With a cabin located in a scenic setting, it becomes particularly desirable to include porches in the plans for the building. With the side-porch structure already in place -- including floor, roof beams and roof -- the next phase will be to finish the porch roof by framing in the gable.
Framing and Finishing the Porch Gable
The crew begins by building a framework of 2x4s in the small gabled end of the side porch (figure A). Because the gable is on the end of the porch and not part the house proper, there is no need to cover the framework with plywood as was done with the larger gabled ends of the house.
With the 2x4 studs in place, the gabled end is covered with log siding. Installation of the siding starts at the bottom of the gable and proceeds upward (figure B). The log siding is made from strips of real logs, cut so that they are less than 2" thick. This gives the appearance of a real log wall -- but without the unnecessary weight of actual logs.
Front-Porch Beams For the installation of front-porch beam work, the carpenters begin by making an angled cut on each end of the first rafter beam so that it will fit properly against the horizontal porch beam and the ridge beam.
Once it has been raised onto the work scaffolding, lifted into place and lined up with the outside of the roof rafter, the rafter beam is braced temporarily in position with a 2x4 while being nailed in place (figure C) with long galvanized finish nails. With the first rafter beam in place, the second one is cut and installed in the same manner.
The center post is cut flat at the bottom, with two angled cuts at the top so that it will fit flush at the apex of the rafters. It is carefully positioned and tapped into place. A few nails are used to keep it from moving out of position.
Determining the angle of the last two posts requires measurement and making an on-site decision. One of the carpenters holds a 2x4 (substituting for the post) in position, experimenting with different angles to determine which angle will be most visually appealing. Once the proper angle has been determined, the first of the actual beams is cut and set into place. The length and angles are cut so precisely that the beam must be hammered into place, using blocks of wood to protect them from marring by hammer strikes. It's important that the beam be snug, since the wood may shrink slightly as it ages.
Once the post is in position, it's nailed in place using galvanized finish nails (figure D). The process is repeated for installing the second angled beam (figure E).
The final step is the installation of wood blocks that have been custom cut to fit between the horizontal porch beam and each of the angled rafter beams. This stylized post-and-beam detailing used on the front porch helps give the cabin its distinctively strong and rustic look, and it also helps add stability to the porch structure since it helps hold up the rafters. The next phase in the construction will be the installation of collar ties between the rafters in the house interior.
Collar Ties The final step in the framing of the log house is the installation of collar ties -- the heavy wooden supports that connect the rafters. Beams used to make the collar ties are placed on sawhorses and angle-cut to match the pitch of the roof angle (figure F).
The beams are lifted up onto the scaffolding and positioned in place, each beam held steady while the ends are aligned with pre-marked locations on the rafters (figure G).
figure H). The lag screws are necessary to support the heavy weight of the collar tie.
A hole is drilled in the center of one of the collar ties to accommodate wiring for a ceiling fan that will be installed later.
Important: Before installing collar ties, check your building code to find out the required spacing between them. In our case, the required spacing was 4' between adjacent ties.
Boxing In the Rafter Tails
With the collar ties installed, the rafter tails extending to the house exterior can be finished, or "boxed in." Though it seems fairly simple, this is a somewhat tedious task, and one of the most time-consuming steps in the construction of the house. To begin, the carpenters nail a 2x2 wood strip along the top row of logs, underneath the eaves of the roof. A beveled 1x6 fascia board is attached to a subfascia 2x4 that was earlier nailed to the ends of the rafters (figure I).
Shorter lengths of the same fascia board are used to finish out the corners of the rafters (figure J). This is a time-consuming step since it requires cutting several angles for an exact fit.
Short pieces of tongue-and-groove 2x6 pine are nailed into place, secured to the bottom of the 2x2 strip and the subfascia board. The process is repeated until the rafters are enclosed from underneath, all the way around the house.
Once all of the pine pieces are in place, and the rafters are enclosed, holes are drilled in the boards with an electric drill and a hole saw. The holes will accommodate the soffit vents (figure K). The vents are spaced about 12" apart.
RESOURCES :
Special Thanks for DIY Build a Log Cabin workshop
Blossman Gas
Website: www.blossmangas.com/
The Complete Guide to Building Log Homes
ISBN: 0806974869
Author: Monte Burch, Richard J. Meyer, Lloyd P. Birmingham
Sterling Publishing Co. Inc.
Website: www.sterlingpub.com
The Cabin: Inspiration for the Classic American Getaway
Model: 0879056711
Author: Dale Mulfinger, Susan E. Davis
The Taunton Press Inc.
Website: www.taunton.com
Small Log Homes: Storybook Plans and Advice
ISBN: 1586850431
Author: Robbin Obomsawin
Gibbs Smith Publishing
Website: www.gibbs-smith.com
Inside Log Homes: The Art & Spirit of Home Planning and Decor
Model: 087905963X
Author: Cindy Teipner Thiede, et al
Gibbs Smith Publishing
Website: www.gibbs-smith.com
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