Kodiak Log Homes

Updated: Oct. 2001
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Kodiak Log Homes - Style Choices

There are several construction style considerations in the creation of a log home. Styles pertaining to corner notches, log chinking, and peeling are of primary importance, for they will define the overall character of the home.

Corner Notches:

Several corner notch styles exist, any of which we can use in the construction of your new log home:

	Norwegian: This notch creates an extremely stable, tight-fitting corner. It is the notch most often requested in the buildings we manufacture.
	Saddle: This is a popular notch with the European and Asian log home markets. These notches are said to reduce shrinkage because of the removal of the sap-wood.
	Dove-tail: Popular in Europe, this 'heritage' notch dates back to the early settlers. Corners have little shrinkage because of the lack of sap-wood present. A very distinctive look.
	Diamond: Similar to the saddle notch, except that the appearance of the corner is slightly different. The choice between these two notch styles is purely based on the final corner appearance.

Fit and Finish:

	Lateral Notch: This method of stacking logs eliminated the need for 'stuffing the cracks' between the logs of a log wall. Each log has a groove cut for the length of the log on its bottom side. The result of this method is a uniform color on the log wall.
	Log Chinking: This is the 'old style' of keeping the elements out of a log home. The cracks between the logs are stuffed with a chinking material, resulting in horizontal lines running the length of the wall. The chinking material is available in a variety of colors.

Peeling:

Bare peeling (most common): The most common current style of log peeling is to completely strip away the bark from each log. This style yields a 'clean' log with the amber color commonly associated with log homes.

Skip peeling: For a more rustic style, skip peeling leaves part of the bark membrane on the log. This style, while not as bright as the bare peeled logs, has a uniqueness and class all of its own.

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