Settling
When a log or timber dries, its rings become tighter and the log shrinks in diameter. Since a log wall is made up of logs stacked one upon another, wall height will change slightly during the drying process. Experienced builders know how to avoid problems that occur during settling.
At Laverty Log Homes, we will work with you to ensure that other trades involved with the building process will not cause settling problems. As well, we know how to ensure that our joinery stays tight and weather resistant. We use the “shrink to fit” saddle notch and overscribe our lateral grooves to keep weight on the notches and therefore tight. A true ”shrink to fit” notch works by sliding down the saddle’s plane as the log shrinks in diameter. We will also use through bolts which can be tightened as the building settles, which is additional insurance that the joinery will stay tight.
If you have any questions regarding settling and the techniques we employ to work with it, please contact us today. We live in our own log homes and have first hand knowledge about what a log home is like when settling is completed.