What is the best type of lumber to use on a hand crafted log home?

Question

I recently purchased some land that has quite a bit of poplar and spruce with minmal douglas fir spread throughout. Want to build my self a log home, every time I search all I get is someone wanting to sell me one. I want to build it myself without having to buy a kit home. Help! Thanks a bunch

Answer 1

To directly answer the Q,,,NONE from your property.

With all due respect there are few if any WOODs that will not over time; be affected by the environment, etc. and degrade in some fashion. Certainly whatever you use might have a prolonged life if treated. Poplar is a great finish wood with a sweet grain for staining, Fir and Spruce are often found as alternatives in frame construction.

I assume since you don't want a KIT house, and there are hundreds of valid manufacturers, then perhaps you're not interested in BUYING that type of log most able to give a more natural longer life.

No matter your choice, and again, with no offense, if you have the skills needed to construct a log home, I really want to assume you have knowledge of the properties of various species of trees/lumber.

Consider lumber naturally able to endure elements and insects. Certainly one might not build a TEAK log home, or Bamboo, but creating a food source for insects out of what exists on your property may not be a wise choice either.

Answer 2

Use the spruce. My Dad and Grandfather built our custom log cabin 27 years ago and it is still in great condition. You might be able to use the fir for the rafters. I would avoid using any of the poplar, it is too soft and I would't recommend it structurally (even though I know it looks fine on furniture :) ) Our cabin is really cool, still have the pictures of them hauling the logs and stripping the bark while I'm sitting in the wagon... All we have to do is put on a coat of sealer every 10 years, damn might have to do that when I'm up there on vacation in a month.

Answer 3

Personally if it was me I would love to build it from Cedar wood, but then again, Oak would be nice too.

Georgia has allot of Spruce and Douglas fir, but I'm not highly educated in building log cabin homes...it's a matter of prefference in most cases, but I would seek professional advice about what type of wood should be used.

Answer 4

None of that sounds real good to me, although the spruce is the best if it's big enough. You'd be better off buying the logs, like Red pine (cork pine) for working with and disease Resistance.
You better look into this a lot and check with your local building codes at the courthouse to see what they require. They regulate everything we do now days, were trapped by them at every move.

Answer 5

you want an old style pioneer kinda thing, use what ever is around you. BUT if there's even a hint of termite in the area i'd go with redwood for the first 6 feet off the ground, they don't seem to like to eat redwood.

http://www.logcabinliving.com/buyerguidelearn.htm

I just found this link, hope it helps.