Engineered Log vs. Hand Hewn/Scribed Log Homes

The difference between engineered log homes and hand hewn/scribed log homes is as follows. With engineered logs homes, we rough saw the logs and allow them to air dry for approximately 15 months before the final milling takes place. This means that all of the logs are milled to the exact same dimensions and profile, complete with tongues and grooves. By following this procedure, the logs moisture content has drastically been reduced and most of the shrinkage has been completed. With the sealants that are used along with our compression spring thur bolt system, no future maintenance issues need to be addressed, plus there is no chinking in this system. With the hand hewn/scribed log homes, the trees are cut down, debarked, scribed and stacked one on top of another and spiked together. The lowering of the moisture content and shrinkage of the logs all takes place during the first couple of years after the home is built. All of the logs are stacked in all different dimensions and profiles and do not have any tongues or grooves to create a locking system. This method does not have a compression spring thur bolt system and maintenance is an annual event addressing the shrinkage and chinking which is required in this system.