Log Home Store

Books listed by Author
Chain Saw and Wood Carving - how-to
Log and Rustic Furniture
Log Home - plans, designs, ideas, picture books and personal stories  
Log Home - how-to      (this is where you are now)
Log Home - maintenance, repair, restoration
Log Home - books in French
Timber Frame - how-to, design, plans
Wood - and other related topics

Note: In the US Books DVD's and Videos ship at $3.50 for the first one and $1.00 for each additional and are shipped Media Mail.
When books are ordered with other items they may be shipped UPS at regular ground rate.

How-to Books

From building your own from scratch or kit, to contracting, repairing or restoring; one of these books will fit your needs. 

A down to earth guide to building solar-powered log homes, complete with hot-to illustrations and photos plus enlightening profiles of log home owners across the country using solar power and/or living off the grid.
The Ewings take you on a journey of handcrafting an off-the-grid log  home in the Colorado Rockies and discover how renewable energy is a perfect match for modern log home living...throughout the book you'll find journal entries, as well as 'LaVonnes Verities' and 'Rex's Maxims'...

Softbound / 255 Pages

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Crafting Log Homes - Solar Style

$25.00

Allan Mackie's newest book. Allan Mackie believes - and demonstrates in this book - that attitude is at least as important as carpentry skills. Given a will to learn and a desire to make something of one's own, the average person is more than capable of building a log house that will serve an individual, couple, or family for years to come. 
Hundreds of photographs and detailed drawings take the reader step by step through the log home building process: selecting the land; purchasing and preparing the logs, and all the other steps involved. 
As a unique feature of the book, the author takes us through his current log home building project on a 100 acre wilderness site. The reader experiences the entire process - from buying the land right up to moving in and spending that first winter.                

Softbound / 232 Pages

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The Owner-Built House

• A valuable instructional book that explains many of the more technical points of handcrafted log work. 
• More than 400 illustrations and photos.
• Book is in both metric and imperial, (feet, inches)
• Many chapters have been expanded upon.
• Special layflat binding

Includes:

• 20 pages on Sill Log layout 
• A full index
• Choosing and buying logs
• 7 chapters on Scribe-Fit Log Walls
• 5 chapters on Roofs for Log Homes-including mitered trusses, and log valley rafters.
• Also a discussion on Your Log Home Project, Tools, Useful Books, Log Designers & Engineers, Log Building Schools, Log Building Organizations, and Log Building Standards. 
  
  272 pages lays flat when open.

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Log Construction Manual

Originally published in Germany in 1942, this book has gained recognition as a definitive work on the European tradition of horizontal log construction.
Begins with sections on the physical makeup and properties of wood, tree species, and the many aspects of proper felling and seasoning. 

Following on this are detailed chapters on:

• Foundations
• Sills
• Log walls
• Corner work (at least 45 examples)
• Partition wall joinery, (including intricate notching techniques)
• Roof framing
• and so on up to the ridge pole. 

 Softbound / 328 Pages

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Craft of Log Building

$21.95

 From tools and site selection to foundation work and bush cabin etiquettte, this includes just about everything you need to build with logs. Detailed drawings and insightful text will take you from standing timber to finished home. Author/Photographer Tom Walker has lived and worked in Alaska for over 40 years. He lives in a log cabin he built himself near Denali National Park.
Softbound / 178 Pages

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Building the Alaskan Log Home

$32.95

Everything you'll need to know about the classic methods of building a log cabin are presented in this one handy volume. This is a step by step illustrated guide than will give an inexperienced builder a true picture of how a log cabin can be build using various time and labor saving devices of the time. Illustrations are in black and white. Not often do you find a discussion of what axe to use (weren't no chainsaws in common use back then bub), and how to use oakum and traditional mortar style mix for chinking. 

Detailed information on:

• Types of Cabins
• Location Selection
• Tools
• Timber
• Site Clearing
• Foundations
• Walls
• Roofs
• Floors
• Porches
• Garages
• Furniture
• and much more...

Softbound / 200 Pages (1/2 size book)

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Log Cabins and How to Build Them

$12.95

This revised and expanded edition has been eagerly awaited. One of the few  books on the market we're aware of that explains the shrink-to-fit saddle notch corner system. The text many of today's successful builders used to get started in log building. Provides essential advice for both the novice and experienced log builder on financing, blueprints, site planning, timber selection, falling a tree, log storage, notches, hewing, joists and rafters, safety, electrical wiring, foundations, basements and much more. More than 100,000 copies in print. Used as a textbook in many log building schools. B. Allan Mackie and his school(s), are responsible for training many of today's best Handcrafted, Scribe-fit style log builders. To say I'm "Mackie trained" is a badge of distinction. 

Softbound / 8th Edition / 136 Pages.

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Building-with-logs

$24.95

 
Focusing on the hewn face, dovetail corner, chinked style of building, Progresses into repairing and restoring. One of the few places you can find "recipes" for traditional mortar mixes. - a must for builders of this style. 

• Selecting and sharpening appropriate tools, such as an adze.
• Constructing a solid foundation and framing the house.
• Selecting appropriate logs.
• Hewing the logs, including scoring and slicing.
• Replacing rotted wood.
• Notching corners
• Building and restoring the roof.
• Adding finishing touches to make the house a home.
  
  Full of color and black and white photos.
  Revised edition of McRaven's earlier book. Softbound / 162 Pages.

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The Classic Hewn Log Home

 With this book you'll learn basic construction techniques for both simple one store and more complex multi story dwellings. Shows information on building using both flat on flat and coped methods of building, as well as how to erect a "kit" log shell. Some of the topics covered include: 

• Shape logs, make corner joints, erect walls, fit joists, add decks...
• How manufacturers' kits differ, with many photos and sketches
• How to pick the best site for your house and plan for foundation, driveway and landscaping
• Tools you'll need and the ways to simplify many of the harder jobs (such as lifting wall logs)
  
  Full of black and white photos and sketches.
  Updated Edition. Softbound / 196 Pages.

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Build Your Own Low Cost Log Home

This is one of our best sellers. Great for owner-builders. Leads you through the entire building process including stacking a mill log package. Over 840 illustrations. Special section of design options including vertical log and cordwood construction. Whether you want to build a modest vacation cabin or a grand multi-gabled manor- whether you want to chop down your own trees or assemble numbered logs from kits-you'll find how to do it here, in this comprehensive guide to building log homes. Covers subtrades such as electrical and plumbing more comprehensively than most how-to log building books. 

Softbound / 406 Pages.

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Complete Guide to Building Log Homes

Completely updated. Tells you everything you need to know to get the log home of your dreams at an affordable price. Learn about contracting and management skills you already possess. Good step-by-step program to being your own general contractor. Heldman is now a mortgage consultant in financing log home construction. He founded two schools of building and written several books on construction.  

Softbound / 116 Pages.

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How to Afford Your Own Log Home

One of the most popular owner-builder books. Walks you through the actual construction process of your log home, with tips on: basic construction skills and tools, roads, wells, septic systems, foundation, excavation, framing, wiring, plumbing, roofing, finishing, post construction maintenance.                  

Softbound / 245 Pages

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Log Homes Made Easy

Your complete workbook for managing a log home construction project. The Log Home Project Manager is a comprehensive workbook to help you plan and direct building your log home. It contains the following.

Complete cost estimating system including:

• Cost detail sheets for all stages of building
• Log home cost summary sheets
• Request for quotation forms for Subcontractors
• Worksheets for estimating/bidding materials
• Bid Log for tracking Bid/Estimate status
• Useful Tables and Formulas
• Daily Site Report
• Complete construction calendar

Set up to be best used with Cooper's "Log Homes Made Easy", this book is a welcome addition to any building project. 
Softbound / 200+ Pages.

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Log Home Project Manager

A technical, pocket-sized book full of calculations for round logs. This is a "must have" for handcrafted log builders, both professional and D-I-Y er's as well as engineers, architects and building officials. Includes the 2000 Log Building Standards. 

Softbound 125 Pages

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Log Span Tables

Lots of photographs and illustrations. In this book you'll find notches ranging from the simple "round" notch and progressing through "dovetail", "sheepshead" and many more. A great book for the pro. Used by many of the log home building trade schools and in the "library" of most log home companies. 

Softbound 92 Pages.

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Notches of All Kinds

First published in 1872, this book is filled with advice on the best ways to plan and construct dwellings in any location, using wood, earth and gravel. Originally written for those fanning out from Eastern cities to homestead, The Homestead Builder is a fascinating historical record and useful handbook for those interested in Americana or self-sufficiency.

Included topics:

• How-to erect a log cabin
• How-to erect slab houses

Guidance on:

• Building an outdoor oven
• Building a cellar
• Fence Posts
• Furniture
• Gates

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The Homestead Builder