Can you even imagine a guy with very limited carpentry skills building a log cabin like this?
Well that is exactly what happened!
I actually convinced my wife to sell our 2800 sq ft home and everything in it. I showed her a simple drawing, basically a couple of boxes, in which we could easily build a log cabin like the pioneers did. I explained that most of these pioneers couldn’t even read or write and many came from the city like me. So why couldn’t I build one?
I was very surprised when she said, “let’s go for it!” It turned out when we were both younger (and didn’t know each other at all) we had similar ideas. I had worn a cowboy hat so much at summer camp they actually dubbed me “cowboy” and I would draw farm houses and trees wishing I lived in the country. Stacy would always carry this thought of animal husbandry, living in a log cabin and raising lots of animals with a garden. It was kind of strange to discover this about one another as we were starting this journey from 100% city kids to a pioneer life in the 21st century.
I began to devour books on log cabin building focusing on the pioneer style. I did my homework by visiting several log cabins in and around the St. Charles County area of Missouri. They have several log cabins that have been standing well over 100-200 years. One place that I really enjoyed was the Daniel Boone Home in Defiance, Missouri. They have a great collection of 1800 early 1900 style homes on the property made with logs. That place was inspirational!
With my newfound inspiration, I was off to find the logs to build our cabin. With the help from a friend, we harvested the white oak logs from his property. White oak was my first choice because of its rot and bug resistance. This type of hardwood is the most sought after to build log homes for longevity.
Next, my focus was finding a way to join the logs as I stacked them. There are several ways you can achieve this. I chose the “saddle notch” method using a “V” knotch because of its simplicity that I felt confident with right away.
I put the cabin together as I notched out the logs. Below is a pic from the back and front of the cabin after I stained the logs, cut out the doors and windows, and braced the logs with 2x4s.
I felt comfortable building the cabin, but I didn’t feel comfortable doing the footings and concrete work. So I hired the work out.
We opted for a crawl space because we were building with no debt. We paid cash for the build and a full basement would of added another $5000. Our new motto was “No more bills.” So we did the best with what we had.
We had an old Allis- Chalmers tractor that we purchased for the homestead. I was able to utilize the bucket to lift the heavy white oak logs in place on the foundation all by myself. It really came in handy when I was five to seven logs high!
One thing to note is that the white oak logs are very dense and heavy, getting that tractor was a great move for this solo project.
When I disassembled the cabin to place it on the foundation, I numbered all the logs. This was very beneficial in the rebuild process so everything went right back in its place.
The next step after stacking the logs was the roof, I planned on building the rafters on site. I built the roof by myself on the record-breaking hottest day of the year. I knew that when I accomplished that nothing would get in the way of our dream.
Here is a picture of the balancing act I had to perform while working solo on the day of the rafter build. The ratchet straps and scrap 2x4s were my best friend. When I was actually on the ground and looking up at what I had just accomplished, it really started to sink in. We were now captains of our own ship. This place we were building would be so much more than just a house or status symbol, it would be a place that we would grow as a couple and individuals. A place to push all our former boundaries, to learn new skills and to work together as a team.
The roof was up and it was time to make the whole struture a little stronger. By adding the roofing plywood to the rafters, it strengthened the whole structure. This was exciting because we were one step closer to shingles.
The pink stuff between the logs is pink panther insulation. This was a little trick I picked up. This way I get R value BETWEEN the logs and use less chinking. Chinking is the material that fills the gaps between the logs. The insulation is the pink panther insulation foam boards you get from the lumber yard or big box stores.
Now we are ready for some “chinking”. I did some research and I was not really into using grass and mud so I went a little modern and used a product called log jam. It comes in a caulk tube and is supposed to expand and contract very well with the logs. Remember, we are living the pioneer life in the 21st century, so we get to indulge a little.
This was an interesting process. I had never done anything like this before but felt I was up to the challenge. I needed some foam brushes and a spray bottle of water. I learned I needed different size brushes for the install because log homes always have some variations in the space between the logs.
Just like caulk, you squeeze it on then use the foam brush to smooth it out. You will squirt the water (on mist) directly onto the chinking, not to much, just enough to keep it from setting up. Just do one row at a time.
Here are some pictures showing you a mistake I made. See that ledge? It shouldn’t be there. Chinking needs to fill the gap so it’s flush with the wood or overlaps a bit so water rides out of the gap to the ground. Otherwise, when the water is allowed to sit in the gap or ledge, it could rot the wood. I will be redoing the whole cabin soon. Look for those videos on our You Tube channel here:
http://bit.ly/offgridwithdougandstacy
One of the reasons we went with a log home was the simplicity of the build. Inside the home there is no drywall or mud or paint which really cuts down on costs and on experience needed. I won’t go into all the details about the inside part of the build on this blog post but stay tuned as we start rolling out the stories of our nine year adventure to become more self-reliant and sustainable while we live an intentional life.
Your #homesteadhomie
Doug
was your house a kit and if so were can we purchase a kit? we are also thinking about an outside kitchen we love yours is did you have a video of the building of it? sorry for all the questions.
scratch my last comment about the cabin as a kit, I read your blog.
Thanks for sharing this!
Your story is so inspiring! The “normal” way doing things isn’t always the best way.
Love reading about how the cabin came to be! We are hopeful to live in the country, one step at a time.
Love this.
https://oakloghome.com/off-grid-with-doug-and-stacy/
We are looking at cabin kits like your mother’s to build for our daughter and ourselves. However, we are looking to be off the grid with our own water etc. I did make my first batch of ghee today and was impressed how easy it is. We are also looking to buy bulk. We were wanting a root cellar and outdoor kitchen also. We were also the ones who suggested Stacy needed a laundry hut to do laundry in the winter. However, my grandmother also cooked with a wood burning stove, but she also had a screened in porch outback, so what she did was opened the doors during the summer months to the screened in porch and would crack open the living room windows and there was always a breeze to be able to cook in the summer. But, in the winter behind her wood stove she used for warmth ar times she had a line she would hang clothes on beside the stove and would let them dry that way. I remember helping her do laundry, the washing portion of her old wring washer wouldn’t work, so she did the scrubbing board then wring them out on the wring portion of the washer that still worked and we always hung the clothes to line dry. But, I know by experience, in the winter that gets pretty cold!
Doug & Stacy, I’ve been following you guys for a about it now. I believe I found y’all when you first began your journey on the homestead. Then I lost you again. Anywho. My husband and I love in a 16×80 mobile home. I was raised by a carpenter. So.I believe I.have some of the skills needed to build. My question is where did you find this.design the you wanted.
Great article! Will def share this with my hubby!
Love all the info!!
I have learned so much I love you too thank you
You guys are a great inspiration! Thank you for sharing!
Great inspiring work! Thanks for
Sharing your insight with us!
I have always admired y’all so much and have learned so much from you. I have enjoyed watching your videos for many years now! <3
Looking forward to more content on the website!
Have loved reading this log cabin story, can’t wait to read the inside story. Have learned a lot from you two, Stacy has gotten me started with fermenting, really appreciate the simplicity of all this.
Love this blog and this site!!! Thank you for the detail in how you built your log cabin!
Nice website!
Thanks Diana, Emily at http://www.whizbangweb.com/ did a great job working with us =)
I love the look of the flat logs with the chinking!
Wow that’s really awesome! When you redo your cabin, are you going to start completely over? Or just redo parts of it? I love watching the videos on your mom’s cabin. And now I’m excited to see what you’ll do with yours.
Love your website and y’all! Looking forward to more articles!
Love your youtube channel. I enjoy everything about homesteading, but the current videos about building for your Mom has really got my husbands attention, now he gets mad at me if I watch a video without him. Keep it up!!! We have a little mini farm (3 acres) and I got chickens last year, so I use you for reference all the time, chickens, gardening, fermenting, we have a wood burner for supplemental heat, so I even like videos about cutting and stacking firewood! Thanks!
My husband does too. He asks every day, “Has Doug put up a new video yet?”
You guys are living the dream!
I really enjoy all of the homestead activities.
I’ve learned lots of Stacy’s fermenting tips, too. She is a joy to watch.
Waiting patiently for the completion of your moms new digs! What a labor of love by Doug and crew. Best wishes in all of your endeavors.
I am waiting, to see the food from scratch. I love your log home.
This is great I love this site.
Good stuff!
Hey from Arkansas! Loved reading this! Y’all are SO inspirational!
Thanks Beth!
Such good information. I’ll be back for more 😉
Thank you!
Thank you for your new webpage. I am loving the easy to read steps and information on HOW YOU BUILT YOUR MOM A LOG CABIN. It’s wonderfully easy to use on topics, icons, suggestions on products and how to easily order them. I am still exploring all the free education your teaching on YouTube also. I definitely want to sign up for your newsletter.
I’m so glad you typed this all out with pictures. It’s neat to see how you started the log cabin and what it looks like today. You and Stacy are so inspiring!
Always beautiful work and knowledge. Thank you
I just preordered the cookbook. Can’t wait to get it and try some of the recipes.
Hi from NC!
Always great information. A lot of in-depth details on how to build a log home.
Thank you for sharing this blog with us. You’ve been inspiring me through YouTube videos for years!
So cute and homey
Homestead Homey 😉
Live watching all your videos!
Great work….love watching you guys. Thanks for sharing all you do and inspiring so many dreams.
Great new page!! I love reading your story, and watching your videos!
I love watching your videos and reading the Facebook chatter of your fans. Lots of great ideas and inspiration! Congrats on getting your website moving.
Awesome site & info!
Thanks for explaining everything from the begining! Have been following you both for about 5 years. Have been to all 3 of the homesteading life conferences and loved every minute of it! Will be checking out more of your blogs here. Thank you both for all that you share.
Really have enjoyed watching you tube and all the information you and Stacy have shared!
Can’t wait to get my cookbook!
Also enjoying the log cabin build you are doing for Mom!
As my Daddy used to tell his hospice staff, “keep up the good work “!
Inspiring! Thanks for sharing!
Hi Stacy and Doug,
You guys are just amazing! Been watching your videos and following you guys for a little while now!
I enjoy every little bits you post.
You are an inspiration for all of us!
Martine
Excited to hear more of your journey.
I’ve enjoyed your many videos and seeing your log cabin. Keep up the good work!
Wow!
Great start to where you are now!
I cannot imagine the trepidation at every glitch and bump along the way! I mean, just knowing that this would be for the rest of your life and you had to make it count as you went along because there was no clue as to what the future would bring. How truly traditional!
As a lurker for years, I’ve been following you both and pushing my family to get with the program of more sustainability. With today’s upheaval, they have finally begun to get interested. Better late than never I guess.
Keep up the great work. Your reach far exceeds your grasp!
Kind regards,
Love the blog and your Youtube channel! Thank you for sharing more via another source. Blessings to Doug and Stacy!
good stuff! well-written, too. Didn’t now you had book-learning, too! haha
*know, not “now.” Maybe I don’t have the book-learning.
lol you so funny =)
Love how you are sharing your cabin build…been watching for a year but always wondered how you first did the cabin!
Cool
THIS WHOLE THING IS FASCINATING!
Thanks for sharing your cabin build. How many square meters is it and would you recommend a couple build a cabin the same size today?
it is 600 sq ft here in USA =) and sure its a fantastic size
but if you had kids you might want a extra room
Great first article, but it’s it more than 9 years? You probably wrote this for some Mother Earth News or something… It’s just the editor in me… Love all the pictures from the good old days.
Oh sure, the editor in me didn’t edit my own comment and you can’t fix stuff here like you can on YouTube…
“isn’t it?”
Anyway, good job.
I love your pictures of your log home build! I’m enjoying watching your videos of the Education Center build and now your moms house build! Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us!
Thanks Chris
Hi , I live in Connecticut and the building codes are REDICULOUS! How are the codes in Mo.? Thinking of selling my house and a property and heading back down south (originally born and raised in Ky,,)..