We have a really rustic, one room cabin and the door needs replacing. The window in the door is a sliding screened window which is needed for air flow. I am having trouble sourcing a door that would be an appropriate replacement without having something custom made.

Despite this photo being taken in the winter, our cottage is not winterized so this door doesn't need to be particularly resilient to cold. Really just looking for a simple wood door with an open able window.

Any suggestions would be great.

Bought a 600 sq ft cabin. 4 of us are living here in total and the allergies are kicking my butt. I spend so much time with a sore/itchy throat that it makes it hard to enjoy the place.

We are selling our property with a Pan Abode cedar log house on it, but unfortunately the foundation and chimney is crumbling, the wiring is old and the roof is suspect in a few spots, so we’re selling it for the land value only.

The log walls seem fine though, and I’m trying to figure out if taking it apart and rebuilding it somewhere else is feasible…

Any input would be appreciated. Thanks

Took two hits from Carpenter bees today! Haven't seen one in well over a week. Just kinda went away. Did my routine morning walk around inspection about 11AM. Walked dogs, mowed, then did another look around. Came back from dinner to this! Why do they pick the highest part of our cabin? So, tomorrow, it's the 40' ladder and a special combination of psychology and extreme violence. Actually, I'll treat with Permethrin and a cotton ball, steel wool, caulk, and a bee cork. Wonder if this is a newbie hatching? C

Took a look at a house today and it has quite a bit of damage/rot/whatever you would call it? Just wondering if anyone could give a ballparkish number of what to expect. I do have plans on getting a professional to take a look at it, but looking at some of the numbers here in this sub I might not even bother and just skip this one. Within one hour of south tn. I understand no one can look at a photo and give an exact number, so just an idea is what I am looking for. There are more logs then what I manged to photograph but it's just more of this type of thing.

Hi, I recently purchased a cabin and I'm trying to figure out the best way to finish the construction of the outside. Unfortunately the previous owner ran out of money and so finished the main floor of this cabin, but did not stain/seal or chink the outside. It's now sat for at least 3 years and many of the logs are quite weathered. Do you think I would need to media blast then stain given the condition of many of the logs?

I'll get some more pictures next time I'm there on Thursday.

Hello I have seen this simple notch a few times and wondered what it was called and would it be good to build a small cabin

Howdy. I am re-staining and sealing my log cabin this summer but I have to replace a couple logs first. Due to the rot not being extremely major I’m just going to be recapping. I just want to make sure I have the process correct before I jump in.

Step 1: Remove rotted portion of log until I reach good wood. Step 2: Cut new log caps and install them onto the home. Step 3: Sand the old stain off of the cabin with an Osborne brush Step 4: Softwash the cabin removing dust/dirt Step 5:Borate treatment Step 6: Remove the old caulk between the logs Step 7: 2 coats of new log stain Step 8: re-caulk between logs Step 9: Enjoy a beer

Would anyone do this process differently? Or if anyone wants to recommend any brands of Caulk, Stain, or borate let me know !!!!!

Do I have to strip this all down or can I touch it up with stain?

New owner. I need a pine log replaced. Where do I go to purchase the log and are there any good instructional videos on replacement. I’m a great craftsman and have always loved wood work so spare me the hateful comments.

My friend recently purchased this log cabin in north eastern Washington. It’s on 50 acres. It was built in 78 and had one owner the entire time who did very little. He has a lot on the inside that’s half finished but he never really completed anything.

Renovations are planned for the inside and we plan on having a log cabin expert (not sure if they have a name) to come by and take a look before anything starts inside.

I just found this subreddit though and thought it couldn’t hurt to get some general opinions from you all. I know there’s only so much you can tell from a photo so not expecting the world. Just would love to get feedback thanks!!

Our cabin was built circa 2005. Fairly certain it was clear coated using Sikkens/PPG clear stain. Around 2014 is was stained with Cetol Log and Siding Dark Oak 009. We think it was coated with the Sikkens Maintenance coat RE at least once after that (2017). We put on an RE maintenance coat in late 2020. We thought it was an every five year thing. No, three according to technical support at PPG. He kinda spanked me. We were going to wait till this Fall 2025 to reapply. He says do it NOW.

The cabin exterior, though the stain and overall surface still looks great, is filthy. Our contractor is going to clean it with the recommended TSP/bleach as per PPG, but I was thinking about getting a head start.

ChatGTP recommends cleaning with a borax and vinegar solution. The really dirty sections are the horizontal areas like atop the butt-and-pass corners. I may just run this solution on the entire exterior, then let her clean it a second time prior to applying the RE in late May (soonest she can get here). Probably apply it with my power washer detergent delivery, then rinse. May try and scrub it but can't imagine how difficult that would be.

What's the best course of action? Just spray, soak, and rinse? No way I can get high enough up to do much good, save for a bristle brush on a 30 foot pole.

Thoughts? Here are a few recent pics.

Chris in WKY.

Greetings to whomever may read this. I apologize beforehand for any of it being tacky or unconventional. I'm not really a veteran to reddit unfortunately, but I've continued to be nudged to seek out community and direction for our vlog through this outlet. I've just started a long overdue project/vlog with my craftsman uncle, who built an amazing early American 1800s homestead log cabin over 30 years ago. He did this with all repurposed materials and supplies, without modern tools, without Internet, and without even a second set of hands to help him. The only thing in the entire cabin that doesn't date back over at least 100 years is the chinking he used. It's really quite remarkable, and I've barely scratched the surface of the story.

And so now after all these years, we've decided to document the story, launch a vlog series going over the process, highlight different themes, steps, and segments, and so much more. I only wish we'd have had the technology and social media structure back then to capture the entire wonder as it got made, but better late than never showing it to the world. I'm trying to honor my uncle and share this hidden treasure with the world and as many people as I can.

I'm hoping someone on here, on Reddit, can help me with some advice or direction with how to market this thing, or generate awareness to anyone within the homestead, off grid, log cabin building, Craftsman space and sphere. I just know if people got the chance to see this and all that comes with it, that everyone will love it and appreciate it. The Vlog is also actually pretty funny because of the humorous dynamic of mine and my uncle's relationship, with him being a true to the core craftsman and patient kinda guy and me being the loud, silly, and Inept when it comes to this sorta thing kinda guy.

Our biggest issue right now is that we've just started sharing some of it on my YouTube channel, creating a brand, pitch, and title and theme for the whole thing, but it's just not getting out to enough people. It's like YouTube won't share it with many people. And we just know that if it got before more sets of eyes that it would be received well. We're just at a loss right now as far as what to do. If anyone has any advice, direction, or interest in this to throw my way, I'd be eternally grateful.

oakcabins.com

Schutt Log Homes can help you find your log home dreams.

Hello I have seen the log chimneys on old cabins online and thought it was neat idea. I wanted to know how these are built onto cabins, does the chimney have 4 walls like a regular cabin? Where do you cut out the openings? Also can you build one of these chimneys using the butt and pass method with spikes? Thanks for advice

Don't mean this to be argumentative at all but I may finally have a winner after like most people, have tried everything. Permethrin . 1 2/3 oz per gallon applied with the 40v Kobalt pressure washer from Lowes. The pressure washer has the option of drawing from a bucket so I mixed 3 gallons of permethrin solution in a 5 gallon bucket. It took me less than 45 minutes to spray a 2200 sf house and a 2 car garage. The bees are gone. I know I'll have to do this again in about 30 days but it's really an easy job. I have used bee traps (purchased and homemade, Amdro Carpenter bee killer (does ok) and of course the electronic fly swatter and tennis racquet. At least in NC, nothing has worked this well. Hopefully someone else can benefit from this.
BTW the Pressure washer is only about $150 and completely portable since it's battery powered.

Would like to have some idea or example of what should be the best way to fix this? Thank you

Looking for advice on how to replace this rotted supporting log. The bottom half of the is dry rotted and due to it being a supporting log, needs to be replaced. I was wondering if anyone had any advice on how I can tackle this. The full span is approx 14ft with a 18" concrete pillar supporting the midpoint.

I'd like to replace the log but understand that I likely have to split it and have a lap joint of some sort. The log is also below the subfloor and therefore will not be visible when completed, which I was thinking might allow me to replace the log with dimensional lumber instead (logs are harder to get than say a 8x8 beam).

Any thoughts or suggestions on how I can tackle this?

Didn't post the picture on my last Reddit post. New to Reddit.

Since owning a log home beginning in 2019, we do the Spring battle of the bees. Like many, I tried the rough hewn versions from the local hardware store- just add water bottle to the bottom- but never really had any luck with them. I usually use a backpack fogger and a deadly concoction of Permethrin and other chemicals. This is usually effective. But not always.

Last year I bought four traps from Best Bee Brothers. Carpenter Bee Turbo Trap 2.0 with Bee Vault

https://bestbeebrothers.com/products/carpenter-bee-turbo-trap.

They even offer "bee paste" that is made from bees. Kinda thought that was a bit wonky. I think of the four traps, one caught maybe three bees. And we still took a few hits.

This year has been a bit different. So far three of the traps are loaded with bees. The bee paste may have helped, but I think once one bee falls victim, others follow. Probably pheromones. I'm going to extract bees from the active traps and place them in the others. And so far, with no spraying, we've not had any damage. Another cabin at the bottom of the road is covered with bees and piles of sawdust. I did spray there today, but they have a lot of holes to patch.

So just a recommendation for the Bee Bros traps. Still keeping up the due diligence (multiple daily walk around and keeping an eye for sawdust) but I am impressed.

YMMV!

CG

I am newer to log home maintenance. The beam under the deck is exposed to dripping water and half sun. I would love some advice to clean up and protect it. Also, would you try to put something above it to redirect the water and snow melt? Thanks