The house of a log with their own hands

For a long time in Russia the main material for building houses was wood. The most interesting is that such buildings are still preserved. Despite the fact that today there are different technologies and materials for the construction of houses, they still could not press the tree. There are many reasons for this. The tree is a “living”, 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 cost less than brick or stone. The fact is that the finishing work for such a house is not needed, just enough to polish the tree, which has a nice color and appearance. Moreover, if you compare a wooden house with a similar house of stone or brick, 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 consider how you can make a house out of a log with your own hands.

Rounded or planed log?

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

• construction of natural logs;
• construction from the rounded or profiled log;
• construction from simple, profiled or glued timber.

Basically, houses are built from natural or rounded logs. The first option is a regular chopped tree, which is cut off manually, freed from the bark. In this case, the customized size of the tree and make the grooves have to manually. But due to the fact that the upper layers of wood were not affected, the design is reliable, resistant to moisture, mold and fungus.

Manual procurement of material is a difficult and time-consuming task, since the logs have different diameters, and the design must be smooth and durable. 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 1–1.5 years in order to dry. During this time, the building should shrink. It is possible to install windows, doors, carry out 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 industrial conditions with the help of special machines. As a result, logs of ideal cylindrical shape, length, and also in them, according to the project, all grooves and connections are made. Everything is done with millimeter accuracy. In this case, to build your own house is much easier, it is enough to fold it as a designer for the drawings and instructions. Such logs are called rounded, they are more convenient to use.

The only disadvantage is that during processing the log has lost the upper layer, due to which it was protected from external factors. Therefore, before work, such logs must be covered with a special antiseptic, antifungal and anti-rotten remedy. But despite this, his merits are obvious:

1. Easy to work.
2. Thanks to the machining, all the trunks are perfectly even and grooves are made in them.
3. Based on your project, the logs are fitted. You are only required to fill the foundation and build the house.

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

Where to start?

The first thing you need to do - 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 conduct experiments. Errors in the design can cost you dearly, and what's even worse, such a dwelling may be uninhabitable. What to do in this case?

Many ready-made projects of premises can be found in the "world wide web". Some of them can be obtained free of charge, 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 through the details of your home project.

Next you need to choose from which tree the house will be built. These are mainly such species: pine, spruce, larch, cedar, aspen, oak and ash. Often for such purposes they use wood from coniferous species, since their trunks are fairly smooth, 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, provides moisture resistance and a pleasant smell.

It is better to purchase logs in the winter, as then the moisture resistance is highest.

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

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

So that the tree does not get wet when it rains, the storage place should be equipped with a canopy.

This completes all the preparatory work, you can proceed to the next step.

Laying the foundation for the future home

It's no secret that the foundation for any building is the foundation. It is thanks to him that the whole building will stand securely for many years. How exactly your foundation will be depends on the height of the building 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 diverse, but the main thing to remember is to do it according to all standards of reliability and durability. To make a foundation, you can use several options suitable for a wooden house:

• ribbon shallow foundation;
• pile foundation;
• slab foundation.

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

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

• Mark the plot according to the project of the house, transfer it from paper to the ground. To do this, you need to hammer the stakes in the corners of the building and in places where there will be walls, and stretch a rope between them. Thus, you will make for yourself a guideline for further work.
• Dig a trench on the basis of the intended landmark.
• Formwork for pouring concrete. It can be both from plywood, so from simple boards. The main thing is to do everything without gaps, holes and securely fasten it so that the concrete does not overwhelm the concrete with its weight.
• In the trench should make a pillow of fine gravel, stones or sand. Recommended pillow height 50 mm. It is necessary to tamp it well.
• 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 takes place quickly and in several layers throughout the foundation. If you make only separate vertical sections or fill concrete partially, there is a chance that in those places the concrete may crack.
• Expel air from concrete with a deep vibrator.
• To level a surface and to leave to dry for a month.

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

As practice shows, if you live in a climate with harsh winters, where the 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 at the base, will constantly be under the snow, which will adversely affect their properties and future suitability.

The construction of the walls of the future home

Now you have moved 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. As if just putting the first mortgage log directly on the foundation, it will quickly become worthless. Therefore, the first thing you need to smear the concrete with molten bitumen. After that, 2-3 layers of waterproofing (roofing material or waterproofing) should be laid on the foundation. Then you need to put the laying board. It is better to choose linden timber 50–100 mm thick, at least 150 mm wide. 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. Due 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 of rounded logs.

1. The first step is to install two mortgage crowns. They are installed in parallel on two opposite sides of the foundation. It is important to carefully check whether they are flat.
2. All logs that will be stacked on top of each other need to be fixed insulation. This will require a construction stapler and insulation (tow, jute canvas or moss). Laying insulation should be in the grooves and notches of the log bowl. To do this, you can use a canvas that corresponds to the width of the groove or slightly larger, so that the insulation hangs down by 50 mm. Spread insulation along the length and fix it with a stapler.
3. On the transverse side of the need to install two of the following logs, which will be based on the mortgage crown. Then the bowls will gently connect, forming a secure connection. After that, you need to check the angle between the logs and the horizontal surface.
4. The remaining logs are installed in the same way. We can recall how in childhood we built a house from a designer or from matches. The principle is the same, only on a larger scale and you need to act according to the instructions.
5. In order to make the house even stronger, in addition to the grooves and bowls, technologies offer fastening the logs together with each other. To do this, you need to drill a hole in the log that is more than one log deep. Nagel is hammered into it.
6. The last two rims do not need to be fixed to ensure proper shrinkage.

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

During the construction of the walls, it is important to constantly check whether the installation is done correctly. It is important to ensure the horizontalness of the logs and strict vertical log house. Since your house has openings for door and window openings, you need to carefully lay 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 to do everything yourself will be unrealistic. Logs must be raised to a certain height. Therefore, ask for help from relatives, friends or neighbors.

Roof over your head

You should know that the walls of the logs can not be left without a covering, so you should not hesitate to install the roof. Overlapping beams and rafters should be included with your home. It is possible to install rafters both directly on the upper logs and on the laid mauerlat (special timber for rafters).

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

Ridge logs must be joined with metal pins. Rafters should be installed in 600 mm increments. For this, a wooden bar of 50 × 200 mm is used. To the last log of laying trusses need to be fixed on the sliding supports. After which a waterproofing film is laid on the rafters. Depending on the roofing material, lathing is attached. And in the end the roofing material chosen by you is laid.

If you are laying 50 mm of insulation on the walls, which hangs from logs, you need to gently caulk it. To do this, use a special caulker, wrapping the insulation down and pushing it inside the gaps between the logs.

The final stage - the installation of windows, doors, floor and installation of the ceiling

Although for the construction you used rounded logs, which were dried, and there was little moisture left in them, yet the house should be given time to shrink. Immediately proceed to the installation of windows and doors can not.

When the house shrinks, you can make the final touches. Install windows and doors in the right place. Please note that you can not insert them immediately into the opening. First you need to install a casing wooden box with compensatory mount. Only then should doors and windows be installed. Why, you ask? Since the tree has the ability to expand from moisture and dry out in the absence of it, it can critically affect the windows and doors, they can be deformed and completely collapse. And thanks to the casing box, the window and the opening become independent.

This construction is completed. 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 health and well-being.

Video

This video shows how to build a house from a rounded log: