How to choose the foundation for your log cabin

Written by Jack Hudson


How to chooserepparttar foundation for your log cabin

Full foundation sounds easier to build than a slab. The only catch is that you'll probably have to do a lot more digging. This is especially true if you live inrepparttar 100428 northern part of our country. A little north of New York City we usually extend our foundations down 4 feet. You'll want to find out how far downrepparttar 100429 wall and footings should go;repparttar 100430 local building inspector or mason can tell you.

With this information in mind, lay outrepparttar 100431 outlines ofrepparttar 100432 building as described above and start digging. The walls that form your foundation will probably be built of 8-inch concrete block. This wall should rest on a footing. The illustration atrepparttar 100433 side shows one way such a footing can be made.

Likerepparttar 100434 beam described above,repparttar 100435 dirt may be cut square and be used asrepparttar 100436 form. The footing should be at least 6 inches thick and project 2 or not more than 3 inches beyondrepparttar 100437 thickness ofrepparttar 100438 wall. This concrete footing is made of I part portland cement, 3 parts sand, 5 parts coarse aggregate, or a transit mix that will have a minimum compressive strength of 1,500 pounds per square inch in 28 days.

If you are makingrepparttar 100439 walls of block,repparttar 100440 mortar you should use is composed of I part portland cement, 3 parts sand by volume, and lime not exceeding 25 per cent ofrepparttar 100441 cement by volume. Staggerrepparttar 100442 blocks so thatrepparttar 100443 joints ofrepparttar 100444 second row of blocks fall overrepparttar 100445 mid-sections ofrepparttar 100446 blocks below. Use closed-end blocks for corners.

Moisteningrepparttar 100447 blocks before laying them will help holdrepparttar 100448 mortar. Pour concrete intorepparttar 100449 top row of blocks and insert 6-inch bolts, 8 feet on center, forrepparttar 100450 sill.

Locating and Installing a Water Source

Written by Jack Hudson


Log Cabin Building Tip: Locating and Installing a Water Source for your Log Cabin

Water is one ofrepparttar most important things that you will need for your camp. It can berepparttar 100427 hardest orrepparttar 100428 easiest thing to find. A clear lake and a bucket isrepparttar 100429 cheapest way you'll be able to get a good supply. It is important thatrepparttar 100430 water you use be free from harmful bacteria. Taste is no substitute for a test of good drinking water.

Local health authorities are usually willing to testrepparttar 100431 water for you. Other agencies that will tell you whetherrepparttar 100432 water is suitable include State Health Departments, County Health Offices, and Health Hygienic Laboratories.

Now let's get back torepparttar 100433 problem of how we're going to get running water into your camp without depending upon some leaks inrepparttar 100434 roof. Water can be obtained from a dug well, a bored well, a drilled well, or from surface sources such as lakes, springs, or cisterns.

A dug well is usually used where rocky soil prohibitsrepparttar 100435 use of a driven well, and where water can be reached by simple excavation. Basically it is a hole inrepparttar 100436 ground. Perhapsrepparttar 100437 first thing to do in building a dug well is to inquire from your neighbors whether they have used this type of water source.

If their report is satisfactory, you should start consideringrepparttar 100438 best location for such a well. Be sure that it is located at least 100 feet from your sewage system and drain field. It should also be located on higher ground.

Having foundrepparttar 100439 best location, start digging a hole about 4 feet in diameter. As you dig, be sure that you use cross braces to keeprepparttar 100440 upper earth in place. Eventually you will (maybe) reach water. The lower section ofrepparttar 100441 well should be lined with brick or stone. Do not use mortar.

You want a pervious wall that will let water in. The upper part ofrepparttar 100442 wall must be water-tight to prevent contamination. This wall should be about 10 feet high and extend about I foot aboverepparttar 100443 ground. If you can install your pump within 22 feet vertical distance ofrepparttar 100444 normal water level, use a shallow-well jet.

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