Glossary for Log Home Builders
Building your dream log home, log cabin or timber frame home can seem daunting if you don’t know the terminology. To help make the process a little easier, we’ve compiled a list of basic jargon used in the log home industry. If you any terms you would like us to define that we haven’t already, please don’t hesitate to ask!
— A —
Adze: A tool comparable to an ax that is commonly used to craft hand-hewn log siding. The blade of an adze has a downward sloping angle that is horizontal to the handle.
Air Drying: The process of allowing wood to reach its proper moisture content by naturally drying. Logs and lumber are stacked to allow air movement, exposing the wood to the surround atmosphere.
— B —
Butt Joint: The place where two logs join end-to-end.
Butt & Pass Corner: This type of corner is formed when two logs on subsequent levels intersect where the log from one wall stops or butts against the other log that is forming the corner. The other log then extends past the point of intersection. At the next intersection, the opposite will happen. The wall with the log that previously stopped at the point of intersection will then extend while the log from the other wall will butt up against it. The wall with the extend log continue to alternate at each intersection.
— C —
Cant: The process of removing the first layer of sapwood from a log and cutting it into a square. The log is then cut into dimensional sizes needed to create log siding products.
Chinking: A filling used to seal the gaps between stacked logs that do not rest directly on top of each other.
— E —
Eave: The edge of a roof that overhangs the wall.
— F —
Fascia: The board that encloses the end of a roof’s overhang.
Floor Plan: A scale illustration of the configuration of rooms, doors, and windows of a home or building.
— G —
Grading: The evaluation of lumber to ensure it meets specific standards for safe and sound construction.
— H —
Half Log Siding: Logs that give the appearance of a full log, but have been cut in half horizontally.
Hand-Hewn: The use of an adze or ax to give logs a hand-crafted appearance.
— J —
Joint: The intersection of two pieces of wood.
— K —
Kiln Drying: The process of reducing the moisture content of logs in a kiln to a desired level determined by their end use. Kiln drying reduces the possibility of the logs checking, warping, and shrinking after installation.
Knot: A knot is formed where a branch or limb grew out from the tree. The number of knots and their size affect the grade of the tree. Trees with fewer knots receive a higher grade.
— L —
Load-Bearing Wall: A wall that supports its own weight and the weight of the parallel wall or structure located above it.
Log Siding: Log cabin siding and log home siding is created by cutting and shaping full logs into smaller pieces. Log siding can be used on the exterior or interior of a cabin or home to give the appearance of full logs.
— M —
Moisture Content: The amount of water a log or wood contains. Proper moisture content is determined based on the end use of the log or wood and is reached through the kiln drying process.
— N —
Non-Bearing Wall: An interior wall that only supports its own weight.
— P —
Peeling: The process of removing the bark from a log, commonly done by machine.
Purlin: The horizontal support of a roof or ceiling system that extends across adjacent beams or rafters.
— R —
R-Value: The rating of a material’s insulation and resistance to heat flow. A higher R-value indicates a more effective insulation.
— S —
Saddle-Notch Corner: For a saddle-notch corner, there is a saddle shaped notch cut into the bottom of each log. The notch then straddles the perpendicular log below it and both logs extend past the corner.
Scribing: The process of shaping wood in order for it to fit with the irregular surface of another.
Snow Load: The amount of snow a structure such as a roof, porch or deck can support.
— T —
Tongue & Groove (T&G): A method of joining two logs together edge to edge by fitting the tongue of one log into the groove of the other.
Truss: One or more triangular units used to support the ceiling or roof of a home or cabin. Log trusses are custom made based on a variety of factors such as room size and snow load.
— V —
Vertical Corner: A vertical post wraps snugly around the outside corners of a home which is created when two logs butt up against each other rather than intersecting.
