![]() ![]() There should be little space between the logs since no insulation is used.Logs are stacked together horizontally, fitting tightly and forming the walls.This style was used to build the first log cabins and is the most traditional.There are several distinctive log cabin styles, from the method adopted by frontiersmen to the construction methods employed in the log cabins of today. A stone or brick fireplace warmed the cabin but also provided a gathering place for the family.Roofs were also wood, featuring a purlin or rafter structure.Rather than glass, animal skin or greased paper often covered the window opening. The homes usually had one window for fresh air and natural light.Eventually, after their farm was up and running, families added space or built larger homes. These frontier-era homes typically provided one room measuring about 10feet by 16feet or so.Cabins started with a stone foundation to protect the wood from damp soil.Early log houses were constructed of oak, maple, pine, cypress and other wood species, depending on preference and availability.Log cabins were built with wooden logs.Owners could replace any damaged parts when they reconstructed the cabin.Ĭharacteristics of the Original Log Cabin But these homes were movable, too, and could be disassembled and rebuilt in a different location. Due to the harshness of frontier life, sunlight and drainage were two requirements when selecting the lot where the house would live. The building site has always played a significant role in the log cabin. If a man was building the cabin solo, the process could take several weeks. These inexpensive houses could usually be assembled in a few days if several men were working together. Credit: David Mark/PixabayĪffordability and a straightforward construction method are major benefits of the log cabin. On occasion, log cabins were nailed together as a shortcut, but those homes weren’t structurally sound.Ī log cabin is a simple version of a log home that's known for being easy to construct as well as affordable. Unlike in traditional construction, nails were typically not used in log cabins, but rather, dowel joints reinforced stability. Tight notches minimized any gaps and didn’t require chinking or filling the spaces with mud, straw, sticks, etc. The original log cabin was constructed using stacked horizontal logs and interlocking the ends with notches. Even with their Scandinavian roots, these sturdy residential dwellings would go on to become especially symbolic in the U.S., as log cabins were quintessential to the American frontier. They built the first log cabins in the Delaware and Brandywine River Valleys on the East Coast. In the U.S., the log cabin emerged in the 17th century when Finnish and Swedish settlers arrived. Though no exact date or location has been proven, its roots can likely be traced to Northern and Eastern Europe during the Bronze Age, around 3500 B.C. With origins in the ancient world, this rustic house style has been around for thousands of years. A log cabin is a smaller, simpler version of a log home. ![]()
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