulation of the joints between the joints, the width of the groove and the quality of the work performed.

5. Method of processing logs

Option 1. Cylinder

Benefits:

• constant cross-sectional size along the length of the element;
• smooth surface;
• high processing speed.

Disadvantages:

• all other things being equal, such logs give a higher percentage of shrinkage;
• have a significant width of opening of seams and longitudinal cracks.

Option 2. Manual processing with a plane

Benefits:

• preservation of a strong top layer, which avoids most of the disadvantages typical of rounded logs;
• original appearance of the house due to the special attractiveness of handmade elements.

Disadvantages:

• increased duration and cost of processing;
• under the condition of a pit on the building site – the need to dispose of processing waste.

Entrust the foreman with calculating the required volume of forest for construction, since it will not be easy to independently determine it, even with minimal accuracy. Buy a tree with a small supply: unused logs on the farm will always come in handy, and it will be quite problematic to deliver several pieces.

Having stopped at the manual cabin of a house or a bathhouse, you have to take a direct part in the acceptance of materials, even if you trust your master. Since most often loggers are also suppliers of timber, it will be more reliable to at least selectively control the grade and quality of timber..

6. Unacceptable defects of wood of logs used in the construction of buildings

According to GOST 9463–88, wood of 1 and 2 grades is used as construction logs, while all types of rot are not allowed, as well as tobacco knots, indicating heart rot.

Unacceptable wood defects

The norms do not prohibit the presence of most fungal infections, since they do not reduce the mechanical properties of the material. The size of some structural defects and biological damage is limited, the maximum allowed height of branches is 2 cm from the bark.

Acceptable wood defects

Defects in the structure of wood in the form of dryness and sprouting are accompanied by the curvature of annual layers and violate its integrity. With cancer, a resinous wood is formed, which makes processing difficult. For manual felling, it is especially important to select logs with the maximum straightness of the trunk in order to increase compressive strength and reduce waste.

If there are wormholes in the tree, check for live larvae: if they are absent, then after removing the bark, the development of biological damage will stop. However, it is undesirable to use wood with numerous deep wormholes that significantly weaken the cross section.

Important! Do not store unbarked logs for a long time.

Organize the right place for storing logs: it is convenient to unload them on specially prepared pallets or boards so that they do not come into contact with the ground. Do not store the tree in flooded areas.

Before starting construction, it is recommended to treat the logs with special protective compounds:

• insecticides – when timber is infected with wood-boring insects;
• antiseptics – to increase the resistance of wood to biological damage;
• fire retardant impregnations – to increase the ignition temperature of the tree (it is possible to use complex action means – fire retardant compositions).

Removal of fungal plaque and blue stain can be carried out with the help of special bleaches after cutting the walls..

If you decide to postpone the fire retardant treatment of logs or completely abandon it, provide fire safety measures. Regularly remove debris and dry grass from the construction site, do not start a fire near the place where logs are stored. Place a fire extinguisher in an accessible place.

A competent approach to the construction of a manual felling will allow you and your children to enjoy the natural beauty of natural wood for decades.