How much log wall between corner and door?

[Sharon A]

In looking at some log home plans clearly based on stick-built designs :-) (just random plans on the Internet), I was wondering how much log you need between corners and window or doors in, say, a handcrafted home or milled home that uses large (at least 10 inch) logs.

In other words, you have an exterior corner, then some log wall, then a door or big window, then some more log wall, then another corner or door or window. How much log wall is necessary between these elements, or can you engineer things so it's just a matter of taste?

Thanks!

[Greg Steckler]

Absolute minimum is 24".....

Because "scarfs", notching, etc. can in some cases extend out that far. As to engineering 48" is more desirable for shearwalls. If you have a situation where its just going to be impossible to have 24" between say a door and a big window, then I like to fill it all up with window, (no logs at all) and the trim is a single piece between the door and window. If you have to have a door very close to an exterior corner, you should start thinking about steel moment frames. But all of this is just my 2 cents. In log building, for every situation there are as many solutions as there are builders! ;) :D ;)

[Bob G]

You got me curious, Sharon. I found this standard on the ILBA website:

5.F.1- "The distance from the side of a window and door openings to the centerline of an intersecting log wall shall be a minimum of 10" plus one half the average wall log diameter."

5.F.2- "Wall sections between openings shall be a minimum of 36" long, or shall be provided with support in addition to the required keyways....."

The driveway corner door on the rear of my house is 24" from the edge to the adjacent wall center line, or about 18" from the door edge to the thickest inside log edge. My corners have minimal scarfs, if any, to interfere.

[Stephanie]

I have the "minimum" I was told on mine: 8x8 milled: 18 inches. Now that's what the company's minimum was. I rather like 2 feet myself as a minimum.

[Bob Warren]

I go with 3 feet of logs between windows and 3 feet from edge of a door or window to centre line of an intersecting log wall. Close to a notch doesn't worry me as much as a small piece in between windows or a door and window.

In a scribe fit, It depends a lot on how deep keyways are cut, depth and width of lateral, size, moisture content of the logs as to whether or not you'll get splitting and failure of the pieces. The more wood that is left the safer it will be.

[Susan]

The answers to Sharon's question really surprised me. I had always thought the minimum was 6 feet :o For some reason I thought that was what I had read somewhere and so that is what we had been using while we planned our layout. Guess that's why it's important to use a pro to do your design, huh? :)