Bickenheuser, Cathy; Snodgrass, Kathleen. 2015. Dovetails and broadaxes: hands–on log cabin preservation. 1523 2802P. Missoula, MT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Technology and Development Program.

This publication is a practical guide for preserving historic log cabins. It explains the history and styles of log cabins, condition and historic assessments, preservation requirements, project planning, and safety. This guide contains a thorough explanation of hands-on aspects of log cabin preservation, such as jacking and cribbing, log repair and replacement, log notching, terminology, and chinking and daubing. Repairs to foundations, roofs, windows, doors, chimneys, and interiors also are covered, as are annual maintenance needs and appropriate tools.

Keywords: asphalt, assessment, cabins, chimney, chinking, composition, cribbing, crowns, daubing, doors, epoxy, fireplaces, fixtures, floors, flues, foundations, hazards, hewing, historic, inspect, jacks, logs, maintenance, materials, metal, notching, oil, paint, plumbing, preservation, purlins, rafters, rakers, repair, restoration, roofs, safety at work, shakes, sheathing, shingles, sills, sod, spandrels, splices, stains, stoves, styles, terms, tools, trusses, walls, windows, wiring, wood

These files are best for printing:

View low resolution PDF Part 01 - Full Document (313 pages) (15925 kb)

View low resolution PDF Part 1 - Front covers (15925 kb)

View low resolution PDF Part 2 - Front work, table of contents (15925 kb)

View low resolution PDF Part 3 - Pages 1-20 (15925 kb)

View low resolution PDF Part 4 - Pages 21-58 (15925 kb)

View low resolution PDF Part 5 - Pages 59-76 (15925 kb)

View low resolution PDF Part 6 - Pages 77-102 (15925 kb)

View low resolution PDF Part 7 - Pages 103-132 (15925 kb)

View low resolution PDF Part 8 - Pages 133-164 (15925 kb)

View low resolution PDF Part 9 - Pages 165-196 (15925 kb)

View low resolution PDF Part 10 - Pages 197-222 (15925 kb)

View low resolution PDF Part 11 - Pages 223-246 (15925 kb)

View low resolution PDF Part 12 - Appendixes A-D (15925 kb)

View low resolution PDF Part 13 - Appendix E (15925 kb)

View low resolution PDF Part 14 - Appendixes F-I (15925 kb)

View low resolution PDF Part 15 - Rear covers, spine (15925 kb)

(Help with PDF files)

Click the icon to download a free version of Adobe Acrobat Reader.