Building a home or cabin with pine log siding is a growing trend. You can have a beautiful log house that is more affordable and easier to build than a full-log house. Building contractors can install pine log siding without any special training or expensive crane rentals. If you are handy with tools and have woodworking skills and knowledge, you can install this product yourself. We will show you how this is done in the following paragraphs. 

 Pine Log Siding Is A Preferred Building Material 

Of the many ways to build a log home or cabin, using pine log siding is a preferred method. Log siding provides the full-log look without the full-log price and maintenance issues. This amazing product is made from sustainable pine trees that is another step in going “green.” Here are some interesting things you need to know about pine log siding:

• The center of a pine log is cut out leaving two “D” shaped pieces of log siding
• Three sizes are available in smooth, hand-hewn, unfinished, and pre-finished conditions
• It is milled with a tongue and groove, end-matching design that is strong and durable
• Matching corners and log trim are available for all profiles (shapes)
• It is virtually a “no-waste” product that saves time measuring, sawing, and installing
• Homeowners with adequate woodworking knowledge and skills can install it

Pine log siding is affordable, can be end-butted between wall framing, and stained with a variety of colors. Install adequate insulation between the exterior and interior walls, and your home will be relatively easy to cool and heat.

Start With The Corner System 

Saddle-Notch Corner System

Once your siding is ready to install, you will need a measuring tape, pencil, sharp miter saw, drill, level, oly log screws, nail gun, nails, wood block, and a mallet. The place to start is installing the corner logs on one side of your home with the following steps:

• Vertical log corners are sawed to length, placed upright, and screwed into the OSB  boards with oly screws
• Watch this video to see how to install butt-n-pass log corners
• This video demonstrates how to install saddle-notch corners

Follow Corners With Log Trim 

The next step is to install the log trims around door and window openings. Your log siding materials should include trims that correspond to the size and profile of log siding. 

• Start with the front or back door and saw the top trim to length
• Secure it to the wall with galvanized oly log screws with a drill
• Measure the vertical trim pieces and screw into place
• Move to the first window and measure the top and bottom trims
• Saw them to length and screw them into place
• Measure, saw, and install the two vertical trims

It’s easier to stain the trims before you install them. Once installed, you can stain the ends of the horizontal pieces.

Installing Pine Log Siding

Now, the work will begin to look like a real log home with the first row. You can stain the siding before or after you install it. The work goes faster if you order pre-finished log siding. Start with the bottom row with the first piece tongue side up and level it. Face nail this first row about every other wall stud. Use rust-proof nails and take your time. Follow these steps up the wall to the top:

• Use a nail gun to secure the siding through the tongue downward at a 45-degree angle
• Nail the first piece in place every other stud for a secure fit – nail heads won’t show
• Level the second piece, tap it into place with a wood block and hammer, and nail it
• Measure the last piece, saw it off, and nail it into place
• Stagger the end joints every other row to add strength
• It may be necessary to cut a few pieces to fit around door and window trim
• The top wall piece may need ripping to the right width to fill the space

Now it’s time to install a log corner on the next wall and follow these same steps.

A Word About Wood Log Siding Quality

You don’t have to scrimp on cost to obtain high-quality log siding, corners, and trims. Our log home materials are properly kiln-dried and hand-inspected so you will get exactly what you expect from America’s premier supplier. They are available at fair prices to make your home- building project more affordable. Talk to one of our log home experts today.