Log houses in Canada. Canadian logging houses. Connection in paw

Many will agree with the statement that a magical atmosphere reigns in a wooden house. This “hut” seems to have come out of a fairy tale, and looks quite harmonious both in the forest and in the suburbs of the metropolis. If you dream of creating just such a home, you should use the Canadian felling method. About ten years ago, few people had heard of this method, but today Canadian log cutting is quite common. It is noteworthy that in Canada this method has been used since the 70s of the last century, and, therefore, the technology is time-tested.

Material selection

Canadian house logging involves the use of logs that meet specific standards. Experts insist on using logs with a diameter of at least 30 cm at the top. This condition must be met due to the specifics of shrinkage and shrinkage of the entire log structure. A larger diameter can be used at the request of the customer - the thicker the log, the fewer crowns are needed for a log structure, which, of course, will have a positive effect on preserving the heat of the future home. The thick log guarantees thermal insulation of the corner cups.

The length of the logs used can be 14m. During the construction of walls that exceed this parameter in length or according to design needs, joining can be done using screw ties. In addition, the junction must be covered with a transverse wall of the cut. It turns out that for large-area projects, using different lengths of harvested logs, it is possible to erect buildings of any shape and size. It is important to choose the right logs in terms of quality, diameter and length.

In the process of building wooden cottages using Canadian logging, only coniferous wood is used. This is due to the high resistance of coniferous wood to environmental humidity. Such a house will not be subject to destruction either in wet weather or in rain or snow. This wood contains a lot of resins; in addition, it has a high density.

Can be used:

• pine It is traditionally used for the construction of log houses. The level of its resin content and high density guarantee the durability of the structure, and the attractive amber shade of the timber makes it possible to leave the cottage without cladding
• larch. Its strength is 30% higher than that of pine. The level of resin is also higher, so it is more resistant to damage by microorganisms. This wood is a good option for baths
• cedar (cedar pine) is a natural antiseptic. Since ancient times, people have noticed that this wood improves the health of those who live in the house
• Canadian red cedar.

Technology

Canadian felling, the technology of which is excellent when you need a log house with a round log, provides excellent protection from drafts. Also, this type of felling makes it possible not to think about constantly filling up the log house. After all, the technology itself assumes the absence of gaps.

The Canadian log house is built using the tongue-and-groove technology. The groove is a Canadian cup, it faces down, as a result of which additional protection from drafts and moisture is guaranteed. The groove is trapezoidal in shape, and the tenon coinciding with it is wedge-shaped. This is what prevents the cups from opening during drying with the formation of cracks (as in the case of Russian felling), but “jams” the logs one on top of the other. It is worth noting that neither moisture nor air comes into contact with the insulation in the bowl, which means it retains all its properties.

In the process of forming the Canadian cup, double-sided cutting of the log is used at an angle of 45-50 degrees. However, the accuracy of the angle is determined by a specialist for specific logs and adjusted manually. The length of the cut is taken to be two diameters of the log itself (often 60 cm). It is very important to align the notch lines with the mating line of the cups to ensure the integrity of the logs.

To guarantee perfect abutment and “jamming” of the log in the groove and cups during drying, it is worth leaving a special saddle gap of approximately 25 mm. This process is called hanging logs - underwriting or drawing with magnification.

Experts distinguish two types of bowl (lock):

• classic with two tassels at the top
• diamond or diamond notch, which has four notches, two on top and two on bottom. Quite similar to a Norwegian castle, only on a round log.

In Canadian logging there are log releases at the corner joints, which are called “corners”. Such releases are designed in different ways: straight end, along the radius, in a running pattern, figured/curvilinear. The use of log “skirts” in the corners of the butt allows you to give an attractive style to log houses, which emphasizes the uniqueness and natural beauty of natural architecture.

Why is it worth building according to Canadian logging?

There are a number of reasons why it is worth constructing buildings using Canadian technology:

• this method requires builders to select and process each log by hand. Even the planing and sanding of logs has to be done by specialists rather than by machines, which makes it possible to choose the highest quality material and achieve its best condition for construction. Thus, a log prepared for Canadian felling compares favorably with a rounded one
• Heat saving is the basic concept for this technology. For this reason, even cups for insulation and grooves are selected manually to guarantee the most accurate connection
• Due to the peculiarities of fitting logs, it is possible to build a log house in such a way that it looks like a solid mass without joints, gaps, or gaps. The insulation is not visible either from the outside or from the inside, and a second “caulk” is not needed
• Canadian log cutting assumes that during the process of forming walls, the outer layer of wood is not removed, this guarantees the building additional biosecurity and protection from freezing
• The wood layer prevents damage by microorganisms, and also preserves the material from destruction from ultraviolet radiation and burnout. This means that the tree does not change its color under the sun and its properties over time.
• the log retains its natural curves, natural shape and surface structure, thus removing some artificiality from the log house
• Using this technology, a special microclimate is formed in the house, as a result of which the level of comfort and coziness increases. The bathhouse looks very advantageous - Canadian felling makes it possible to preserve the maximum amount of properties of pristine wood for this room.

Disadvantages of Canadian logging

Among the disadvantages it is worth highlighting:

• possible errors arising from the fact that the crowns are selected by eye without special measurements
• inexperienced craftsmen may not symmetrically attach horizontal crowns
• only experienced craftsmen can build using Canadian technology
• high price.

Canadian logging allows you to build durable and energy-efficient houses and bathhouses from logs of different diameters. Thanks to the internal spike in the bowl, the lock self-jams, the walls are airtight, and the joints do not come apart in the corners. Such log houses do not need re-caulking! Carpenters from ROYAL CEDAR have been practicing the construction of log houses using Canadian technology since 2002.

The history of the appearance of Canadian logging

In the mid-18th century, Russian settlers brought this technology to Canada. The local population (Indians and Eskimos) did not know this method of building wooden houses.

In Russia at the same time, architects preferred faster and less labor-intensive cutting methods. Arriving in Canada, Russian craftsmen were forced to adapt Russian cutting to local conditions, sacrifice speed and simplicity, giving preference to reliability and thermal efficiency.

Now Canadian log houses are popular not only in North America and Canada, but also in other countries, including Russia.

Advantages

It is profitable to build houses and baths with “ROYAL CEDAR”! Only we:

• We carefully select building materials. We have a production site and logging plots. We don't buy timber, we cut it ourselves in the Siberian taiga! Each tree is inspected by a master with twenty years of experience and checked with an ultrasonic flaw detector. For construction, blanks with good indicators of curvature, density and resin content are used. Our logs have no visible or hidden defects. Unsuitable specimens are rejected and used for lumber production.
• We develop detailed projects. The sketch part is a sectional view of the frame, a layout with an explication of the premises and a foundation plan. All documents necessary for production are contained in the constructive section: cutting maps for all types of lumber, diagrams for laying crowns and wall layouts. All design documents are created automatically, which eliminates errors. Our log houses are cut in strict accordance with design developments, and each item in the estimate can be justified with documentation.
• We hire the best carpenters and finishers. We build turnkey houses and bathhouses. We do not involve subcontractors in our work; we carry out all design, construction and finishing work ourselves. Our staff employs the best Siberian carpenters and all-round finishers, so we are confident in the result. All work is our guarantee!
• We offer prices from the manufacturer. Projects from ROYAL CEDAR contain documents that allow you to save: cutting maps for wall material and specifications for all lumber. We are manufacturers and do not work with intermediaries. Our Customers pay only for the material and work of our craftsmen. Remuneration for intermediaries and resellers is not included in the construction budget.

Canadian felling: technology features

• Canadian cabin combines the characteristic features of Russian and Norwegian styles. Large diameter logs are suitable for construction, which are carefully adjusted to each other when assembling the structure.
• Carpenters make a special “lock”: in the lower crown a tenon is cut out in a wedge-shaped bowl, and in the upper crown a trapezoid-shaped bowl is cut out. Under the weight of the logs, during shrinkage, the fastening becomes tightly jammed, thereby achieving complete tightness of the “lock.”
• Full matching of bowls in shape and self-jamming of the “lock” minimize the risk of connections being exposed over time. Atmospheric moisture does not penetrate inside the corner. The insulation located in the grooves retains its natural properties for a long time.
• Using Canadian technology, they make double-sided kneading logs at an angle of 45 degrees. The length of the notch is equal to twice the diameter of the log.
• For Canadian log houses, logs processed with a stapler are used. This tool allows you to very carefully debark the workpiece, leaving the sapwood intact. Such logs look original, and log houses made from them last a long time.
• The grooves are made with an adze, the wood is hewn along the grain. This allows you to clog the pores and resin channels. This “preservation” increases the service life of wood.
• For Canadian logging, it is recommended to use logs with a diameter of 400 mm or more. We build from cedar, pine and larch with a diameter of up to 700 mm.

Features of Canadian logging logs

• Tightness. A log house with round bowls, after shrinkage, requires caulking or treating the walls with acrylic sealant using the “Warm Seam” technology. The appearance of cracks is associated with a decrease in the linear dimensions of the log due to shrinkage. In the Canadian cabin this problem is not present: the inclined edges of the lock and self-jamming under the weight of the crowns and roofing system maintain the tightness of the connections. No cracks appear in such a log house, the cut remains sealed.
• The walls look monolithic. There are no gaps between the crowns; this is maintained throughout the entire life of the log house. The insulation remains inside the log, it is not visible and is reliably protected from environmental influences.
• Beautiful appearance. The notches on a large diameter log look original. In the construction of elite log houses, logs with expressive butts are used. The ends are shaped “under a wedge” or “in a run-up pattern”. French and straight end cuts are also available. Our carpenters have an original technique for drawing butt parts. Large-diameter logs processed in the “wild” style or with partial debarking are widely used. The massive chopped trusses that decorate the entrance look original.

Diamond bowl or Diamond edging

• Construction of houses in a diamond bowl requires high skill from carpenters, because this is a very complex technology. The difference from the usual Canadian method is the number of stitches - they are performed not on one side of the crown, but on two:
• A large number of edges intersect in cuttings, which looks like a diamond. This is where the name of this method comes from, with the help of which you can emphasize the natural shape of the butts and the beauty of the wood texture.
• The pinnacle of craftsmanship Tightly fitted (up to a millimeter) corner joints of the crowns are considered.
• Benefits of a Diamond Bowl the same as that of an ordinary Canadian one: complete tightness and absence of cracks after shrinkage of the log house.
• The only drawbackdiamond cutting is to reduce the width of the thermal groove. It is for this reason that it is advisable to choose this type of felling when a wooden house is being built from logs with a diameter of more than 460 mm. In large log houses, diamond cutting looks especially elegant!

Composition of the house kit

• Wall logs;
• Natural moisture lumber for:
• floors;
• rafter system;
• lathing;
• floor or ceiling;
• Inter-crown insulation “Klimalan”;
• Dry birch dowel;
• Ruberoid;
• Protective compounds "Remmers";
• Shrinkage jacks;
• Hardware.

Construction time

Construction time depends on the complexity of the project, the diameter of the log and the workload of the production site.

In countries with cold climates, wooden houses enjoy enormous and well-deserved popularity. This is explained primarily by the very low degree of thermal conductivity of walls made of logs. In each such country, over the centuries, a variety of methods for constructing log houses have been developed. This primarily concerns Russia and Norway. Located on another continent, Canada is, of course, a relatively young country. But here, too, a special method of assembling log houses has been used for several centuries in a row. Most experts consider technology such as Canadian logging to be one of the best today.

Features of the technique

Canadian houses are assembled using a technology similar to our Russian “in a bowl”. That is, a groove is selected in the lower log for the upper one. In this case, the edges of the logs are brought out. This allows you to make the corners of the house as warm as possible. The differences between technologies such as manual Canadian cutting and Russian cutting are as follows:

In the shape of the bowl itself. In Russia, the groove is traditionally made semicircular - according to the shape of the log itself. The Canadian bowl is formed from oval cheeks cut out on the sides of a log, located at a certain angle. In this case, the bowl turns out not oval, but trapezoidal.

In the thickness of the log. When constructing log houses in Russia, material with a cross-section of 20 cm or more can be used. If Canadian logging is used, the logs must have a diameter of at least 50 cm.

In the method of erecting gables. When assembling a house using Russian technology, they are sheathed with boards. In a Canadian house, the gables, as well as the walls, are usually assembled from logs. In this case, segments of different lengths are simply used.

Canadian houses can be assembled from either regular or hewn logs. In the latter case, processing is done manually. In this case, it is necessary to remove the bark as carefully as possible. Thus, the main layer of wood of the log remains intact. Therefore, this material, unlike rounded material, fully retains all its advantages.

The main advantages of the method

Canadian logging has one important advantage compared to other similar methods. All are built from logs containing a small amount of moisture. A few years after construction, such buildings experience significant shrinkage. Logs that have lost moisture, of course, decrease slightly in diameter. In this case, the shrinkage coefficient in the longitudinal and transverse directions of the material is not the same. When using Russian technology, the log itself is reduced in size slightly larger than the bowl. As a result, a gap is formed and the tightness of the walls decreases. In this case, the corners have to be additionally insulated.

When using the Canadian method, this does not happen due to the special shape of the bowl. The walls of the finished building look like a single monolith and do not require re-caulking.

The assembly procedure for such a log house looks like this:

The log is ground, removing a layer of about 2-3 cm. The sapwood should remain intact during this operation.

The cheek pieces are sawn through the top of the log. The result should be a trapezoidal saddle.

Notches are made on the top log and a trapezoidal bowl is cut out. A groove is selected from below along the entire length. This operation is carried out in such a way that after laying there remains a very small gap between the upper and lower logs - an undercut. After drying, it disappears as a crack appears in the log below.

Sometimes a slightly different, improved technology is used to build Canadian houses. In this case, an additional tenon is cut out in the bowl (along the axis of the log). A groove of appropriate dimensions is made in the upper part of the saddle.

Canadian house projects: exterior

Wooden buildings look very impressive if technology such as Canadian logging was used in their construction. Photos of houses built using this technique clearly demonstrate their solid and stylish exterior. The sizes of buildings of this type can vary, just like their layout. There are projects of both one- and two-story Canadian houses. Very often the emphasis in the exterior and interior of such buildings is on glazing. Sometimes even pediments are mounted completely transparent. In this case, supports are used from the same log from which the walls are made, placed vertically.

Large forms are what distinguishes Canadian logging. Projects of houses built using this technology therefore often involve the use of the same massive decorations. For example, in combination with a thick log, natural stone masonry looks very aesthetically pleasing. Therefore, very often Canadian houses are supplemented with various kinds of elements built precisely from this material: supports, built-in barbecues, fireplace chimneys above the roof, etc. The foundations of such buildings are often also erected from it. Sometimes it is used simply for external finishing of the base of a structure.

In most cases, Canadian timber houses are finished using a special, “breathable” acrylic impregnation. In this case, both completely transparent and slightly tinted compositions can be used. For example, a reddish-colored impregnation gives a very interesting effect. After treatment with this material, the wood acquires a noble dark shade.

Various types of architectural additions are also used in the construction of Canadian houses - balconies on massive supports, bay windows, terraces, etc. The parapets of such elements can be figured.

Interior

Inside, houses built using this technology look spacious, very solid and reliable. The Canadian loghouse looks beautiful not only from the outside, but also from the indoors. Therefore, interior decoration in such buildings is used extremely rarely.

Layout

Canadian houses are designed so that living in them is as comfortable as possible. A spacious hall is added to the corridor. Living rooms in buildings of this variety are often large and very well lit due to the presence of large windows. Of course, inside a Canadian house there are all the elements generally inherent in log buildings: visible massive stylish staircases with reliable railings, original stoves or fireplaces.

Canadian chopped baths

Of course, not only residential buildings are erected using this technology. Very often, Canadian felling is used when assembling bathhouses. Like residential buildings, they turn out to be very warm and beautiful. Steaming in a sauna built using Canadian technology is a pleasure. But of course, only if it was built according to all the rules. As in any Canadian installation, the required standards are observed when installing heaters. The distance from the walls of the furnace to the walls of the structure is at least 50 cm. When using protective sheathing, it is 30 cm. A non-combustible base is installed under the furnace. Most often this is galvanized metal sheet.

Arrangement of the bathhouse

The ceilings in the steam room of a Canadian bath should not be very high. A hood must be provided. In addition to the wash room, steam room and dressing room, there is usually a relaxation room. Often Canadian baths are built with an attic and a wide terrace, decorated with massive railings. Doors and windows in such buildings are often mounted on blocks, without the use of a frame.

Benches can be assembled on beams, but more often they are also made massive, with supports made of logs and seats made of very thick boards. A massive table and chairs can be installed in the relaxation room.

Despite the fact that this cutting method is called Canadian, many experts believe that it was most likely invented many centuries ago by Russian Pomors. After all, this technology was brought to Canada from Europe. And most of the cutting methods that exist in this part of the world were borrowed from the Pomors. In Russia, a method of felling “in the saddle” that is quite similar to the Canadian one is still practiced. When using it in logs, cheeks and bowls are also selected and ground.

Canadian cutting of bathhouses and residential buildings has recently gained increasing popularity. After all, this technology makes it possible to build truly high-quality and at the same time very durable structures. Living in such houses is comfortable both in summer and in winter, and they actually look very prestigious.

Hybrid Post ® Beam technology, which appeared in Canada only about 20 years ago, combined traditional Canadian logging and the Post ® Beam method of constructing frame structures from logs, significantly expanding the possibilities of architectural design of facades.

In the simplest version of using hybrid technology, a log first floor is built using classic Canadian felling, and the attic and porch of the house are built using the frame method Post ® Beam. However, recently both construction methods are increasingly being combined within the same floor.

CANADIAN CUTTING

Wooden house building in North America owes its origins to emigrants from the Old World, who used European traditions and construction methods.

In the new technology (the first standard regulating it was dated 1976, the latest - 2012) the marking system, joint design and principles of combating shrinkage from the Norwegian felling system were taken as a basis, but the log house was made not from a gun carriage, but from a round log .

Thus, Canadian logging is considered to be a kind of symbiosis of Norwegian and Russian methods making corner connections.

The Canadian cup has a trapezoidal saddle shape. On the upper part of the lower mating log, two cuts are made at an angle of D5-500 (the exact value depends on the diameter).

The minimum length of the notches is two log diameters, the maximum width of the top of the seat saddle is 90 mm. A corresponding groove is cut out in the upper mating log, the depth of which must be at least 25 mm greater than the height of the saddle.

As a result, a so-called saddle gap is formed above the top of the connection of the lower log with the upper one, which will disappear when the mating crowns shrink as a result of wood shrinkage. For a long time, Canadians limited themselves to such a cup, which made it possible to obtain a fairly strong and dense self-jamming joint called “into the saddle.” But it had one drawback - it did not prevent the wood from twisting when drying.

That is why later a special tenon was introduced into the design of the castle, cut into the bowl of the upper mating log, and a corresponding groove was provided at the top of the lower saddle. (According to some experts, the tenon also helps to reduce the ventilation of corner joints, but not everyone agrees with this thesis). Then another innovation appeared - they began to make a saddle-shaped lock not only in the upper, but also in the lower part of the log, due to which the so-called diamond bowl was obtained. As a result, today there are three options for connecting to a Canadian cup: with bars (“in the saddle”), with bars and a tenon, as well as with upper and lower bars and a tenon.

Another feature of the Canadian log is the original shape of the longitudinal grooves in the mating logs. So, in the lower part of the upper log, a double groove (doublegroove) in the shape of the letter W is cut, and in the upper part of the lower log, a single groove (vigroove) in the shape of the letter V is cut.

True, domestic carpenters, gradually mastering a new technology for themselves, abandoned the use of both, replacing these grooves with a lunar semicircular groove, more familiar to Russian cutting, but with sharp lower edges (as in Finnish or Norwegian cutting), which allows you to reliably cover the groove inside from bad weather intercrown insulation. The width of such a groove, as a rule, is at least 12 cm, but can reach up to % of the diameter of the log, making the connection much warmer than in the Canadian version.

Types of log corner cuts

1. Russian felling

The connecting bowl is located at the bottom of the top log, which makes the corner joint more resistant to precipitation
2. Russian fat tail cutting

It has an improved bowl with a special spike - fat tail. On the opposite side of the log, a groove is created for the tenon of the next log
3.Norwegian cabin from gun carriage

Reminiscent of fat-tail cutting, but the bowl is formed by inclined cuts, thanks to which, when the wood dries out, the joint self-seals under the weight of the crowns
4.Canadian log cabin

A symbiosis of Norwegian and Russian fat-tail cutting - inclined edges and a groove for a tenon are created on the top of the log, which is located in the lower bowl of the upper log

POST® BEAM TECHNOLOGY

The Canadian Post ® Beam logging is essentially a direct descendant of the now almost forgotten Russian logging (in a post, in a rack, in a lock), in which the frame of the building is assembled from vertical posts with grooves selected along them. Logs are inserted horizontally into the latter, at the ends of which spikes corresponding to the geometry are pre-cut.

In this case, a longitudinal recess is made in the lower part of each horizontal log, filled with compaction (moss, tow, etc.), as in other types of Russian felling. But if in Rus' the space between the log posts was usually filled with so-called whips (thin tops of trunks), and such technology was used mainly for the construction of unheated outbuildings, then in Norway, and then in Canada, residential buildings were successfully built using it.

The difference was that in Norway a carriage was used to fill the spaces between the posts, and in Canada rather thick logs were used (their diameter was at least 300 mm).

And the posts themselves in the Canadian version of the felling have become more powerful - their diameter physically cannot be less than 400 mm, since in the area where the filling logs adjoin them, it is necessary to make cuts on the posts with a width of 200 mm. The use of large-diameter logs is not only a tribute to fashion and beauty, but also an opportunity to reduce the number of crowns of a log structure, which, in turn, reduces heat loss through the walls.

It should be noted that in the Post ® Beam technology, the openings between the posts can be filled not only with logs, but also with insulated frame structures, blocks (including those made of foam materials), as well as glass. The wall frame is firmly connected with the equally powerful slab roof structure, forming almost a single whole with it.

Left: Canadian bowl - a traditional version. It involves making ridges (“cheeks”) only on the top part of the log. Suitable for joining logs of any diameter, and especially for combining logs of small and large diameters
Right: Canadian Diamond Bowl
The notches are made on the upper and lower parts of the log; the result is a more labor-intensive, but unusually beautiful connection. Only suitable for joining large diameter logs

CANADIAN CUTTING - CONSTRUCTION PROCESS

The production of the necessary elements and the preliminary assembly of the house, the design of which combined both log and frame technologies, were carried out at a specially equipped construction site located near the wood harvesting sites.

Thus, it was possible not only to select the most suitable workpieces for each structural element, but also to control the work of carpenters at all stages, and in addition, to use lifting equipment without time restrictions. But the main advantage of such an organization of work is the following.

Structures of this type are built using not only Canadian cups, but also grooves and tenons of a wide variety of shapes and sizes, which must be carefully (and therefore long) carried out and scrupulously adjusted to each other, otherwise the house will be impossible to assemble.

That is why the production of log and frame elements and preliminary assembly take many months. However, the customer is not present at the preparatory stage, but only watches how the skeleton of the future house is assembled on his site in just a few days from the delivered logs.

Upon completion of the work, the builders marked each structural element and drew up an assembly diagram (it is a necessary appendix to the construction contract). The frame was then dismantled, packaged and transported to the client’s site, where it was reassembled, but now on a foundation, which was a monolithic slab.

The frame was mounted on wooden dowels, which gave rigidity to the wall structure. When installing the roof, we used technological techniques and details that allowed the elements of the rafter system to slide freely relative to the log walls as the frame shrinked.

The progress of the construction of a house made of Siberian cedar logs with a diameter of 35 to 100 cm is presented in sufficient detail in the photographs, so we will comment only on the stage of constructing the roof, which remained “behind the scenes”. A continuous flooring of planks was built on top of the rafters, thus creating a ceiling.

Through the vapor barrier, in increments of 60 cm, boards with a cross section of 200 * 50 mm were nailed to it, installing them on a narrow edge. In the cavity between the boards, slabs of mineral wool insulation with a total thickness of 200 mm were laid in layers, covered with a vapor-permeable membrane, which was pressed to the boards with counter battens with a cross-section of 50 * 50 mm. Next, a wooden sheathing made of a block with a cross-section of 100 x 25 mm, pre-treated with an antiseptic composition, was attached to the counter-battens, and to the latter - a metal tile flooring of the color chosen by the owners.

ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF CANDY CUTTING

As we have already noted, recently in our country there has been increased interest in Canadian logging and the associated Post ® Beam and Hybrid Post ® Beam technologies, about which many laudatory reviews are published. Of course, these methods have certain advantages, but not all of them are absolutely indisputable. Let's start with the advantages of the Canadian logging itself, first of all with its undoubted advantage.

In the Canadian bowl, double-sided cuts are performed only in the lower log. The result is a cone-shaped “saddle”-zamon, which self-seals as the wood dries out. This solution eliminates the appearance of cracks in the corners of the log house and eliminates the need for repeated caulking.

But it’s quite possible to argue with other theses.

The Canadian bowl is a stronger and warmer compound than the Russian bowl.

If we compare it with a regular round bowl of notches in the clapper or in the clapper, then the Canadian one is really stronger. However, such cuts as in a fat tail or in a flap with a cut are in no way inferior to it in strength, and a cut in a hook is even superior.

If we talk about the “warmth” of the connection, then with a log diameter of 300 mm, the thickness of the wood at the junction of the logs in the Canadian cup in the narrowest part does not exceed 200-250 mm. The width of the insulation embedded in the saddle gap in this zone is a maximum of 70 mm. The thickness of the wood layer when joined into a Russian bowl is almost equal to the diameter of the log. At the same time, the latter is insulated over the entire area. So which of the two compounds is warmer?

The next statement: it is less labor-intensive to implement. Yes, making a trapezoid with almost flat edges by cutting with a chainsaw is really easier than, as in the Russian version, cutting out a bowl with an axe, adze, or even a chisel.

But let’s not forget that making a Canadian bowl also involves quite a complex double drawing of logs, as well as a large amount of manual grinding. That is why the price of Canadian log houses is quite high. It is also necessary to take into account the influence of processing methods on the durability of wood. The saw loosens and “fringes” the surface of the wood, which even after sanding remains vulnerable to the penetration of dampness. The ax smoothes the outer layers, closing the pores, which prevents moisture from penetrating inside the product. So which option is better?

Now about Post ® Beam technology. Like all frame construction methods, it allows you to build houses at a permanent location with greater speed (assembly lasts 1-2 weeks). And you can begin finishing the walls immediately after completing the installation of the frame (the structure is not subject to shrinkage).

But if we talk about the Hybrid Post ® Beam technology, in which a log structure is combined with a frame structure, then when they shrink, they will behave completely differently. Of course, the situation can be saved by screw shrinkage compensators installed under each pillar support, but only on the condition that the need to regulate them will be monitored by experienced specialists. In general, the construction of such houses - structurally complex, with elements having a huge mass - should be trusted exclusively to professionals in this technology. Unfortunately, we still have few of those.

And yet, the appearance of new technology on the Russian market cannot but rejoice, because it opens up wide opportunities for architects to implement various ideas designed to make each house unusual and even unique, like a work of art. Besides. Hybrid Post ® Beam allows you to save money by using lighter foundation options (a frame structure is lighter than a log structure) and reducing the start time for finishing work.

DIAGRAMS FOR THE SHRINKING PROCESS OF RUSSIAN AND CANADIAN BOWLS

1. The shape of the bowl partially follows the surface of the lower log. The insulation is laid over the entire area of ​​the bowl

2. The logs are adjusted to each other more accurately. The insulation is placed in the so-called saddle gap

3-4. Both types of cups undergo changes during drying. Depending on the initial moisture content of the logs, their diameter decreases by 5-10 96. Accordingly, the shapes of the bowls and the size of the gaps in them change. The log house begins to settle

5. Large gaps remain at the bottom of the cup, which will have to be caulked with flax jute or tow.

6.Due to the triangular shape of the bowl, the connection self-seals. No need to caulk

Filling frame walls

The connection of the ends of the horizontal elements with the vertical logs-posts was made using the “tenon-groove” system: the groove was selected in the posts (a), and the tenons were cut at the ends of the filling logs (b). In the lower part of each log, a longitudinal groove was selected, into which, during final assembly, an inter-crown seal was inserted. This also sealed the tenon-groove joints.

Additional Information

CLEANING THE BARK WITH A JET OF WATER

When processing wood, it is important to preserve its natural properties. That is why devices are increasingly being used that make it possible to remove bark from a log using a pressurized water jet. With this debarking, the metal of the tool does not come into contact with the most important protective layer of the log - the sapwood and does not damage it. As a result, the wood not only retains the natural beauty and texture of the surface, but also better withstands environmental influences.

CENTURY TRADITIONS

The main tool of a carpenter, as many centuries ago, is a “draw” - a tool similar to a compass: when marking, one leg slides along the surface of the lower log, the second draws a line on the upper one. Another ancient, but equally indispensable tool is an adze, with which a longitudinal groove is made. This ax smoothes the outer layers of wood, closing the pores and preventing moisture from penetrating inside the product.

LITTLE TRICKS

It is no secret that when cutting logs across the edge of the cut with a chainsaw, thin chips become overgrown. To prevent their appearance, use a simple technique - first draw a knife along the cut line. In this case, chips may appear only on the cut part of the log

Canadian technologies for building durable and environmentally friendly houses have gained significant popularity in recent years. This is partly due to the naturalness and energy-saving function of such buildings. Prefabricated structures are also popular due to their cost-effectiveness and simplified assembly techniques. Against this background, North American logging technology is also worthy of attention. Despite its relevance in our time, the basic principles for the construction of such houses were laid down in the middle of the last century. Another thing is that Canadian log cutting technology has been significantly improved in our time. Among the advantages of this approach to construction are the same natural design, energy-saving advantages and, most importantly, reliability and durability.

General information about the technology

This method of forming a house is also called “bowl” cutting. Based on the general characteristics of construction, the technology can be classified as a variation of traditional Russian logging. Moreover, its roots come from Russia, but it has not taken root here, but Canadian craftsmen have improved it and have been using it for decades. Also, modern builders from Russia have taken a different look at the advantages of cutting logs using Canadian technology, and are increasingly using this technique in their work. Among the features of this cutting method, one can note the complexity of the design. If classic log houses are mainly formed using the technique of simple laying of elements, then the installation configuration according to the Canadian method is highly accurate and thoughtful. Of course, it is painstaking installation that ultimately makes it possible to obtain highly durable houses that are not subject to biological destruction processes.

What are the differences from Norwegian cutting

Similar climatic conditions in Scandinavia and Canada also led to many similarities in approaches to construction. Therefore, the two technologies have more similarities than differences. For example, both methods make it possible to form a dense, self-wedging frame. Canadian cutting, like Norwegian cutting, is done without the use of nails, so the responsibility of the architects designing such a house increases.

But there are also significant differences. The main one is the use of large logs, the diameter of which can reach 50 cm. In the case of a Norwegian log house, a well-prepared carriage is more often used. Another distinguishing nuance lies in the technique of forming corners. North American builders use “saddle” cutting, which precisely ensures the tightness of the fit of the logs. Largely due to this feature, Canadian log house cutting is more popular. A photo with an example of fitting logs is presented below.

Performing markup

During the construction process, you should use a special tool that will increase the accuracy of the formation of the log house. This is a hammer that has two sharp rods, with the help of which the contours of the future bowl are outlined. Carpenters call this tool a dash, but there are other names as well. The marking itself must be strictly guided by the technical specifications, which will be implemented by the Canadian log house. Projects, in addition to layouts, can take into account different parameters of the bowl. Of course, for large buildings these dimensions will increase - and vice versa. Marking should begin with determining the parameters of the logs. Next, you need to number each whip, which will eliminate the possibility of errors in further laying.

Creating a "saddle"

The base of the “bowl” is the “saddle” into which the logs are placed. It should also be noted that each joint must initially have a special tenon. Outwardly, it may seem that the classic tongue-and-groove installation technique is being implemented, but this is not entirely true, since the joint is made by bringing together rounded planes - that is, through “saddles”. If you do Canadian log house cutting yourself, you can make calculations using a simplified scheme. For example, in determining the depth of the “saddle” you should focus on the radius of the log, which will subsequently be laid in this niche. This creates an organic masonry with a tight connection of logs. In this case, it is necessary to retreat from the edge at least 25 cm, and the marking of the “saddle” itself should be done with a sharp nail or as ordinary pens and markers can easily be erased.

Cutting methods

During the chopping process, it is necessary to use a high-quality tool, which can be a sharp cleaver or chainsaw. Professional companies use special equipment for this task, which also makes it possible to form “bowl” contours that are almost ideal in size. However, even in the homeland of technology, manual Canadian felling of log houses is more often used. How to make the base of a log house in this way? A spike should be cut out in the lower crown along the central part of the “bowl”. A groove is made in the upper part in the same way. Further, during the assembly process, a heat insulator will be laid in these places. The fitted crowns are again disassembled to make the frame circle. At the final stage, the crowns are assembled so that the “bowls” are oriented downward.

Tightness as a feature of the Canadian log house

In the process of designing and constructing a Canadian log house, it is important to be prepared for the fact that the technique of its formation itself will not provide a sufficient level of airtightness. In other words, increased tightness eliminates even the slightest ventilation in the walls. In this case, the advantage of the house in the form of high density also turns into a disadvantage. The only option to correct the situation would be to introduce forced ventilation equipment into the log house. The loose fit of the logs immediately after construction should not be embarrassing - the shrinkage process eliminates the smallest cracks and seals the frame. Canadian logging, like most technologies for constructing wooden houses, requires additional thermal insulation, which also reduces the possibilities for natural ventilation.

Types of logs used

Don’t think that the technology is a one-size-fits-all solution with no possibility of making adjustments. The greatest space for individual choice is provided by the variety of the main material - logs. Or rather, methods of preparing wood. It must be said that Canadian technology requires considerable investment in building materials, so there will be an opportunity to save money. However, you should start with the optimal solution for those who do not want to skimp on quality. In this case, you should prefer a scraped log. This material retains the natural shape of the surface, which also increases the aesthetic advantages of the log house. The drawing of the crowns in such a design is carried out with minimal tolerances, duplicating the complex shape of the elements.

The option of planed logs is no less attractive. All external flaws and defects of the log are smoothed out, thereby simplifying the drawing process. This is a durable and high-quality processed log, which is inferior to scraped only in aesthetic merits. If you plan to cut log houses in Canada with minimal investment, then it is worth using a planed log, the drawing of which is carried out in one approach. However, the tolerances of “bowls” with grooves in this case increase, which may require caulking.

For beginners in working with log houses, professional carpenters recommend using a notching saw when processing logs, and then removing excess with a chisel. You should definitely have a ready-made log with a correctly executed “bowl” in your inventory - this will be an example that you can use as a guide in your work. In the absence of a reference log, in some cases tin templates are used, which will reduce the risk of inaccurate processing. But in any case, each crown must be additionally checked with a level. There are other subtleties in Canadian log cutting that are worth keeping in mind. So, if an excess layer was removed during processing, this does not mean that the log becomes unsuitable for use. A layer of insulation that will lie between the logs will allow a few millimeters to be replenished.

Advantages of Canadian logging

All the advantages of the technology are revealed already during the operation of the house. Among them we can highlight the lack of reliability of the dense structure, durability and decorative qualities of the log house. By the way, externally the joints look unusual and even resemble patterns. The close fitting of wooden elements also affects the energy-saving function of the house. Heating costs are minimized if high-quality insulation was carried out during construction.

Disadvantages of Canadian logging

The construction process cannot be considered easy, so inexperienced craftsmen often encounter problems. This applies to both marking and the process of laying logs. The construction itself requires significant costs if high-quality wood material is used. If you use cheap raw materials, then the operational advantages that such a log house should have are more likely to be leveled. The Canadian loghouse provides good protection from the cold, but only due to the tightness of the structure. As already noted, this nuance does not have the best effect on the ventilation of the house. It is impossible to structurally get rid of this shortcoming during the construction process, so they solve the problem through additional supply of ventilation systems.

Conclusion

There are many construction techniques. Many of them have many common technological techniques, thanks to which the result is a durable, economical to maintain and simply beautiful log house. Canadian logging, in turn, has its own unique features. They are mainly expressed in achieving a high degree of joint density, which ultimately ensures both the durability of the house and an optimal microclimate in its premises. At the same time, technology does not exclude other advantages of wooden structures. These include environmental friendliness, a variety of planning configurations and low maintenance requirements.