With porch details, collar ties and rafters completed, the next phase in the project is the installation of doors and windows.
Door Bucks and Window Bucks
Long after a log cabin is completed, the exterior walls continue to move and shift as the logs contract and expand because of moisture, temperature, age, etc. Doors and windows attached directly to the ends of the logs may bend or buckle slightly as the logs swell or shift -- sometimes causing structural problems or making it difficult to open and close a door or window.
To compensate for the movement, experienced builders use door bucks and window bucks. These are made from 2x6 boards outfitted with small slots that have been cut into the wood using a power saw. Each slot extends completely through the board.
The bucks are then attached to the ends of the logs using nails that extend through the slots. The door or window is then, in turn, attached to the buck rather than to the logs themselves. As the logs expand, shift or contract, the nails can move up or down in the expansion slot, allowing the door or window to remain stationary and functional as the logs shift.
Door bucks and window bucks are a desirable feature for any log-cabin project.
Door and Window Installation The carpenters prepare to install the side door by first applying two strips of weatherstripping down the end surfaces of the logs. Once the strips are in place, they follow up with a bead of latex sealant between the two strips (figure A).
A number of nails are started into the expansion slots in the first 2x6 door buck. With the nails started, the first door buck is aligned with the outside edge of the log wall (figure B) and nailed in place.
The process is repeated for the second door buck (figure C).
A heavy bead of caulk sealant is applied to the gap between the door bucks and the logs (figure D) and along the subfloor.
The door assembly is then carefully lifted and set in place (figure E).
A level is used to check the installation on the outside (figure F), and the door is checked inside to ensure a proper fit.
Once a proper fit has been ensured, the bottom right corner of the door is attached with a single nail.
The door is rechecked to ensure that it is level and that the sides are perfectly plumb, before the door is permanently secured with nails (figure G).
Once installed, the door is again checked for fit and operation, and any necessary adjustments are made to the hinges and casing.
The process is repeated for the remaining doors.
RESOURCES :
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
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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