Alaska Log Building Construction Guide
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AlaskaAlaska LogLog BuildingBuilding ConstructionConstruction GuideGuide BuildingBuilding Energy-Efficient,Energy-Efficient, QualityQuality LogLog StructuresStructures inin AlaskaAlaska by Michael Musick illustrated by Russell C. Mitchell for Alaska Housing Finance Corporation Alaska Log Building Construction Guide by Mike Musick additional text by Phil Loudon edited by Sue Mitchell graphics by Russell Mitchell photos by Mike Musick or as noted for Alaska Housing Finance Corporation When we build, let us think that we build forever. Let it not be for present “delight nor for present use alone. Let it be such work as our descendants will thank us for; and let us think, as we lay stone upon stone, that a time is to come when those stones will be held sacred because our hands have touched them, and that people will say, as they look upon the labor and wrought substance of them, “See! This our parents did for us.” —John Ruskin ” ii Acknowledgements he authors would like to thank the many people who made this book Tpossible. Please know that your contribution is appreciated, even if we forgot to mention you here. Phil Loudon contributed a lot of time and text to the retrofit chapter. Sandy Jamieson, noted artist and master log builder, provided thoughtful comments and review. Phil Kaluza, energy specialist for Alaska Housing Finance Corporation (AHFC), contributed the sample energy ratings in Appendix C and other information on AkWarm. And particularly, this book would not have been possible without Bob Brean, director of the Research and Rural Development Division; Lucy Carlo, research and rural development specialist; and Mimi Burbage, energy specialist for AHFC. Thanks are due to Dan Fauske, executive director of AHFC, and Judith DeSpain, deputy executive director of AHFC, for their continued support. iii Contents Chapter 1: Introduction 1 Introduction .......................................................................................... 1 Disclaimer ............................................................................................. 1 Energy-efficient Log Homes............................................................... 1 Big Logs ................................................................................................. 2 Small Logs............................................................................................. 3 Chapter 2: Problems and Solutions 5 Problems................................................................................................ 5 From the Ground Up ........................................................................... 5 Good Soils ............................................................................................. 6 Permafrost ............................................................................................. 7 Design .................................................................................................... 7 Shrinkage ............................................................................................ 10 The Building as a System.................................................................. 13 If You Want to Borrow Money ......................................................... 14 Top Ten Building Science Rules ....................................................... 14 Chapter 3: Meeting the State of Alaska’s Building Energy Efficiency Standards 15 Statewide Regions ............................................................................. 15 Four Ways to Comply With the Building Energy Efficiency Standard...................................................................... 15 1. Prescriptive Method ................................................................... 16 2. Building Budget Method ............................................................ 16 3. Performance Method .................................................................. 16 4. Energy Rated Method ................................................................. 17 Chapter 4: Building the Log House 19 In the Woods ....................................................................................... 19 Weathering.......................................................................................... 20 The Foundation .................................................................................. 22 Permafrost Foundations ................................................................... 25 Log Working Tools............................................................................. 27 Half Logs ............................................................................................. 28 Three-quarter Logs ............................................................................ 31 Compression-fit Saddle Notch......................................................... 31 Round Notch ...................................................................................... 32 Log Scriber .......................................................................................... 32 The First Scribe ................................................................................... 33 Scribing the Notch ............................................................................. 34 Final Scribing ...................................................................................... 36 Back on the Ground ........................................................................... 36 Cutting the Notch .............................................................................. 36 Cutting the Lateral Groove............................................................... 40 v Contents (continued) The Log Walls ..................................................................................... 41 Airtight Log Walls ............................................................................. 42 Finishing the Logs ............................................................................. 42 Chinking and Sealing ........................................................................ 43 Short Log Construction ..................................................................... 44 Making It Easier ................................................................................. 46 The Plate Log ...................................................................................... 47 More Than Just Logs ......................................................................... 48 Windows and Doors .......................................................................... 48 Cutting the Splines ............................................................................ 49 Placement and Planning ................................................................... 49 The Roof .............................................................................................. 53 Sealing the Ceiling ............................................................................. 54 Hot Roof or Cold Roof? .................................................................... 54 Chapter 5: Mechanical Systems 57 Chimneys and Vents.......................................................................... 57 Combustion Air.................................................................................. 58 Plumbing ............................................................................................. 59 Arctic Utility Chase ........................................................................... 61 Electrical .............................................................................................. 62 Ventilation........................................................................................... 65 Chapter 6: Retrofit 67 Should You Retrofit or Rebuild? ...................................................... 67 What is Payback? ............................................................................... 67 Retrofit Checklist ............................................................................... 67 So What Shape is Our House In?..................................................... 70 Let’s Start at the Bottom.................................................................... 72 Exterior Wall Retrofit......................................................................... 75 Interior Wall Retrofit ......................................................................... 77 Roof Retrofit ....................................................................................... 78 Chimney and Flue Penetrations ...................................................... 81 Chapter 7: Maintenance 83 Log Homes Require Maintenance ................................................... 83 Washing and Finishing the Logs ..................................................... 83 Find and Caulk the Leaks ................................................................. 83 Carpenter Ants ................................................................................... 84 Conclusion 86 Appendix A: Alaska Building Energy Efficiency Standard A-1 Appendix B: Log Building Standards B-1 Appendix C: Sample Energy Ratings for Log Homes C-1 Appendix D: References and Bibliography D-1 Appendix E: Glossary E-1 vi Chapter 1 Introduction Introduction Energy-efficient he Alaska Log Building Construc- Log Homes Ttion Guide is written to help log From the south slope of the Brooks builders, owner-builders, contrac- Range, which more or less defines tors, architects, engineers, and the northern limit of the boreal building manufacturers build log forest, to the rain