Our small log cabins can be constructed to suit your needs, but generally, they are 200 – 300 square feet in size. The usable length of the lodge pole pine is approximately 28 feet. Larger cabins are possible depending on the design.
Yes, log cabins can be constructed to suit your needs.
ABSOLUTELY! The structural integrity of the pine beetle, blue-stained logs is sound. The “fungus” that the pine beetle distributes when it bores into the tree creates the blue stain. The fungus dies when the tree dies, since it requires greater than 20% moisture content to survive. What remains in the dead tree is a remarkable blue stain in the wood grain, which is enhanced by construction methods that focus on the display of the blue streaks.
We obtain the beetle-killed logs and lumber from local individuals, as there is an abundance of standing dead trees in Summit County. If you own land where you have standing dead trees, you may have options for using these logs, if they are large enough and in proper condition for building.
Our small cabins can be used as special retreats, game room, children play areas, yoga or meditation rooms, reading rooms, guest cabin and man cabin, i.e., doghouse. A little larger cabin would make a great addition to your existing house as a master suite.
Handcrafters peel trees, with a drawknife, cut notches at the corners and stack these logs to create the cabin. The notches are typically round, saddle or full scribe. Powder River Log Cabins builds a chink style, reminiscent of 1800′s log cabin. A space is in between the log courses and a foam casket with synthetic chinking is applied. The chink simulates the mortar used historically but is fire resistant as well as a sealer from bug and air infiltration.
A milled log cabin is typically mass produced using machinery to produce a log product that no longer has its natural taper, the “log” has a consistent shape.
Double tongue and groove, Swedish cope, D-Log or other varieties are the common names of a milled “log”. The “logs” typically are no longer than 8 to 12′ in length and butt splices are common.
A butt splice is where two or more logs are laid end to end to achieve a desired wall length. Butt splices can be sources of instability and bug or air-infiltration. You will see these in some building projects in Summit County and mountainous regions, unfortunately. Powder River Construction does not use this method of log building, as it is markedly inferior.