Log Homes & Log Cabins Custom Designed and Log Home & Cabin Packages by Donaldson Log Homes & Cabins - Construction available in Western North Carolina as well as other areas

Donaldson Log Homes & Cabins

Log Profiles
Options for Construction of Your Log Home

The D-Log

The D-Log gets its name from the uncanny resemblance it has to the capital letter D. It has a straight interior with a V-groove and a slightly rounded exterior. The interlocking double tongue & groove system used to hold the logs in place is known for its strength and airflow prevention. Homeowners love the rustic appearance of the exterior and the finished demeanor of the interior provided by the D-Log.

• We offer D-Logs in 6"x 8" and 8"x 8"
• The D-Log is offered with both a Dove Tail and Butt & Pass corner system.

The Double D-Log

The Double D-Log is the newest addition to our profile selection. Both the interior and exterior are slightly rounded. This gives the homeowner an appearance of a round log while achieving greater value and energy efficiency in their home. The interlocking double tongue & groove system used to hold the logs in place is known for its strength and airflow prevention. Many homeowners have adopted the Double D as their profile of choice favoring its traditional rustic appearance on both the inside and outside of their home.

• We offer Double D-Logs in 6"x 8" and 8"x 8"
• The Double D-Log is offered with a posted corner and saddle notch corner systems.

The Round Log

The round log has been used in the construction of homes since the days of the first settlers. As these early settlers struggled to tame their environment, they built their first homes out of logs. Cutting down trees and trimming them to length, the early pioneers left them in their natural round shape. Today, many homeowners feel the classic round is the only profile that captures the spirit of those early pioneers as they tamed our great nation. Donaldson Log Homes & Cabins offers the classic round in both the 8" and 10" profile. Both profiles take advantage of the strength and airflow resistant seal provided by the proven tongue and groove system.

• We offer Round Logs in 8" and 10" Diameters
• The classic round log is offered with the Saddle notch corner system.

The Square Log

The Appalachian square log has been our icon for the past several years. With recent technology updated in the log home industry the square log has evolved into a very workable and structurally sound profile. It now encompasses the structurally proven interlocking double tongue and groove system. The interlocking double tongue & grooves used to hold the logs in place are known for their strength and airflow prevention.

• We offer Square Logs in 6"x 12" and 8"x 12"
• The square log is offered with the traditional Dove Tail corner system.

The Posted Corner

The posted corner system is used on the Double D Log. In this system, the logs are butted and spliced up against a corner post. The post is then butted on the outside by short sections of spliced logs to add to the traditional look of the home. Homeowners like the look and charm of the Double D Posted Corner System.

• Available with: Double D-Logs

The Butt and Pass Corner

The butt & pass corner system is designed for a log to butt up against the log that is passing it. Each butt & pass joint is screwed, caulked, and doweled with a 1" hard wood dowel and an olylog lag screw to ensure a strong and airtight fit. Homeowners love the old fashioned look of the butt & pass system as it reminds them of the homes of yesteryear. The butt & pass corner system is offered in the D-Log and Square Log profile.

• Available with: D-Logs

Dovetail on Square Log 6x12

The Dovetail Corner

The dovetail corner system is one of the oldest building techniques used in the construction of log homes. Perfected by early frontier men, the dovetail is a completely interlocking and self-supporting corner system. It has been documented to withstand extreme weather conditions and winds in excess of 200 miles an hour. Being a trademark of the Appalachian log home for decades, homeowners love its authentic and rustic appearance as well as the security offered by its strong design. The dovetail corner system is offered in both the D-Log and the Square Log.

• Available with: D-Logs and Square Logs

Saddle Notch Corner on Round Log and the photo below shows the Saddle Notch on a D-Log(See Details below)

The Saddle Notch Corner

The saddle notch corner is a precision milled joint that makes a complete symmetrical and self-supporting corner system. Each log is precisely notched to saddle the log underneath it. Homeowners love the symmetrical appearance of the saddle notch corner as it adds to the authentic look of their log home.

• Available with: Round Logs, D-Logs & DD-Logs

Kiln Dried

Kiln drying has been the standard way of removing water and sap from lumber for many years. In recent years log home manufacturers have started to incorporate kiln dried logs into their packages for the host of benefits it provides.

Kiln Drying Process:

Produces dimensionally stable materials by reducing the amount of twisting and shrinking a log will do in a home. Since the log is dried before it is used in construction, most of the twisting and shrinking has already taken place and is either culled or milled out of the finished product.
Reduces checking and cracking of logs in a home. Logs are dried prior to milling and construction with most of the checking and cracking already haven taken place. This allows for any excess cracking or checking to be graded out during the milling process.
Controls insects and pitch in the log. The kiln drying process kills any insects and insect eggs that may be in the wood after the tree is harvested from the forest. The kiln drying process also crystallizes pitch and prevents it from later seeping to the surface of the log.
Results in dryer logs that weigh substantially less than logs that are green or have been air-dried. This added benefit of weight reduction helps dramatically in the transportation and construction process with lighter and more manageable logs. The dryer logs also allow for immediate application of preservatives, not having to wait months for the logs to dry after the home is constructed.

At Donaldson Log Homes & Cabins, we believe the best way to protect your investment is to purchase a log home with kiln dried logs. We dry our logs to an average of 19% moisture content making them dimensionally stable and simply the best choice for your new log home.

White Pine

Eastern White Pine is known for its beautiful grain and ease to stain almost any color. It is also known for its superior stability, lightweight, high R–Value, and limited shrinkage characteristics. These characteristics along with its availability in large sizes (up to 12” and 14” diameters) make it an excellent choice for log homes.

At Donaldson Log Homes & Cabins we will mill any wood species at customer request; however, due to the superior characteristics of Eastern White Pine it is our species of choice!

Donaldson Log Homes & Cabins
4927 Highway 19 West
Bryson City, North Carolina 28713
Phone (828) 488-4655
Cell (828) 508-9925
donaldsonloghomes@dnet.net

Donaldson Log Homes & Cabins is the only authorized dealer in North Carolina for Battle Creek Milling.
Donaldson Log Homes provides services nationwide.
Log Cabin and Log Home Floor Plans and elevations used with permission of Battle Creek Log Homes
Copyright 2005-2015 © Donaldson Log Homes & Cabins

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