When constructing a handcrafted log home, the corners of the log walls are interlocked with notches. At Alpine Log and Timber, we use the industry standard ‘Saddle Notch’ for this purpose, as it works well with the Douglas Fir logs we use. Notches are integral to the structural stability of the building. The Saddle Notch is a ‘compression fit’ notch that allows for the radial shrinkage that will occur in all logs as they dry out and settle in the first few years.
There are other notches that we use, such as round and square notches – which work well for log bearers and floor joists.