Some pictures of the loghouses I have been working on this summer.

[TW]

I promised some pictures. Let's see if posting works.



This picture shows how we lifted the first out of three ridge log onto a house.

This house was the one I learned the job on 1 1/2 years ago. The owner is a builder himself, and intended to continue himself with the upper storey but I have been called in at critical points until now. Everything is not made first class but the owner is satisfied. The house is originally built about 1830 and now it is put together on a new site. We have shifted out quite many rotten logs.
We used my log lifts to get the ridge log to plate level and then a ginpole at each end. Thanks for educating me on ginpoles.

[TW]

It worked!!!

Here comes another one



I started working on the foundation for this house in early May 2006 and we got the ridge logs on some weeks ago. Then we covered it with tarpaulins for the winter. It was my first project on my own. The owner of this house used to help with some lifting and assembling now and then. I did almost the rest. The house is built in the 19th century and was taken down in 2005. I had to shift out some rotten logs. I have gotten a bit more skilled since this pictures was taken.

Thanks for the advice!

[Tom]

Good Show, TW. 

[sawguy21]

Looking good. I imagine there were a few rotten logs after 175 years but the building is a real testament to the original builders.

[Don P]

Awesome TW, the first one is quite a building. The second looks more refined, but it might just be the photos. Good job.

Keep posting, those are different than we see here  8).

[Max sawdust]

Thank you for the pictures of your work.  It is very interesting. I have the highest respect for the Scandinavian log smiths of the past.  It must be fascinating to take apart their work and repair it.
Have you ever been to that park in Helsinki that has many old log buildings re-constructed on it?  I found it very educational.
Max

[TW]

The worst thing with repairing the work of old masters is that I always doubt if my repair was good enough. That is especially true with the first house as it was remarkably well made originally and I was not skilled enough to do a good job when I started. I try to convince myself that my work suffices as the owner is satisfied and other carpenters tell that it is good enough. Still it feels like splattering paint on a Rembrandt painting.
I was already more skilled when I started working on the other house so I guess my repairs are nearly equal to original quality. The secomd house was less well built originally as well. Next time my work may turn out good enough for my own quality control.

Max Sawdust
I walked through Fölisön once but I did not have much time. It is really interresting to examine an old well made building and try to figure out the answers of all hows and whys.

[barbender]

Those are very interesting pictures TW- those look like quite the projects! It would be intimidating to work on one of those, I really admire the work you are doing. Those old buildings really fascinate me. The fact they are still standing after almost 2 centuries is a testament to the quility of work those old masters did. Thanks for getting those pics posted

[alone]

The worst thing when someone asks me to repair a house is to know how much work i have to do and where stop it.  It depends the contract.  Money is very important in this jobs.

[Stephen1]

Nice pictures TW. The 1st building is quite high, we have a limit now on 11' walls of logs. It is amazing that they could build it to last almost 200 hundred years that high but we can't do it now.

[TW]

 ??? ??? ???

I have seen log walls up to 9 or 10 metres (about 30 -33feet) high or maybe higher that have stood for more than a century.

Many houses are higher than the one I worked on.

[Corley5]

Great pics.  The interior walls are also log ???  Very unique occupation you're involved in 8) 8)