Bozeman Log Homes,
Log Homes for the REST of your Life!
For more information
on quality log homes, visit the
Bozeman Log Homes site!
There is a wide variety of different wood species for log homes; grades of wood;
sizes; profiles; corner constructions and methods of securement available for
log home construction. The primary concerns when evaluating the quality of the
timber for log homes are (1) the moisture content and (2) the structural quality
of the wood. It is critical that the logs are properly dried to avoid shrinkage.
The wood should be properly graded and inspected in order to avoid using wood
that is unsound or that may contain rot.
Wood Species
A wide variety of wood species can be used when constructing your log home. Each
species has its own unique characteristics from spruce, pine, cedar, and fir to
the more dense species such as oak, maple, and cyprus. From a structural standpoint,
these species are all suitable for log home construction in most applications.
The major aspect in evaluating and making a decision about a particular spruce
verses another is mostly based upon the appearence of the wood. The color, the
grain pattern, the knot structure and checks or cracks of the different wood species
are the main features the buyer should consider.
Green Timber
It is not advisable to use logs or timber milled from freshly cut green timber
if they are not cured or kiln dried. It is well known in all types of wood construction
- framed, logs, or timber - that the timber must be dried before use in order
to avoid shrinkage of the wood after construction.
Kiln Dried or Cured Dried "Graded Wood"
Timber that has been properly graded for structural qualities is Kiln - and/or
air dried is far superior to either the green timber or the dead standing timber.
Timber that has been graded before it is used to produce log home products insures
the structural integrity of the wood. Kiln drying under controlled and supervised
conditions will insure uniform drying and a higher standard of finished product.
Precision Craft Log Structures purchases only timber that has been graded by using
the standards and grading rules of the Western Wood Products Association. Each
piece is inspected to insure that the timber meets or exceeds the quality control
standards as established by the Company. The Company also inspects each log before
it is shipped for quality standards meeting or exceeding the grading rules of
the Timber Products Inspection and the Log Home Council of the National Association
of Home Builders.
Precision Craft Log Structures dries its timbers to 15% or less moisture content.
A moisture content of 15% or less is a level where wood fiber becomes stable and
is a optimal moisture content for most climates. Precision Craft uses a unique
curing "Kerf" system in the drying process that greatly controls and reduces the
amount of checking and cracking in the wood as it dries. This also increases the
quality and appearance of the finished log home product.
Method of Construction
Precision Craft utilizes only the through - bolt method of construction. The through-bolt
system originates in the foundation with an anchor bolt. The bolt goes up through
the entire height of the log wall. Logs are stacked over the all-thread, and at
approximately every four or five courses of logs are torqued down. Done properly,
the log wall does not settle significantly after construction, adding to the overall
integrity of the home. On the top course, a 1000# tension spring is added to keep
tension and pressure on the log wall.
For more information
on quality log homes, visit the
Bozeman Log Homes site!