During the construction of country houses and other specialized buildings, a construction such as a log house has been increasingly used recently. This is due to the good technical characteristics of this building, in particular its heat-intensive properties, strength indicators and a beautiful appearance. A self-built house from a log house is a reliable construction that will last a very long time without requiring any repairs.
However, not everyone knows that such a design can be used for the construction of the bath. This work is not simple, but the result will be able to satisfy the wishes of even the most biased developers. That is why you should consider in more detail how to build a log cabin with your own hands so that the structure comes out reliable and beautiful.
Features of the construction of the log house
The construction of a log house is a structure based on horizontally stacked logs that serve as walls. Each of these rows is usually called a crown, while the lowest level is called a “crown”.
For logs you need to use exclusively deciduous or coniferous wood. It is best to use freshly cut and dry trees to protect all structures from the accumulation of excess moisture.
The device of angular dressings from the outside can be carried out both with the remainder and without it. In this case, the first method is characterized by laying logs outside the walls, and for the second this rule is not observed.
Options for the construction of log cabins can be very different - it all depends on the skills of the performer and the wishes of the owners themselves. The main installation methods are the felling “into the bowl” with your own hands, “into the paw”, as well as the simpler version - “into the tongue and groove”. Each of these methods has its own characteristics and distinctive features inherent in a particular building.
Advantages and disadvantages of a log house
Such a building has a huge number of advantages, thanks to which it is advantageous when choosing the desired type of structure. So, the main positive characteristics of the log house are the following:
- wood is environmentally friendly and therefore absolutely safe for health;
- the heat capacity of the logs is very high, so that the loss of heated air is minimal;
- such a structure has an attractive appearance and original design;
- the design has a high rate of strength.
However, the construction of such a structure as a log house with a do-it-yourself beam can have some negative aspects, which are usually referred to as follows:
- the high cost of consumables and the entire process;
- relatively short service life compared to structures made of other materials (especially in the absence of waterproofing and antiseptic treatment);
- the complexity of construction.
One way or another, constructing a log house with your own hands is absolutely real, it is only important to carefully follow all the rules and recommendations that can simplify the installation process.
Log house: features of the construction
Choosing such a popular building for construction, you should first determine the complexity of all the work, since the classic version of how to make a log house with your own hands requires certain skills and abilities from the performer. Nevertheless, the wide range of materials that can be found on the construction market today makes it possible to create any design of the bathhouse using a much simpler technology. As an option, you can always order a ready-made so-called "frame" and complete your own assembly.
To make the bath house as correct as possible, it is also necessary to correctly determine the place of construction. Classical principles provided for the erection of such a log house near any reservoir, due to which contrast bath was made available. However, there is no need to follow this rule today, since nothing prevents you from creating a semblance of a pool on your own.
Choosing the best place for the construction of a log house, it is worth following the following recommendations:
- the structure should be located at a distance of at least 15 m from the residential building;
- a good solution would be the creation of artificial or natural hedges (this may be a fence, bushes and other plantings);
- considerable distance from the carriageway and pedestrian road.
The layout usually depends on the wishes of the owners, so the design can be both standard and original (with the involvement of a designer).
Rules for laying the foundation for a log house
As you know, the foundation of any structure is the foundation. Moreover, it doesn’t matter at all whether the log house is being built by one’s own hands or this process is being carried out under the guidance of specialists, since such work is usually performed the same way with any of the device methods.
Here it is necessary to determine what type of foundation will be used (columnar or strip), and also take into account the following tips:
- laying should be carried out at a possible freezing depth;
- the construction site must be cleaned of any debris;
- It is extremely important to get rid of the upper (fertile) layer of soil.
Do not forget that a properly laid foundation is the key to the strength and reliability of the entire structure.
The choice of material for the log house
It is believed that a classic log cabin (built with your own hands or with the help of professionals - it doesn’t matter) is a structure made of coniferous trees (spruce or pine) with logs with a diameter of 250 mm. Thanks to such wood, a unique atmosphere with an amazing smell is created in the steam room.
But today there is definitely no clear-cut framework regarding what material to use. Speaking about the properties of wood, it is worth noting that, for example, pine is convenient and easy to process and will be an excellent option for creating such a structure as a log house with your own hands (this applies primarily to the design of the bath).
The larch used in construction has a very high cost, but this material is solid, resistant to moisture and can last a very long time.
A proven option is oak, however, to maximize the preservation of its positive properties, it is necessary to cut the tree at the time of greatest maturity and allow it to dry.
Linden and white spruce are excellent natural materials for removing excess moisture; therefore, it is best to use these samples as the skin of the bath, as well as for its internal decoration.
The strongest tree is cedar. A bathhouse built of such material will stand for a long time, while the logs themselves will not crack. Perhaps the main drawback of this option is its high cost.
Material preparation during the construction of the bath
It is not a big deal to fold a cobblestone sauna felling, especially if the performer has at least minimal wood skills.
Initially, it is necessary to take a log with a cross section of 15 x 15 and lay it according to a predetermined design plan using supporting metal or wooden pins. The step of their installation should be equal to approximately 150 cm.
It is necessary to equip the beam with holes designed for the pins to half its thickness, and the diameter should be selected so that the support element fits into it without any problems.
To lay the next row, special holes need to be drilled already in another place (they must be staggered, otherwise the installed beam may be deformed during drying).
Installation of pins during the construction of the bathhouse
As mentioned above, cutting a log house with one's own hands can have several varieties: “into a bowl”, “into a paw”, etc. Another common option is to install cuts with a depth of 1.5 cm in the joining areas of the bars and fix metal brackets in them. The latter method is the simplest and fastest to implement, so it should be discussed in more detail.
The cut is made so that the bracket is located deeper, since gaps may appear during the drying of the material. Such measures protect the log house from deformation and prevent the locking elements from bulging above the surface.
Already completed construction has corners where the ends of the bars protrude beyond the walls. It is completely unnecessary to cut them right away, and there are 2 reasons for this:
- First, you need to wait at least six months so that the wood does not crack at the ends.
- Secondly, such protrusions can play the role of steps, facilitating the ascent to the bathhouse for any work.
The process of aligning the log house from the outside
It is important that between all the bars of the equipped steam room a tape-type insulation is laid. Most often, materials like flax or jute are used for these purposes, but you can use more traditional patterns (tow, moss). In no case should you forget about such an event
as a caulking of a log house with your own hands, however, due to the high technical properties of modern heaters, this can not be done, after making sure of their reliable fixation inside the log house.
Band-type insulation materials must be laid between the boards and secured with a stapler. Technical characteristics of jute are higher than that of flax, which explains its high cost. The fibers of this insulation have one indisputable advantage: during shrinkage of the bars, they are pressed in a certain way, creating an insurmountable barrier to the flow of cold air and moisture.
The device of window openings
When erecting a log cabin from a
beam with your own hands, it is extremely important to pay special attention to such important elements of the structure as window and door openings. If the location parameters of these holes are incorrectly calculated, the design can turn out to be not only ugly, but also functionally incorrect.
To avoid this, cuts should be made in the uppermost of the bars on the proposed installation site, or, as an option, done systematically through one crown. It is important to remember that complete cutting of window openings can only begin when the bathhouse has completely sat down, otherwise the holes may subsequently not be where you need to.
After arranging all the necessary openings, you can begin the following procedures - installing the roof and laying the desired coating. This should be done at the end, since during the drying process the material can be deformed, and the additional weight in the form of a roof will squeeze the beam and prevent various flaws from appearing on its surface, such as gaps and crevices.
Interior decoration of the bathhouse
Repair work in the steam room involves finishing the walls with high-quality insulation, as well as lining them with a wood paneling specially designed for this. The material for this can be very different, since the modern market offers numerous varieties of breeds - aspen, linden, cedar, etc., so it will not be difficult to select the desired sample.
When sewing inside a log cabin from a log with your own hands, do not forget that the maximum temperature in this room is always kept under the ceiling, so it is important to foresee this point and exclude the use of wood containing a large amount of resin, which when melted has the property of melting and dripping.
The building will be especially beautiful and functional due to the original design of benches and shelves, which are also better made from hardwood because they do not burn the body at high temperatures.
In addition, it is worth remembering that the decoration of the bath should be done so that it remains possible to quickly clean the room, so it is better that all the benches below have an open view.
Recommendations for the care of a wooden bath
When constructing such a structure as a bathhouse, you should remember with your own hands that such a structure requires more attention from the owners than an ordinary residential building. Regular exposure to high temperatures and moisture can cause mold and rot, so the following recommendations for the operation of a wooden steam room should be taken into account:
- Even before the start of wall laying, it is important to treat the material with antiseptic compounds, and at the end of the assembly, this should be done at least once every 1-2 years;
- any bathing procedure should end with a thorough wet cleaning of the room and its ventilation;
- all furniture and other items used in the room must be taken outside for drying.
Compliance with such measures will eliminate the appearance of harmful fungi, mold and bacteria in the bathhouse, ensure reliability, attractive appearance and long service life of the entire structure and eliminate the need for any repair work.