Trees From Which Logs For Construction Of Hand Hewn Log Homes Were Extracted

By Lisa Carter


Hewn log homes were constructed after a primary residence was already established. They were improvements of round log cabins. Hand Hewn Log Homes were found to be better than simple log cabins because they provided more insulation. In addition to that, homes made by square logs were much more attracting than those made of round logs.

Logs were hewed in such a way that a D-shape was formed. In other words, three sides were flatted while one side was left untouched. During construction of these hewed houses, one of flattened side faced interior of a house while the other two sides came into contact with other logs. This was important in preventing the occurrence of any space between different logs. On the other hand, the untouched side was left to face the exterior side. Interior of these houses were warm and comfortable.

For better results, notching was done for better locking of logs. This was done with intention of ensuring that numbers of spaces were minimized. These improved cabins did not only enhance privacy of the occupants, but also enhanced security of people within it. This advancement made it very hard for strangers to see the inner side of a house. Any space that was left accidentally was sealed immediately for betterment.

Initially, logs from any type of tree, were used in the construction of houses. However, after knowledge continued to increase, it was found out that some trees performed much better than others. This was in terms of durability and also the outer appearance. It was also found out that some trees were much easier to handle than others. Different trees that gained popularity are well discussed below.

Cypress; these trees provided strong, rot-resistant and hardy logs for construction of cabins. Tapping heartwood was important in acquiring resilient wood. This resulted into a strong house that resisted easy breakages. By looking at the color, differentiating sapwood from heart was quite easy. The color of heartwood ranged from yellow brown to dark reddish brown. On the other hand, sapwood was usually almost white in color.

Pines; pines can either be white or yellow. Pines were highly used by house constructors. Their good features were the main the reasons why people preferred them. Pines were easy to work with, they were also highly resistant to rotting and they also did not condone frequent breakages. Buying them was also relatively cheap.

Oak and the Hemlock; these trees produce logs that are not only hard, but also strong. People who wanted to construct durable cabins were forced to use logs from these types of trees for better results. However, acquiring these logs was not a walk in the park, hence their prices were high. For economic reasons, people commenced using them for the basement of houses.

Cedars; they are resistant to insects and do not rot with ease. They were highly preferred in places where wet weather was most prevalent. Buying these kinds of wood, was neither too expensive neither too cheap. Mostly doors were made from logs extracted from these trees.




About the Author: