How to Do These Things

No other scene could provoke the rustic tranquility of nature more than a log cabin. It has never appealed more enticingly than in today�s fast-paced modern world.

Building a log cabin may seem like an overwhelming task, but it actually requires no special skills. It is a fairly simple structure that can be built with a few necessities and with your bare hands. Though most log cabins nowadays are built from kits, you can still build one from scratch with the right set of plans and the interest to take on the task.

Materials Needed

• Logs
• Draw knife
• Chainsaw
• Axe
• Posthole digger
• String
• Reinforced concrete
• Lumber and plywood
• Nails
• Screws
• Tin roofing material

Procedure

1. Lay down the foundation.
   • Use gravel, small rocks, or poured cement to lay the foundation of your cabin. Lay it about a foot high in a square to the dimensions of the cabin.
   • Cut foundation boards to the length and width of the foundation. Make sure that each board is notched at the ends and are interlocking with each other. Lay the boards on the foundation.
   • Install the foundation beams. Place a center foundation beam across the foundation. Mark out a space on the beams under the center beam. Cut a notch to make the center foundation beam sit inside it and stand at the same height as the two beams parallel to it.
2. Build the cabin walls.
   • Select two logs for the walls and lay them parallel to each other. Make sure that these logs are significantly thicker than the logs that will be put on top of them.
   • Cut the logs to length and leave a few extra feet for the overlapping ends. Plane off their bottoms to create a flat surface to rest on the foundation beams.
   • Place the first log on the foundation beam. Secure it by driving a spike through the side of the log through the foundation beam. An adhesive may also be used to secure the log to the foundation beam.
   • Set the second log on the parallel side of the cabin. Do the same to secure the log to the foundation beam.
   • Measure the logs to be laid between the two parallel logs. Use a ruler to gauge the width where the logs will intersect with the logs already set on the foundation.
   • Cut the notches into the logs set on the foundation. Do the same on the other end.
   • Set the logs into the foundation log notches to determine the depth and width of the notches on these logs.
   • Seal and secure the logs.
   • Select the logs for the second layer. They should be slightly thinner than the first layer of logs. Roll these logs to the cabin wall to mark where the notches should go. Cut out the notch. Do the same for each layer of the walls.
   • Cut out the door and windows with a chainsaw when the walls are finished.
3. Build the roof.
   • Cut the logs to size. Roll these onto the roof across the shorter side of the cabin. Notch them as the logs for the walls have been notched. Set each log approximately 3 feet apart.
   • Make the roof trellis from smaller and thinner logs. Make a notch on each side of the trellis. Secure them to the roof beams with a large spike of wood pegs.
   • Lay boards on the log trellis. Secure these with spikes or adhesive. Then cover the boards with shingles, moss or other roofing materials.

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