The frames of log houses are modeled by combining logs with different heights. So that the height of the adjacent logs differs sharply and contrasts. Naturally and unique, as each log wall and each crown is arranged in a different, unrepeatable combination. The level of a masterpiece, to a certain extent – a work of art. 19 different log heights, three different but inter-connectable log thicknesses, 3 profile types, 3 shapes. The bar for design and technology is set high enough. 

 

For us to be able to successfully develop an accurate manufacturing design for a log house, by assembling detail by detail its spatial model, your design must reflect minimum amount of necessary information.

Technical details of your drawings are not that important; you may submit even hand drawn sketches and attach thereto a list with the most important heights, roof angles and other information. Below you can take look at and download a checklist with the necessary initial information. We recommend using of this checklist before you send in your technical drawings.

Don’t be hasty, double check whether you have included everything that is necessary, think about any possible uncertainties and check to be sure that your client won’t make any changes. If you are not completely sure, it’s better not to risk, please submit your technical drawings later. Hurry will not only waste your time, it will also reduce our designing capacity.

Preferred format for file submission: PDF; DWG.

Please send to the following e-mail: ekonams@ekonams.lv


1 →   Placement of axis [for log walls on all floors and levels]

2 →   Inclusion of windows, doors and other apertures [at axis and zero mark]

3 →   Dimensions of windows and doors [overall dimensions of cases]

4 →   Dimensions of thresholds [where they are needed]


5 →   Cross-sections with the main heights [for each different part of the house]

6 →   Do heights include settlement? [Yes or No]

7 →   Settlement surplus [usually 3-5%]


8 →   Height to ceilings [for side walls, for all sections]

9 →   Thickness of ceiling groove [from 10-125 mm, under rafters]


10 →   Roof angles [for each roof construction]

11 →   Number of purlins [for each roof construction]

12 →   Round purlins? [Yes or No, in case of full-profile beams]

13 →   Minimum dimensions [or diameter, by calculating bearing capacity]


14 →   Floor beams: direction and distance [joist plan, in details around the stairs]

15 →   Dimensions of floor beams [for angular beams]

16 →   Height to inter-floor ceilings [between joists]


17 →   Dimensions and shape of columns [round or angular]

18 →   Profile of columns. On which side? [you can inform later]

 

 

 

1. The customer bears full responsibility for all engineering calculations performed with respect to the ordered log house construction.

When designing and calculating load bearing constructions, and in case of any uncertainties, we recommend you (customer) to be completely sure and attract certified local building engineers or construction specialists to be completely confidant that the solutions used in the building design are accurate and comply with all the local regulations. And, as well as to evaluate where and how constructions will settle; which walls and at which spots will be subject to astringent bolts to monitor settlement process. And, in case a wall bears no weight from the roof, is it necessary to install a pressure partition column, temporary or adjustment column? Whether it is necessary to apply additional plugging or additional corner joints for long and relatively free log walls? Where and how lathing and other sliding elements of the house will slide in, etc.?

Everything known or desired by you (costumer) must be taken into account, e.g., what kind of gutters, chimney and finishing materials, what kind of technical installations are to be used, which company is to manufacture them, etc. Because it is you, the customer or project author who decide all these things.


2. The customer calculates loads and strength of roof constructions.

Those are calculations based on local statistical data concerning snow and wind related loads and nationally set construction regulations, as well as taking into account the weight of the roofing at hand. The customer determines the number, maximum diameter or dimensions of the load bearing roof logs – purlins, as well as rafters. The customer also specifies their placement and determines above which walls it may be possible to connect them in full length. Furthermore, the customer lays out interstice where the chimney is to be placed.


3. The customer determines dimensions, distance and direction for the ceiling beams.

This will be figured out by calculating the weight beams will bear, by evaluating which log walls and log constructions will be above and under these joists. For example, in case of a second floor bathroom it must be evaluated whether it won’t locally overload beams or lead to curving of any of the log construction beneath it.

As a rule all load bearing constructions must be assessed responsibly and comprehensively. Above which wall load bearing roof logs – purlins are joined? Does this wall or any other log wall also have aperture? Won’t any of these extra loads accumulate; whether it will be necessary to support constructions with additional beams, joists or logs? Perhaps some of the walls shall be reinforced with additional pins? Whether only solution lies in changing of beams direction, etc.?

The customer shall also clarify following features of this interfloor frame:

•   Height of the ceiling, namely bottom of the groove. Between beams or joists;

•   Height of sawing on the top of beams. Level is determined by floor construction thicknesses;

•   Dimensions of staircase aperture. Please submit binding layout how to support beams around;

•   Groove spot for the flooring, namely top of the groove. If floor ends will be hidden into the walls;

•   Heights of other horizontal grooves, for example, installations and wiring beneath skirting boards.


4. The customer shall provide professional calculation of heat insulation of the building.

As well as customer takes responsibility of compliance of the building with national regulations. When determining what kind of heat insulation materials and thickness thereof you require, please do not forget to adjust dimensions of rafters and their placement distances, as well as to order the necessary additional layers of lathing. The standard order package includes only two lathing layers (50 x 50 mm) for creating air interlayer in both directions.


5. The customer must choose which roof construction are to be joined by integrating diagonals.

This is about perpendicularly connected roofs. So special attention should be paid as to how these diagonals will fit in the interior and whether these log or beam constructions won’t endanger settling of the log house. One should also check the compatibility of roof angles to be sure that roof constructions do not lead to external or internal humps or fractures. By default, separate or individual roofs are designed, keeping in mind that roof planes are to be connected by externally continuing rafters and lathing frame.


6. The customer defines where it is necessary to predrill electrical and other type of installations.

Where in your building’s logs we must make vertical drill-holes (diam. 60 mm) for the purpose of hidden wiring? Where should we make horizontal* drill-holes for junction boxes and in what size? Where and in what size we should make them for outlets? How many entries will be in these outlets and boxes?

You may also order to prepare drill-hole groups for the purpose of an electric switchboard. By using an approach from the top or bottom of the wall, by covering complete height of the wall, or else. You may design even insulated water pipes and drainage pipes (up to diam. 50 mm), alarming, screw bolts and other installations within the log walls. In technical drawings, drill-holes of differ purposes will be marked in different colors. Respectively, we’ll follow to precisely fulfill your precisely defined tasks only.

* – It has to be taken into account that horizontal drill-holes will be made in the same layer of logs, so different heights of these drill-holes will depend on the combination of perpendicular logs. If however you wish them to be in the same height, you have to drill them on your own by using hand tools to ensure that they are in the exact – optimal height you wish for.


Yes, not only you bear full responsibility for the design, but you own copyrights thereof. To double check please use our spatial models of log building’s construction. In other words, you have to follow-up on everything with a great care.

Whereas we will definitely turn your attention to weak and insufficient construction elements, places that will not settle or log constructions that may not be created. We will notice all erroneous features, as well as won’t allow you to leave too short ends for the overhangs and too short log details between windows and doors. We also won’t allow you to use too many dovetail joints or use in constructions too long logs (>8,1 m) without an additional corner, etc.

 

Log houses are designed with quite a unique method, combining log details with possibly different heights, with high level of contrasts between side by side logs, yet avoiding any repetition of those combinations. As the result, their placement is different throughout the walls as well as within each layer of logs.

For example, a log house with wall thickness 200 mm provides variability of log profiles by using step 10 mm and wide ranges of available detail heights: 20-34 cm for wall details; 21-31 cm for purlins and beams of ceilings frame; 10-30 cm for base log layer; and diam. 22-36 cm for round purlins of roof support. We also offer 150 mm and 250 mm thickness of the walls; moreover there is feasibility to interconnect those 3 thicknesses. Only, it will be realized within the slightly narrower frame of mutual combinations.

So called proportionality or height for one side of the log corner joint is strictly controlled by program to not overstep their utmost limits (100-190 mm). However in the case of round roof logs there is need for a wider range of corner joints division (60-280 mm), in such an event, the same program and other complex designing algorithms are used to achieve orderliness of log constructions.


Maximum permissible length of details used in the log house constructions – 8,1 m.

Nominal size of rafters 50×200 mm; lathing 50×50 mm; step (distance) for both of materials 600 mm.


The technical drawings are developed solely for manufacturing purposes and their executions shall not comply with requirements of the construction board. However, our design includes actual spatial details of a construction; therefore, it makes you easier to develop a building design.

The production costs include manufacturing – technical design, so you will not be charged additionally in this regard. The manufacturing process is in no way easier due to a possibility to use standardized projects, because machines are operated automatically and manufacturing time remains the same. But precisely in such a case we will deduct designing prime cost from the price of your order.

As a standard we prepare 25 m² of technical design per day, for example, we will prepare a project for a log house of 360 m² in 15 business days, including therein coordination of the design with you and application of all necessary corrections.


Technical project composition:

1. Technical drawings. So that we could coordinate the project with you, but also the frame of log house will be assembled in line with set of drawings listed below. More: Assembly instruction.pdf and Roof cross-section.pdf

Walls – wall layouts.

Plans – floors, ceiling beams, purlins and other plans.

3D – spatial view of the log house frame, so that it would be easier to grasp constructions.

Sections – none standard constructions. If necessary, we ensure more detailed developments.


2. Calculations. Summary tables, separately with respect to log area and separately for planed timber included in the log house delivery package. Example: Delivery list.pdf

Calc_1 – log area; it determines volume of the ordered project and price thereof. It is calculated by summing wall area (page 4 or 9) with areas of purlins, beams and columns (page 10).

Calc_2 – list of materials (starts on page 11). Materials that are used for almost any log house in terms of size, quantity and type of processing. Those are materials you don’t have to make a single decision about. For your information, materials included in the package amounts to about 15% of the log volume. These materials are dried and planed; ends for rafters are prepared and slider grooves are cut. However, it is possible to acquire partial or different material packages. Price for additional rafters will be 400 €/m³ and 370 €/m³ for laths. Good price have planks to develop a deck before a membrane (20 mm; T&G also in the ends), just 6 €/m².


3. Detailing, solely for manufacturing and designing purposes as well as to control both.

Details / Gables / Purlins / Beams / Apertures / Planes / Drip-Nose / Transitions of profiles etc., and also XML – controlling files for machines and data base management.

Stat_Operations – accounting on process operations, outgoing data for calculation of wages.

Stat_Logs – statistics about logs usage in the project, namely number of % for each height of logs.


4. Packing. Lists of packed log details are generated by database program and these lists are also logical end of the bar code controlled manufacturing process. Example: Packing list.pdf


Under section Examples we invite you to take a look at different architectural and construction solutions used for log houses; there are exhibited part of projects manufactured before year 2010. We hope that it will be easier to grasp the constructions with the help of spatial views, allowing you to choose a log house type according to your taste and needs. If not, then we hope that at least many interesting ideas will attract you. We will strive to add new content to this resource!

 

Once you submit the initial data, we develop a technical project and send it to you to check it and to specify minor details, as well as to approve the project. And, of course, it is also sent for a convenient marking of electricity and other drill-holes or trays in the wall planning, if you need any.

However, project coordination rarely stops with that as often there are further corrections, changes, wall and construction shifting; in other words, there will be several adjustments initiated by you or the customer. Though in any case, we are expecting that you will do the following things:

1)    Please print all technical drawings sent by us;

2)    Apply the necessary corrections, marking on each page of our technical drawings things that you don’t like and what should be changed, as well as write down any comments. Or mark (OK) to state that everything looks fine; write down the date of examination and sign;

3)    Afterwards, please scan the corrections as well as approved technical drawings and send them, joint in a single file, to the e-mail address of the same designer who was responsible for development of your project.

In case of any further changes, these 3 steps must be followed once again until all technical drawings will be marked with OK. It should be done as many times as necessary.


Attention. No written corrections of technical drawings will be accepted.

It is not allowed, for example, to try to describe in an e-mail that height of one or another specific wall must be changed, one of the apertures should be shifted to the right, ends of one specific overhang must be cut shorter, only one drill-hole should be left, etc. Such approach will definitely lead to misunderstandings and it will turn out to be a waste of time, moreover for both of parties.


When coordinating the project, a special attention must be paid to problematic areas marked by us and an answer should be provided to all of raised questions. Of course, all drawing details should be checked, namely whether height of Z-groove in the building side walls is suitable to you (÷125 mm, depending on the cross-section of the roof and thickness of heat insulation layer) or does placement of inter floor grooves seems okay, are all drill-holes, grooves and openings in the right places, etc.

Don’t be surprised that in case of perpendicular roofs (if height of the ceiling on both directions is the same) you will be urged to approve the sole log layout option that works for both of directions. By evaluating situation it’s necessary to compromise as it will never be possible to find a perfect log layout combination for both of roofs.


For a better understanding of the drawings approval process, and to ensure smoother project approval procedure we encourage you to look at the following file: Correction examples.pdf

File perfectly reflects what should be noted while coordinating a project and serves as a great example for mutual communication as every correction shall be technical and unambiguous as well as easily perceivable. When coordinating the project, you may find it helpful to introduce your own evaluation form or checklist for the technical drawings.

Sometimes customers take a lot of time to coordinate the project and often we have to remind and invite them repeatedly to do that. Moreover, later many request n-th changes and we have to coordinate drawings for multiple times. That has an adverse effect on execution of the manufacturing plan and, of course, endangers your delivery deadlines. Therefore, we invite you to submit and coordinate the project in a very good time. If you submit technical drawings in the last minute, you also have to be ready to coordinate them during the last days allocated for this task, in worst case scenario, by doing that over the weekends.


Since we assume financial responsibility for performance of our obligations, we also tightly follow how you execute your duties. We monitor procedure of project corrections and coordination, we examine completeness of information submitted by you, and we register deadlines for submitting technical drawings and delayed payments.

All your delays and unexpected changes affect, to a smaller or greater extent, our production schedule; therefore, you will receive a warning for any of delay. All these delays will be systemically registered and accumulated, granting us discretion or rights to shift delivery deadline according to our wishes. Unfortunately, but we are capable to buffer only minor delays on your part.

 

The combinations of individual details and log layers in a log house are unique and mutually connected. For example, the size of the first layer already starts to affect log combinations in the layers between the floors, namely several layers above, but changes in the direction of first layer may force one to adjust even all of the roof support purlins. Therefore, seemingly minor changes in the project may lead to a comprehensive redesigning in both directions, so sometimes it is much easier to start designing process from the scratch.

If you will wish to apply any changes to an already developed technical design (which is made according to your initial technical drawings & information) you may be charged with additional designing costs. These costs will be calculated by taking into account how comprehensive, laborious and significant are these changes, which parts or elements of the building are affected, whether these changes are applied during the designing process or afterwards, during the coordination. In other words, these circumstances will be comprehensively examined by taking into account all possible considerations. The surcharges are calculated and assessed by the designer of each individual project.


Currently project changes are charged according to rate 5 €/m² excluding VAT, and approximate surcharge limits are calculated within the following percent limits from the overall area of the project. However, if you will change the project diversely and for several times, the amount of surcharge may exceed far beyond 100%.

÷ 70% ROOF Angle 25% + Size of groove / type in side walls 25% + Number of purlins 10% + Size 10%
÷ 60% BEAMS Direction 30% + Inter ceiling height 15% + Size 10% + Step 5%
÷ 50% WALLS Height of side walls up to Z-groove 25% + Placement 15% + Sizes 10%
÷ 30% P&B LOG  HOUSES Upper layer height 10% + Profile 10% + Ceiling groove 10%
÷ 20% OPENINGS Top and bottom height 10% + New openings 10%

Examples

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Calculator

Wall: A

0.00 m2

wall: 0.00

pediment: 0.00

gable: 0.00

detail: 0.00

bow: 0.00

pillar: 0.00

door: 0.00

window: 0.00

aperture: 0.00

Wall: B

0.00 m2

wall: 0.00

pediment: 0.00

gable: 0.00

detail: 0.00

bow: 0.00

pillar: 0.00

door: 0.00

window: 0.00

aperture: 0.00

Wall: 1

0.00 m2

wall: 0.00

pediment: 0.00

gable: 0.00

detail: 0.00

bow: 0.00

pillar: 0.00

door: 0.00

window: 0.00

aperture: 0.00

Wall: 2

0.00 m2

wall: 0.00

pediment: 0.00

gable: 0.00

detail: 0.00

bow: 0.00

pillar: 0.00

door: 0.00

window: 0.00

aperture: 0.00

Sum: 0.00 m2
Sum: 0.00 m2
Sum: 0.00 m2
Sum: 0.00 m2
Sum: 0.00 m2
Sum: 0.00 m2
Sum: 0.00 m2
Sum: 0.00 m2
Sum: 0.00 m2

To have a better understanding of approximate costs of the log house frame, you can count up the area (m²) of log constructions and multiply it by the offered price (EUR) per m² by yourself.                                                                                                                                                 ↓
1. If floor plans do not have specific axis designations, you have to allocate for each log wall a consecutive letter or number.
2. Enter information on area and shape of all log walls. For each shape you must find out its height, width, length or angle, as well as number of such identical shapes in the respective wall. Information must be entered systematically – consecutively for all wall shapes, with respect to each wall, consecutively in terms of directions and sequence. You have to imagine spatial layouts on yourself.
3. Enter information on windows, doors and other apertures in each log wall.
4. Enter separate information on roof purlins. If there will be diagonals, enter them along with calculation of purlins.
5. Enter separate information on interfloor beams and attic joists.
6. You have to be able to determine the extent of allowed interpretations and possible errors. As a default, we use standard 4% surplus (or reserve for calculated log area) for log houses and 12% for Post & Beam houses.


1. If floor plans do not have specific axis designations, you have to allocate for each log wall a consecutive letter or number. Usually letters are given from left to right, but numbers are used from bottom to top. But you can also improvise! The most important is that it’s easy for you to understand your scheme.

2. Enter information on area and shape of all log walls.

The walls should be dividend in the following basic shapes: Rectangles, equilateral and right-angled triangles, bows, horizontal, angled and vertical areas. For each shape you must find out its height, width, length or angle, as well as number of such identical shapes in the respective wall. Information must be entered systematically & consecutively for all wall shapes, with respect to each wall, consecutively in terms of directions and sequence. Some of the walls may have only one rectangle, but others may have all components (and several repetitions thereof). Where necessary, add in the program an additional line. Unfortunately, projects rarely have wall layouts so you have to imagine spatial layouts on yourself!

Your project includes floor plans, all sections and facades? Your project has all necessary dimensions, angles and main heights? Have you included specifications of windows and doors, as well as spatial views of the building? Great. That should be enough to design in the head any wall of the building! However, if your project lacks any information (e.g., dimensions, angles), you are the one, and not us, who can find it out and take a decision. For example, about the attic, joists, any of the walls, terrace, roof diagonals and other matters. We can only interpret these project shortcomings, because it is not possible to request from you all these details. That’s an unnecessary burden for both of parties.

3. Enter information on windows, doors and other apertures in each log wall. It will be easier if you will do that while entering data about the respective wall. The program will deduct the area of apertures from the overall wall areas.

4. Enter separate information on roof purlins. Enter their diameter or height, length and number. Pay special attention to their dimensions. Note that every roof has the minimum allowed dimensions (or diameter) of purlins considering the overall number of them; furthermore, it has to be calculated in advance by taking into account the roof load. Asses with great care each roof construction – what will be the size of purlin overhangs, how and where exactly one roof will connect to other, will there be internal diagonals? If there will be diagonals, enter them along with calculation of purlins.

5. Enter separate information on interfloor beams and attic joists, if any. You have to enter their height, length and number with respect to their placement. A special attention should be paid to the area around the staircases – do we have to allocate greater number of logs for any of the sides, is it necessary to place a support column in the corner? It’s important to choose the right direction of beams (usually according to the smallest span), as well as an appropriate beam distance, if such information at the moment is not included in the project sketch at your disposal.

6. You have to be able to determine the extent of allowed interpretations and possible errors considering how complete and qualitative are your project and sketches, as well as content of the technical drawings, and whether you have allowed any dimension deviations while imagining the final version of the project. As a default, we use standard 4% surplus (or reserve for calculated log area) for log houses and 12% surplus for Post & Beam houses. It relates to inevitable manufacturing waste – roof triangle edges, upper and lower parts of apertures, decorative bows share, etc. Therefore, the manufacturing project must include data on minimum necessary length of logs so that it would be possible to successfully saw, cut and mill all log house details. In case you feel that a lot of data are approximate, add your reserve percent to our standard surplus.

As much as we would like to do that, we cannot ensure calculation services for all clients; also we simply do not know several nuances and details of your project. And it is not allowed to undertake this task without grate care, imagining or interpreting a lot of things. Therefore, we invite you to use this simple calculation program.

We wish you great success and thank you for your cooperation! In case of any questions about calculator, please write to: ervins@ekonams.lv

  • To avoid any waste of time, these approximate square meters allow us to commence development of the technical project and settle advance payments for manufacturing.
  • The log area in specifications of our manufacturing program will be 100% accurate only after development of the technical project and coordination thereof with you.
  • This final area is the one that sets contractual price; therefore, all necessary amendments will be applied to the Contract.

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