We completed another semi-annual log house duty, the adjustment of the log post and column jacks. The full scribe round log style walls compress by 6% over a period of about five years, so at year 2-1/2, we are roughly half way to achieving the final vertical wall height (there is no horizontal shrinkage with this style of construction). Each of the window and door frames in the log walls are fixed and equipped with a tooth-in-groove slider to allow the walls to compress smoothly past them. The interim flexible trim at tops of the windows stays in place until the settling process is complete. We have a special tool provided by the log builder to turn the nut on the jacks in the spring and fall of each year. There are jacks under each porch post plus three spots inside the house as well as one under the main king truss support column and two in load bearing positions located "in" a stud wall that runs parallel to and under the summer beam for the loft area. We drop the jacks by about 1/4 to 1/2 inch each time, so 1/2 to 1 inch per year. This progressively locks the logs in the main walls, increasing the seal that from the outset was provided by closed cell foam gasket material at the toe of each log scribe surface. Once the logs have compressed by the predicted 6.5 inches, they will achieve a stable wall height and the final fixed top window and door trim can be installed.
