Because we take the time to air dry the logs before the start of building a Khita built log house settles less than most. There are 3 causes of settling in a full scribe log building. Wood shrinks as it dries. As an example Douglas fir (which we use) will lose about 2.5% when it dries from “green” (30 % moisture content or more) to 12% moisture content. 12% is a pretty good average in service m.c. for most places. So a 100" wall becomes 97 ½ “ over time due to shrinking.

Full scribe log buildings only fit together on the edges of the notches and lateral grooves. That edge is fairly sharp and with the weight of the building will bite into the lower log to some extent. This is a good thing and helps to keep the fits tight. How much compression plays in the total settling is almost impossible to tell, but from looking at log houses as they are dis-assembled on our site it appears that around 1/16" per course of log work is about right.

The third and worst reason for settling is slumping of the lateral groove. Wood doesn’t just shrink as it dries it also checks. These are the cracks that appear along the length of a log as it loses moisture. A log will check in the weakest place. Left alone most logs will develop a number of small to medium check all round the circumference. Cutting a lateral groove in the bottom of a log artificially creates a weak spot. If that log is “green” or still drying the check starts inside the lateral groove and the result is the two edges spread. That 4" between edges could become 5". The result is ill fitting log work and more loss of height.

Log builders have come up with some innovative ways to deal with this, The over-scribe, or under-scribe as it may be called, shrink-to-fit method is commonly used. Many make a chain saw cut along the top of the log to encourage checking where it will have little effect. These do work better than just building tight with green wood. The problem comes is getting it right. Will it really shrink the amount that is allowed. They will be paid and gone long before your house is finished shrinking and is supposed to fit. Another problem is the accuracy of the log construction. Think about it, if the builder never makes anything fit tight, how does anyone know it will? The log is put back up after cutting and there is a gap all along it. Is it exactly 3/8 or whatever all the way along or was the scribing/cutting/finishing a bit off. No way to tell until its too late!

We have a different solution. Dry the wood before building and make it fit. A few hundred years ago no log builder worth his salt would build with wet logs. They often let them dry 3 years before building knowing what would happen if the wood wasn’t properly seasoned. Framers get 2x6's at less than 18% m.c, a cabinet maker wants it down near 7 or 8 %. Makes sense to us.

Our log buildings typically settle about 1/4" per vertical foot of log wall or around 2%. All the vertical components and attachments to the walls need to be able to accommodate this settling. We do this through the use of settling jacks on posts, sliding valances , counter flashed trim and slotted frame walls. It is detailed in the construction manual that comes with every Khita log home.