Our Exclusive Construction Details
While the GLH Smart Log profile is vitally important, there are other considerations for log wall construction. These include, but are not limited to, the corner and butt joints, the door and window frames, and the attachment of interior walls to log walls. We have developed construction details and methods taking all these into account.
Spline Grooves for Butt Joints
It is not economically feasible to obtain logs long enough to span the full width of most walls, so it is necessary for two logs to butt into one another. Where they meet is called a butt joint. This joint must be sealed properly to make it weatherproof, and we make that easy with our Poly-Spline™.
All of our logs are manufactured with a vertical groove on both ends. When the logs are set in place, these grooves line up and our Poly-Spline™ gasket in inserted in the grooves. The gasket material is a closed cell foam that will prevent air and water infiltration and is pliable to allow it to compress. A special “shoehorn” tool, which is included in every kit, is used to insert the spline gasket.
In addition, since there will be logs cut to fit at the job site, it will be necessary for additional groove cuts be made on-site. Therefore, we includes three jigs with every kit to ensure that the builder can quickly and easily cut the grooves for the butt joints.
Pre-cut Splined Window and Door Bucks
Installing the proper size door and window bucks (full width lumber made to surround the openings for windows and doors to which the finish material is attached) has never been this easy!
The door and window bucks for the log walls come from GLH ready to attach together in the sizes called out on your blueprints. Which means you won’t have to cut your own bucks to fit! Each set of bucks is cut to length and individually wrapped and identified by name. You simply attach the pieces together and place it in the log wall. The two side pieces of the buck have wood splines that will align with the spline notches cut in the end of the logs. As the logs settle they will slide down the buck spline without affecting the windows or doors. A special sealer is also used at the spline which will provide an air and water seal without interfering with the settlement process.
GLH kits include the gaskets that go above each buck to seal the settlement space above each door, window and fireplace opening. We also provide special shaped gaskets that seal between the logs and the trim pieces.
Note: The precut bucks are included when the windows and doors are purchased from GLH. If the windows and doors are not purchased from GLH, random length bucks are available for cutting on the job site.
Exclusive GLH Wall Guide
Typically, a log home is constructed with log exterior walls and 2 x 4 and/or 2 x 6 frame walls that divide the interior space into rooms. We call these framed walls the “partition” walls. It is very important that these partition walls be attached to the log walls so that they are secure, but also in a manner that allows the logs to naturally settle.
The GLH Wall Guides provide a secure attachment of a frame wall to the log wall but allows for any log settlement. An added advantage to the wall guides is that they provide a very strong and stable vertical surface, minimizing the chance of a log wall bowing over the years.
Logs Around the Subfloor
At GLH, we recommend setting the exterior log walls on the foundation walls rather than onto the subfloor. To do this, GLH includes two additional rows of logs to build up the height of the subfloor (sill plate, joist, and floor sheathing) so that these two rows of logs will encircle, or go around, your subfloor.
Gastineau is the only company to provide this structural improvement. We feel it is extremely important to do this as it allows you to bolt the log wall to the concrete foundation, which provides higher seismic and wind ratings, it is more energy efficient, and it even looks better!