Old log cabin--how do you know the logs are solid?

greenspun.com : LUSENET : Countryside : One Thread

Hubby and I have been offered an old dog trot cabin that has been dismantled and stacked in a friend's yard. The price ($3500) seems reasonable, and part of it can be defrayed by Hubby doing some back hoe work. I would LOVE to have a log cabin, and this one is probably well over 100 years old. I have seen lovely cabins from old logs, but I imagine that there are some pitfalls. HOW do you tell if the logs are solid? What should I look for?

-- Leann Banta (thelionandlamb@hotmail.com), June 22, 2000

Answers

You should be able to get the logs examined by a pest control service to determine the extent of damage from termites, etc. If the logs are stacked directly on the ground, at least the bottom logs would be suspect. If the logs were disassembled without being marked, it would be difficult to reuse them since likely they were handcut to match each adjoining log. My guess is they are not worth the hassle involed. Check out some places which sell log home kits.

-- Ken (scharabo@aol.com), June 22, 2000.

we have a log cabin which was standing when we moved in since then we have bought a 12 x 18 ice house that was apart. it takes alot of time to put them back together if they are not numbered. lay ever thing out and hope you enjoy puzzels. as for strengh we found a person who has a machine that is like ultrasound and tests the strengh,i think we sound him through a salvage company. the codes here are strick depending on what you are using it for. sometimes you can slide through with the help of the historical society. do you have pictures of it standing? if it more then 1 story caution is very important. we paid 1,000 for ours this included the stones for chinking,photos, labled and delievered. i think we may use it as a " family room" i will let you know how it goes, it will be a big project. we need to replace2 log s so far.

-- renee oneill (oneillsr@home.com), June 23, 2000.

DRILL the logs ! Just a hillbilly's point of view, but drill them and if they are solid than plug the hole---if soft ? rethink ? The lower the log the better the decision--I live in an 1888 log home and it has a lifetime to go !

-- Joel Rosen (Joel681@webtv.net), June 23, 2000.

Moderation questions? read the FAQ