So far, I have been sticking with your series; I am looking forward to some videos where you actually DO building, cutting and dragging trees; collect stones for the foundation; cut those corner joints and fit them in place,etc. This isn't about what to do and not do exclusively, is it? It would really be SOMETHING to watch to see a log home go up, one step at a time, from deciding where to put it(and why), to glazing the windows. Even if it took a year and a half; every Thursday I would check in and see how things are going; what's been decided, what's been done. You have a school, right? Well, teach! Who knows, I might just buy it when you are done! I live in Durham, N.C.
Hi Seth! Thank you for your comments... I'm having a good time with these videos (for the most part). I do get a lot of suggestions from folks who tell me what they would like me to be doing... but I'm just taking it as it comes. I am still building houses and mowing my yard, along with a hundred other things that we all do. Plus I post regularly on two Facebook groups, and on my blog where I send out a newsletter most weeks. I do all of the filming and editing for these TH-cam videos as well... no staff to set up the camera or help this old man figure out all the technical stuff either. Oh yeah... I'm writing my first book as well... the editing is done and now it's time to the finish work... and once again... I've never done it either so it's all a learning curve and takes longer than I'd like it to take. BTW...I just turned 60 years old. Oh boy... nothing like officially being old. sigh... not my choice... it just happened. My goal over the next five years of my life is to share what I've learned... and to build my next home and share that experience. My life has never been on schedule, often filled with unexpected changes and turns... much like building a handmade house. I'm also new to teaching... to sharing what I know. I've spent the last forty years of my life on the side of various hills and mountains, in the woods with a handful of craftsmen (and craftswomen), hand-building homes. Learning to write, getting in front of a camera, and organizing a life time of experience, is all new territory for me and it takes time and effort. And patience. My plans to build move forward on the construction of my next home have been slowed down because of a poor housing market in my area and the lack of sale on my current home. So there is that too. I am planning on building my next home in phases... one part of the home at a time... the first part will be the undertaking of the challenge of doing as much of the work as I can do myself... building it as low-priced as I can while obtaining a high quality and attractive small home... the next phases will be one of log.... one of stone... timber frame... etc. In a world where most folks want it now, it might be maddening for some... but it will be what it will be. I'm not after pleasing a million people and keeping them all happy... but if I can help out a handful, then it will all be worthwhile. I've known a few amazing craftsmen in my time who have now passed on, not ever getting around to sharing even a few minutes of what they learned in their craft. Now that is a shame. I have received a LOT of emails from kind folks like you that said "hey! I can't wait two or three year for you to teach me how to build a log cabin... I want to know now!"... and with everything in mind that I just shared above... I have now just devoted nearly a year full time in creating the Log Cabin Academy course... nearly twelve hours of video where I step-by-step go through the process of building a log cabin. It turned out amazingly well and is priced at less than half of any other log school! I offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee of complete satisfaction... no one has asked for a refund. (there is LOTS of me doing things in there) So... I do have a school... you should consider enrolling! Come on in! noahbradley.leadpages.co/logcabinacademy/ So, as my house sits on the market... waiting for the day it sells... I'm going to create other courses... one on stone will be released this Fall.... and timber-framing will happen in the Spring. To be fair... some of the videos here on TH-cam do show me working... cutting corner notches... etc. I bet there are a thousand videos on TH-cam that show a person how to hew a log (no one really needs to see me do that)... but I haven't been able to find a single one that teaches a person how to build an attractive log home... the BEST log home that can be built... one that will stand for centuries. Certainly it's great to see others swing an axe... but nothing beats doing the work ourselves (we learn best by doing... with someone nearby giving pointers when needed... there is a great deal of wisdom that can be learned through words... from books or old men that just talking and talking, never seeming to get to the point... I know it's not as entertaining to watch... we all want action... heck, I don't know if I'd tune in and watch me each week... lol... ) Keep in mind that all of these TH-cam videos each take me a day or two to create, they each contain at least one valuable insight that my younger self would have loved to have gotten for free. Likely just like the houses I built got better as the months and years went by, likely so will my videos. At least we both hope so! :) So, hang in there with me!
Oh, my. You do read these replies. Each of your paragraphs served as a slap across one cheek, then the other. What I mean is, I should have known, or at least expected that you were a busy man, and had at least thought all those good ideas. Probably made a good start on many. So, try to forget my haranging you and just do what you are already doing; it's a great work. I'm 67 now, and home most days. Right now I'm building sitting benches for the food pantry at my church; noone had a place to wait for the doors to open( they like to be early-birds). So, I'm busy at home, doing woodworking, mostly, and a big believer in teaching, training people how to survive, if they have to, without those things that mark us as modern. Thus, your videos play in to that.
It's true! Most everyone wants to rush that foundation, but if it is done right and you savor the moment as best you can, the building is far more likely the best it can be.
Noah you are an exceptional instructor to provide so much practical building information to youtube. I have seen many pier and beam homes with protective fencing (concrete block, pine, chain link) to prevent animals digging underneath. Your website is excellent, thank you for sharing.
Thank you! Teaching... getting in front of a camera... writing... it's all new to me. I've just been working in the woods for the past few decades... and thought it was time to try sharing what I've learned before I pass on... I have to say that I'm enjoying this new phase and thankful for anyone that finds what I have to say of use! I see SO many people building their homes with pier foundations and my heart goes out to them... speaking from experience in having done it myself one time... they are miserable things to live with.
I'm not planning on log, rather intend to build a home using pole foundation. The location I have is known to flood once every 15 - 20 years. I plan a 3' crawl under the joists, insulated around the skirt and between joists. The top layer of sub-floor will have routed channels for pex tubing to provide radiant floor. My below grade poles will be reinforced concrete to prevent any chance of post rot. I had considered spraying closed cell into the walls, but have begun reconsidering based on research. My plan is to retire into this house in the woods. I am enjoying your videos and admire your skills.
Thanks for sharing. Yes, indeed clearly there are situations where a pier foundation is the best option... such as you describe, or a beach home. And that's the key question and solution... "What is the best foundation I can build for this home?"... rather than "what is the cheapest one?'... which will eventually lead to regret.
My former home was an 1891, 3 story Queen Anne Victorian house on brick piers and the 19th Century dog trot farmhouse I currently live in is on rock piers. Lot's of them here in Mississippi from the 19th Century still standing. My Grandma's dog trot 1878 house is another. My current house, the dog trot, the dirt under the house is a foot higher than the yard surrounding the house. Underpinning takes care of the cold floors.
Noah your videos are simply outstanding!!! I owned a log home circa 1950 which I sold 2 years ago. You are so right about the foundation being the most important part of a log structure as we had issues with plumbing (hence lights bulbs 24/7 to keep the lines from freezing under the house) and rodents. 🙄 The attic and under our wood house was always on a going maintenance! What are your thought on concrete radiant heating as a foundation as we saw a listing that has it but we live in Eastern Canada and though many use it it new construction I would love you input on it too. Thank you once again. I subscribed to your channel ... Cheers Natalie
Down here in the mountains of sc nearly every older house I’ve seen still standing is on piers and if it’s got a solid foundation it’s rotted out underneath.
Noah, most of the log house builds that I have seen demonstrated on TH-cam, are the scribed and stacked type, and I learned how to build with that method back in high school. But, I much prefer the squared log type because they look so much nicer, plus, they use up a lot less wood, thus saving trees. Some folks are building these scribed log cabins right on the ground, on top of a bed of gravel, or a shallow layer of stones.
I am researching what kind of foundation to use on my home build. If not a pier foundation? You like cement? It really isn't handy on a remote site, not a very green kind of building also. I have been considering piers but closing off the sides and ends. With a vent at each end that can be open or closed. Maybe a lime coat on the dirt underneath. A vapor barrier like a foil of some sort. under the building. How high off the ground should the building be is a concern.
Noah, this is an extremely helpful video, sir. Thanks! I bought a 100+-year-old building in rural Virginia. The front section was once a small gas station and it was built on about 15-20 brick piers. There's nothing really interesting or attractive about that space, which ranges from 4 to 11 inches above grade. Storm water management is a bigger concern. I've been thinking of forming it up and filling it in with concrete, or bricking in around the gap. Question: Do I need to ventilate the exposed wood under the building? Thanks again for the video!
You're not only a really nice guy with a great sense of humour Noah, you're an excellent teacher! I'm really loving your short dissertations and valuable advice due to your years of experience. What about the flat bed trailer floors of a tiny house on wheels though? The ones that I have seen recently, at least the ones that are built properly, have the metal frame, insulation, vapour barrier, sub floors, and the undersides are finished with steel plating. Do you have any concerns about them?
THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR KNOWLEDGE!!! My husband and I have taken down 100+ years old log cabins that are hand-hewn that we plan on building. You are an inspiration and we want to learn more from you I am going to check out signing up with you on email and where is your academy classes held?
I enjoy your video's! I also enjoy my pier and post foundation for my tiny cabin. I used reflectix under my subflooring and once the cabins heated, the floor stays warm. Hopefully my cabin stays up without issues years from now. I also dug around the perimeter of the foundation and put corrugated drain tile in. We all do things different I guess. Great video though!
It's great to hear you found a solution for keeping your floor warm. :) For certain we all do things differently... and that's a good thing... a great thing. Who'd want to live in a world where we were all the same? lol Not me! And certainly I don't mean any offense in my videos, and I'm glad you didn't take it that way. I'm just trying to pass on my experiences and observations. One of the great things about building homes is that we all are learning new things! It never ends... or gets boring. As I said in the video I once built a home for myself on a pier foundation. I built it that way for speed (it saved me a couple of weeks), for cost savings (it saved me a couple thousand dollars), and to decrease my work load (I had plenty of other things to do). BTW... this is the same formula that McDonald's uses to make a hamburger... faster, cheaper, and easier. I have found that in living a home that I build that I tend to pay much closer attention to each component of the house than the average homeowner does to their home. I find myself achieving great satisfaction from a piece of trim well-placed and remorse at a door that I hung a bit out-of-plumb. Regret is a miserable thing to live with. "I wish, in hindsight, I had done that differently"... playing over and over again in my mind. I imagine there is a medication out there for my condition...
Would it be possible to show how to build a platform for a bell tent. I will build a cabin for the next step but need a place to stay in the meantime off the ground. Thanks.
Good evening. Awesome videos. is being my dream for years of owning a log cabin with mountain views near a lake or water source. Definitely will be joining in the near month to start learning more and more and one day be able to build my handmade cabin. Question...... Is it possible to build a cabin slowly? Build your fundation. Maybe let it sit 1 or 2 years, then come back and set the logs, let them sit etc.... Is this a possibility? Thanks for all the info. Great videos!!!!
Modern houses with piers can have a basement enclosed with pressure treated ply or with vertical tongue and groove or corrugated metal then the floor and those walls can be insulated. Again, completely enclosed with foundation walls. they can be vented in the summer.
I've commented on another video that I've always wanted to build a cabin in Alaska. My concern though is that of snow and rot, I'm curious if there would be a way to get around that issue without pier building, as I've seen and been in pier foundation houses and have never liked them because they are cold and the foundation looks ugly
Thanks for the comment! You just can't beat a solid perimeter foundation under a house that creates a crawlspace and keeps out the vermin and the wind... the house is more attractive, more comfortable, the plumbing is much less prone to freezing, and the home will last much longer.
I haven't lived there but from what I have heard the ground freeze in winter is a MAJOR issue. As Noah mentioned in other replies, there are special conditions that require special solutions, and a good foundation is most important. In Alaska and other far northern regions where the ground freeze goes deep in the ground it is impractical to set your foundation so that it extends below the freeze line. The better alternative there (I got this from a publication produced by the State of Alaska) is to create a very strong reinforced concrete slab on top of well compacted ground.
In Alaska most all our foundations are about 4'-5' block or concrete on top of a 16" wide footer, with only the top block or two above ground level. This takes us below frost and gives a crawl space for utilities. Cabins are set on stone or whatever other material we have on hand to get them 1'-2' off the ground, and usually only resided in during the summer. With the exception of early twenties children. who have since moved on Long eaves keeps the snow away from the building and be sure to keep your subfloor at least 1' above ground level. Just some info to your question. Also one of those newer snow shovels that moves about 10cubic ft per push is good
I had the impression from your earlier videos that you would be walking us through a 1-5yr process of building a log cabin. I've followed all of your videos up to this point and thought interesting, you just seem to be analyzing your past work. So my question is - will you be walking us through the building process? Thank you.
Hey thank you for the question... and it's a good one. Yes indeed my original plan is still in place... but like many plans in this life I have to adapt to situations as they come up. The first step in my plan is the sale of my current home... which hasn't happened yet... so, future building plans are on hold until that happens. Second of all... I'm planning on building that future home in phases... the first section of the home will be built with a priority of fast and affordable (while still being very nice)... which means it will probably be built with modern framing techniques coupled with quality materials and timeless design. Log, stone, and timber frame sections will follow in the years after. Meanwhile, I have received a LOT of requests from those who can't (or don't want to) wait for years for me to share what I know about these three forms of construction... so, while the house is on the market... I thought I'd spend my time creating detailed step-by-step classes on these methods.... a stone course will be released this fall... a timber frame class in the spring... and then... well, we'll see! I do post a lot of great info here, on Facebook, and through my newsletter for free... but it all does take a great deal of time... there are expenses... and I've got bills to pay just like everyone else does. Words of encouragement motivate me to keep sharing.... but support through signing on with the courses... is what makes it possible.
i was looking at buying an 8 year old house...wood pier poles...5 feet off the ground...thought the price was a little cheap...i now think floor was cold...winter ,,,ontario ,,,canada... thanks for the education
Can you cover skirting a pier foundation cabin or not in a video? what can you do you do to make it more efficient with retaining heat...much appreciated.
Hi Skynet. Thank you for your comment. Skirting a pier foundation It's not generally something I would recommend. That said, the proper way to deal with a pier foundation would to complete the foundation to make it continuous, which is, quite literally, a ton of work. It's best to get it right the first time, if possible, and avoid having to go back and "redo" a foundation by making it continuous from the get-go.
I only use piers on my the porches I build... and on those I do cement in an anchor bolt on the tops of the piers. (we don't get a whole lot of shakes here in Virginia)
There are many types of good masonry foundations... which to choose from depends on a variety of factors... including site conditions, budget, owner involvement, basement or not, and what is being built above it. I would say that each of my home's foundations have varied based upon these. The key features you want though is... masonry (not wood)... and solid (enclosed with a crawl space or basement... not pier) I'll do a video in the future where I spell it all out... likely a Handmade House TV episode when I get to that point in my future house build. If you are ready to build and can answer the above issues I'd be happy to give you a recommendation.
nice,great show,bang on about it all,including the dogs, i had a place like that but my lovely wife that i love dearly wanted a sewing room! still have holes in my socks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I just watched this video and at no time did you explain what a Pier Foundation was. I'm a total beginner and really like your videos, but you do tend to breeze past some details that I imagine experienced builders already know. I would still like to know what a Pier Foundation is, thanks.
Hi Gabe! A pier foundation is one in which the home sets on a few columns (typically one in each corner and often more in between... one in which the underside of the floor system is exposed... as you see in this video. Here they are made of stone... but often many will used logs or timbers which will rot eventually. It seems a lot of individuals today take this route today... wanting to save money and move the construction along quickly. A MUCH better alternative is one in which the house sets on a perimeter foundation... a solid wall that the follows the exterior walls of the home. I'm sorry I didn't get this out in the video... it's tough to "get it all out" and not leave anything out when standing in the woods talking to my cell phone's camera... and trying to speak to everyone from novice to expert. Thank you for asking!... it's a good question. Please don't ever hesitate to ask any question. Noah
It was at 0:21 that I knew you were not going to be an advocate. I swear you shuddered a bit just at mentioning it. I've always wondered whether pier foundations were a good idea - your expression spoke volumes. 👍
Hello Noah. great content. Thanks for sharing the knowledge. I'm starting a build of a timberframe house (wattle and daub walls) next month and I have some questions. How do feel about stone plinth foundations? Besides from the fact that wind is running beneath the house, making the floor cold and animals possibly lodging under the house, would you recommend them. You see, here in Peru, we don't have extreme climates such as really cold winters, so pipes frezzing or cold floors wouldn't be an issue I guess. What other considerations should I take into account if I wanted to make the foundations out of a single big rock. Thanks for any advice you can give away. :)
Dusty, maybe if you could tell me more about what kind of foundation you were thinking about I could help guide you to the correct source... basement? a stone or brick foundation? what kind of house are you looking to build?
I was interested more in building a small Timber Frame style house in the Mountains of North Georgia. I would like to have a crawl space area for utility purposes. (Utility meaning, running of electrical or perhaps ventilation, etc.) I was also considering radiant heating in the floor and you would need access from below for that. I like what you had to say here to someone else: "...one with either a crawl space or a basement under the home... a foundation... that is enclosed and one that will keep the weather and animals out from under the floor. Slab foundations, on the other hand, are relatively rare for homes here in my area (central Virginia), but in many areas they make sense (like Florida). I, and quite a few people I have met over the years, find that concrete slab floors are uncomfortable to stand on for long periods and we appreciate the ever-so-slight give of a wood floor system." I was just curious how you would know how what would be strong enough to hold the weight of "long term" construction. I have had some tell me large stone, others say continuous pore with appropriate reinforcement. When I ask people about this in construction related fields the standard answer I get is "get a good concrete man" or "talk to a structural engineer". I want to learn and do it myself. First, this is not a McMansion and those people want me to fit into a mold and not "over-engineer". Next, I want this to be something that is going to last a lifetime or two. Finally, I want to do it myself. If it takes me a decade to build and finish a house by hand, so be it. It will be my retirement home in the mountains. If I finish early it can be my vacation home.
One more question... do you plan on covering the exterior of your timber frame with SIP panels and exposing the timber frame on the interior of the home? That is my preferred method.
That all depends upon the county, the state, and what the purpose of the cabin will be (hunt cabins and outbuildings are often exempt). Some states have no inspections and I imagine there are some that are so stringent that they would not allow a pier foundation at all on a home... it's always best to check with "the local authorities". I've only built one home with a pier foundation... that one was for myself over 30 years ago... I never built another after that experience... other than outbuildings which pier foundations work well for.
I lived in another state known for it's lower degree of government intrusion... which held a lot of appeal to me. But the first I was passed by a car with no fenders throwing gravel every direction I realized that some regulation is desirable.
i built my little cabin on piers and i am still happy with my decision. i have sprayed foam insulation underneath, and now i am wondering what to do about a skirting. any suggestions?
Hi Bonnie, I'm a big fan of a "solid continuous foundation"... one with either a crawl space or a basement under the home... a foundation... that is enclosed and one that will keep the weather and animals out from under the floor. Slab foundations, on the other hand, are relatively rare for homes here in my area (central Virginia), but in many areas they make sense (like Florida). I, and quite a few people I have met over the years, find that concrete slab floors are uncomfortable to stand on for long periods and we appreciate the ever-so-slight give of a wood floor system. Great question... and thank you for making it... it's hard to get everything that needs to be said in one quick video. Noah
Hello Noah, I'm posting here to you vs. below in your reply to me. Reason being I heard a youtube channel comment one day that a reply post is not as easily seen by the channel owner. I'm here in Central East Texas (half way between Houston and Dallas) and reared in North Louisiana. My great grandparents had a home like the one you show here and with a foundation like it. It too is still standing today. The slab foundation is the most common here in this part of Texas but I'm unfamiliar with a "solid continuous foundation" with a crawl space. Basements are extremely rare in these parts and the ones I've seen have moisture problems. I sell farm and ranch real estate for now 30 years so your channel and knowledge interest me. I look forward to learning more from you. Particularly now about continuous foundations with crawl spaces.
This customer wanted to retain the original character of the cabin. With respect to skirting, outside of a full stone foundation, nothing else would have looked natural for this cabin. Thank you for your question and following along Geoff!
I like your affable delivery and I respect your opinion, but I very much disagree with it, if I'm even reading it right. At my acreage at 10K feet in the Colorado Rockies even in the Spring and Fall the temps often go below zero F. We require four feet deep to get below the frost line. This makes me wonder about heaving problems with a concrete slab. I already have a tiny house sitting on Doug Fir stumps on top of the ground with NO signs of movement. I've owned four houses on concrete slabs, and the only one that did not have a crack in the ceiling sheet rock caused by an uneven slab is the one that I oversaw the pouring of the slab. I may have missed your point, but it seems like your saying, "Don't build your house on piers because you will make this, and this, and this mistake. But you don't have to make those mistakes. Of course you should screw plywood to the underside of your floor joists. Then you can easily lay fiberglass batt (Or other) insulation in between the joists. Screw two eye-bolts into the sheet of plywood then stand on the floor joists to secure the plywood up against the bottom of the joist and then go underneath to screw it up. And by the way, never build a house on a crawlspace unless you leave enough room for you to scoot around in the crawlspace. Putting aluminum skirting around the house will keep most varmints out and help you resist the urge to store things under the house, but the skirting can easily be removed for repairs. I like the use of pressure treated wood beams or even repurposed creosote bridge timbers for piers, especially at an elevation that is too high for termites. I've had 26 6x6 posts in the ground at Termite Central in the SE USA for 17 years with no problems. To ease your mind, you can easily install them in such a way that they can be swapped out using post hole diggers, an impact driver, and a twenty or thirty ton bottle jack. Pour one bag of Quick-crete or Sack-crete into the hole and then use the wooden pier to pack the crete down flat.for a base. Treated wooden piers are the cheapest, quickest, simplest, and easiest way to build a foundation, and if done right, they're the easiest to repair. And even if this statement was mostly wrong and the foundation only lasts for forty years instead of fifty, will you really care?
The most important part of any foundation is ,,,,,ready.?. It has to be built into the ground down past frost level,,,, I have witnessed. Many log heads build there asses off. And. Working. Sooo. Hard only to miss. The. Most important aspect of any structure,,,,.......if u doont build the fou if you don’t build the foundation correctly in time your building will moveAnd why do all that work cut all those trees down risk your time in life to build a beautiful house that’s all I’m gonna move around
So far, I have been sticking with your series; I am looking forward to some videos where you actually DO building, cutting and dragging trees; collect stones for the foundation; cut those corner joints and fit them in place,etc. This isn't about what to do and not do exclusively, is it? It would really be SOMETHING to watch to see a log home go up, one step at a time, from deciding where to put it(and why), to glazing the windows. Even if it took a year and a half; every Thursday I would check in and see how things are going; what's been decided, what's been done. You have a school, right? Well, teach! Who knows, I might just buy it when you are done! I live in Durham, N.C.
Hi Seth!
Thank you for your comments... I'm having a good time with these videos (for the most part).
I do get a lot of suggestions from folks who tell me what they would like me to be doing... but I'm just taking it as it comes.
I am still building houses and mowing my yard, along with a hundred other things that we all do. Plus I post regularly on two Facebook groups, and on my blog where I send out a newsletter most weeks. I do all of the filming and editing for these TH-cam videos as well... no staff to set up the camera or help this old man figure out all the technical stuff either. Oh yeah... I'm writing my first book as well... the editing is done and now it's time to the finish work... and once again... I've never done it either so it's all a learning curve and takes longer than I'd like it to take.
BTW...I just turned 60 years old. Oh boy... nothing like officially being old. sigh... not my choice... it just happened.
My goal over the next five years of my life is to share what I've learned... and to build my next home and share that experience. My life has never been on schedule, often filled with unexpected changes and turns... much like building a handmade house.
I'm also new to teaching... to sharing what I know. I've spent the last forty years of my life on the side of various hills and mountains, in the woods with a handful of craftsmen (and craftswomen), hand-building homes.
Learning to write, getting in front of a camera, and organizing a life time of experience, is all new territory for me and it takes time and effort. And patience.
My plans to build move forward on the construction of my next home have been slowed down because of a poor housing market in my area and the lack of sale on my current home. So there is that too.
I am planning on building my next home in phases... one part of the home at a time... the first part will be the undertaking of the challenge of doing as much of the work as I can do myself... building it as low-priced as I can while obtaining a high quality and attractive small home... the next phases will be one of log.... one of stone... timber frame... etc.
In a world where most folks want it now, it might be maddening for some... but it will be what it will be. I'm not after pleasing a million people and keeping them all happy... but if I can help out a handful, then it will all be worthwhile. I've known a few amazing craftsmen in my time who have now passed on, not ever getting around to sharing even a few minutes of what they learned in their craft. Now that is a shame.
I have received a LOT of emails from kind folks like you that said "hey! I can't wait two or three year for you to teach me how to build a log cabin... I want to know now!"... and with everything in mind that I just shared above... I have now just devoted nearly a year full time in creating the Log Cabin Academy course... nearly twelve hours of video where I step-by-step go through the process of building a log cabin. It turned out amazingly well and is priced at less than half of any other log school! I offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee of complete satisfaction... no one has asked for a refund. (there is LOTS of me doing things in there)
So... I do have a school... you should consider enrolling! Come on in! noahbradley.leadpages.co/logcabinacademy/
So, as my house sits on the market... waiting for the day it sells... I'm going to create other courses... one on stone will be released this Fall.... and timber-framing will happen in the Spring.
To be fair... some of the videos here on TH-cam do show me working... cutting corner notches... etc.
I bet there are a thousand videos on TH-cam that show a person how to hew a log (no one really needs to see me do that)... but I haven't been able to find a single one that teaches a person how to build an attractive log home... the BEST log home that can be built... one that will stand for centuries. Certainly it's great to see others swing an axe... but nothing beats doing the work ourselves (we learn best by doing... with someone nearby giving pointers when needed... there is a great deal of wisdom that can be learned through words... from books or old men that just talking and talking, never seeming to get to the point... I know it's not as entertaining to watch... we all want action... heck, I don't know if I'd tune in and watch me each week... lol... )
Keep in mind that all of these TH-cam videos each take me a day or two to create, they each contain at least one valuable insight that my younger self would have loved to have gotten for free.
Likely just like the houses I built got better as the months and years went by, likely so will my videos.
At least we both hope so! :)
So, hang in there with me!
Oh, my. You do read these replies. Each of your paragraphs served as a slap across one cheek, then the other. What I mean is, I should have known, or at least expected that you were a busy man, and had at least thought all those good ideas. Probably made a good start on many. So, try to forget my haranging you and just do what you are already doing; it's a great work. I'm 67 now, and home most days. Right now I'm building sitting benches for the food pantry at my church; noone had a place to wait for the doors to open( they like to be early-birds). So, I'm busy at home, doing woodworking, mostly, and a big believer in teaching, training people how to survive, if they have to, without those things that mark us as modern. Thus, your videos play in to that.
Noah is the Man. Just let him do his thing.
Slow down. Savour your foundation. A prophetic word i needed to hear!😊. Thankyou!
It's true! Most everyone wants to rush that foundation, but if it is done right and you savor the moment as best you can, the building is far more likely the best it can be.
I really enjoy your videos, especially the quasi-spiritual aspects of building a "home". It is more than just a building.
Thanks for the affirmation.
Glad you like them! My pleasure!
Love the four-legged critter story. Great tips...as always. Thanks Noah. Keep a good thought.
Noah you are an exceptional instructor to provide so much practical building information to youtube. I have seen many pier and beam homes with protective fencing (concrete block, pine, chain link) to prevent animals digging underneath. Your website is excellent, thank you for sharing.
Thank you!
Teaching... getting in front of a camera... writing... it's all new to me.
I've just been working in the woods for the past few decades... and thought it was time to try sharing what I've learned before I pass on... I have to say that I'm enjoying this new phase and thankful for anyone that finds what I have to say of use!
I see SO many people building their homes with pier foundations and my heart goes out to them... speaking from experience in having done it myself one time... they are miserable things to live with.
Good series , enjoying the Know how ... Free materials are the best materials . old school .
I'm not planning on log, rather intend to build a home using pole foundation. The location I have is known to flood once every 15 - 20 years. I plan a 3' crawl under the joists, insulated around the skirt and between joists. The top layer of sub-floor will have routed channels for pex tubing to provide radiant floor. My below grade poles will be reinforced concrete to prevent any chance of post rot. I had considered spraying closed cell into the walls, but have begun reconsidering based on research. My plan is to retire into this house in the woods.
I am enjoying your videos and admire your skills.
Thanks for sharing.
Yes, indeed clearly there are situations where a pier foundation is the best option... such as you describe, or a beach home. And that's the key question and solution... "What is the best foundation I can build for this home?"... rather than "what is the cheapest one?'... which will eventually lead to regret.
My former home was an 1891, 3 story Queen Anne Victorian house on brick piers and the 19th Century dog trot farmhouse I currently live in is on rock piers. Lot's of them here in Mississippi from the 19th Century still standing. My Grandma's dog trot 1878 house is another. My current house, the dog trot, the dirt under the house is a foot higher than the yard surrounding the house. Underpinning takes care of the cold floors.
Noah your videos are simply outstanding!!! I owned a log home circa 1950 which I sold 2 years ago. You are so right about the foundation being the most important part of a log structure as we had issues with plumbing (hence lights bulbs 24/7 to keep the lines from freezing under the house) and rodents. 🙄 The attic and under our wood house was always on a going maintenance! What are your thought on concrete radiant heating as a foundation as we saw a listing that has it but we live in Eastern Canada and though many use it it new construction I would love you input on it too. Thank you once again. I subscribed to your channel ... Cheers Natalie
I think the area you live in doesnt cause the same problems as a place that gets lots of snow and frost heaves
Down here in the mountains of sc nearly every older house I’ve seen still standing is on piers and if it’s got a solid foundation it’s rotted out underneath.
this was the first piece of useful information i could gather for my cause so far ^^ thanks!
Much appreciated insights. Those piers look like they need cement in between.
Noah, most of the log house builds that I have seen demonstrated on TH-cam, are the scribed and stacked type, and I learned how to build with that method back in high school. But, I much prefer the squared log type because they look so much nicer, plus, they use up a lot less wood, thus saving trees. Some folks are building these scribed log cabins right on the ground, on top of a bed of gravel, or a shallow layer of stones.
I am researching what kind of foundation to use on my home build. If not a pier foundation? You like cement? It really isn't handy on a remote site, not a very green kind of building also. I have been considering piers but closing off the sides and ends. With a vent at each end that can be open or closed. Maybe a lime coat on the dirt underneath. A vapor barrier like a foil of some sort. under the building. How high off the ground should the building be is a concern.
Noah, this is an extremely helpful video, sir. Thanks! I bought a 100+-year-old building in rural Virginia. The front section was once a small gas station and it was built on about 15-20 brick piers. There's nothing really interesting or attractive about that space, which ranges from 4 to 11 inches above grade. Storm water management is a bigger concern. I've been thinking of forming it up and filling it in with concrete, or bricking in around the gap. Question: Do I need to ventilate the exposed wood under the building? Thanks again for the video!
Yes, you should!
@@HandmadeHouseswithNoahBradley Thanks!
You're not only a really nice guy with a great sense of humour Noah, you're an excellent teacher! I'm really loving your short dissertations and valuable advice due to your years of experience. What about the flat bed trailer floors of a tiny house on wheels though? The ones that I have seen recently, at least the ones that are built properly, have the metal frame, insulation, vapour barrier, sub floors, and the undersides are finished with steel plating. Do you have any concerns about them?
THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR KNOWLEDGE!!! My husband and I have taken down 100+ years old log cabins that are hand-hewn that we plan on building. You are an inspiration and we want to learn more from you I am going to check out signing up with you on email and where is your academy classes held?
I enjoy your video's! I also enjoy my pier and post foundation for my tiny cabin. I used reflectix under my subflooring and once the cabins heated, the floor stays warm. Hopefully my cabin stays up without issues years from now. I also dug around the perimeter of the foundation and put corrugated drain tile in. We all do things different I guess. Great video though!
It's great to hear you found a solution for keeping your floor warm. :)
For certain we all do things differently... and that's a good thing... a great thing. Who'd want to live in a world where we were all the same? lol Not me!
And certainly I don't mean any offense in my videos, and I'm glad you didn't take it that way. I'm just trying to pass on my experiences and observations. One of the great things about building homes is that we all are learning new things! It never ends... or gets boring.
As I said in the video I once built a home for myself on a pier foundation. I built it that way for speed (it saved me a couple of weeks), for cost savings (it saved me a couple thousand dollars), and to decrease my work load (I had plenty of other things to do). BTW... this is the same formula that McDonald's uses to make a hamburger... faster, cheaper, and easier.
I have found that in living a home that I build that I tend to pay much closer attention to each component of the house than the average homeowner does to their home. I find myself achieving great satisfaction from a piece of trim well-placed and remorse at a door that I hung a bit out-of-plumb. Regret is a miserable thing to live with. "I wish, in hindsight, I had done that differently"... playing over and over again in my mind. I imagine there is a medication out there for my condition...
i built on packed crushed rock with rail tie cribs...still good after 30 years NW Ontario
lots of good info here on cold and critters
Thank you!
Yes indeed. It comes from experience.
A pier foundation is a mistake I only need to do once before I learned my lesson.
Would it be possible to show how to build a platform for a bell tent. I will build a cabin for the next step but need a place to stay in the meantime off the ground. Thanks.
Good evening. Awesome videos. is being my dream for years of owning a log cabin with mountain views near a lake or water source. Definitely will be joining in the near month to start learning more and more and one day be able to build my handmade cabin. Question......
Is it possible to build a cabin slowly? Build your fundation. Maybe let it sit 1 or 2 years, then come back and set the logs, let them sit etc.... Is this a possibility? Thanks for all the info. Great videos!!!!
there's a wealth of great info in these comments
Modern houses with piers can have a basement enclosed with pressure treated ply or with vertical tongue and groove or corrugated metal then the floor and those walls can be insulated. Again, completely enclosed with foundation walls. they can be vented in the summer.
I've commented on another video that I've always wanted to build a cabin in Alaska. My concern though is that of snow and rot, I'm curious if there would be a way to get around that issue without pier building, as I've seen and been in pier foundation houses and have never liked them because they are cold and the foundation looks ugly
Thanks for the comment! You just can't beat a solid perimeter foundation under a house that creates a crawlspace and keeps out the vermin and the wind... the house is more attractive, more comfortable, the plumbing is much less prone to freezing, and the home will last much longer.
I haven't lived there but from what I have heard the ground freeze in winter is a MAJOR issue. As Noah mentioned in other replies, there are special conditions that require special solutions, and a good foundation is most important. In Alaska and other far northern regions where the ground freeze goes deep in the ground it is impractical to set your foundation so that it extends below the freeze line. The better alternative there (I got this from a publication produced by the State of Alaska) is to create a very strong reinforced concrete slab on top of well compacted ground.
In Alaska most all our foundations are about 4'-5' block or concrete on top of a 16" wide footer, with only the top block or two above ground level. This takes us below frost and gives a crawl space for utilities. Cabins are set on stone or whatever other material we have on hand to get them 1'-2' off the ground, and usually only resided in during the summer. With the exception of early twenties children. who have since moved on Long eaves keeps the snow away from the building and be sure to keep your subfloor at least 1' above ground level. Just some info to your question. Also one of those newer snow shovels that moves about 10cubic ft per push is good
I had the impression from your earlier videos that you would be walking us through a 1-5yr process of building a log cabin. I've followed all of your videos up to this point and thought interesting, you just seem to be analyzing your past work. So my question is - will you be walking us through the building process? Thank you.
Hey thank you for the question... and it's a good one.
Yes indeed my original plan is still in place... but like many plans in this life I have to adapt to situations as they come up.
The first step in my plan is the sale of my current home... which hasn't happened yet... so, future building plans are on hold until that happens.
Second of all... I'm planning on building that future home in phases... the first section of the home will be built with a priority of fast and affordable (while still being very nice)... which means it will probably be built with modern framing techniques coupled with quality materials and timeless design.
Log, stone, and timber frame sections will follow in the years after.
Meanwhile, I have received a LOT of requests from those who can't (or don't want to) wait for years for me to share what I know about these three forms of construction... so, while the house is on the market... I thought I'd spend my time creating detailed step-by-step classes on these methods.... a stone course will be released this fall... a timber frame class in the spring... and then... well, we'll see!
I do post a lot of great info here, on Facebook, and through my newsletter for free... but it all does take a great deal of time... there are expenses... and I've got bills to pay just like everyone else does. Words of encouragement motivate me to keep sharing.... but support through signing on with the courses... is what makes it possible.
He makes these videos to push his log home course. He doesn't do any actual instruction for free. It's all pay to play.
How do you feel about traditional Japanese stone plinth foundations? Just curious.
Not my specialty but they are aesthetically pleasing to the eye
i was looking at buying an 8 year old house...wood pier poles...5 feet off the ground...thought the price was a little cheap...i now think floor was cold...winter ,,,ontario ,,,canada... thanks for the education
an interesting & illustrative frozen water story... I am re-doing incorrect floor & air flow errors now... 12 yrs after construction
Wow Phil! Stay safe out there.
Can you cover skirting a pier foundation cabin or not in a video? what can you do you do to make it more efficient with retaining heat...much appreciated.
Hi Skynet. Thank you for your comment. Skirting a pier foundation It's not generally something I would recommend.
That said, the proper way to deal with a pier foundation would to complete the foundation to make it continuous, which is, quite literally, a ton of work. It's best to get it right the first time, if possible, and avoid having to go back and "redo" a foundation by making it continuous from the get-go.
ever use a hold fast to the pier and wood to help keep them on the pier in a minor shake?
I only use piers on my the porches I build... and on those I do cement in an anchor bolt on the tops of the piers. (we don't get a whole lot of shakes here in Virginia)
What types of foundations do you recommend?
There are many types of good masonry foundations... which to choose from depends on a variety of factors... including site conditions, budget, owner involvement, basement or not, and what is being built above it. I would say that each of my home's foundations have varied based upon these. The key features you want though is... masonry (not wood)... and solid (enclosed with a crawl space or basement... not pier) I'll do a video in the future where I spell it all out... likely a Handmade House TV episode when I get to that point in my future house build. If you are ready to build and can answer the above issues I'd be happy to give you a recommendation.
No answer then.
His answer was masonry with an enclosed crawl space. Can you read?
nice,great show,bang on about it all,including the dogs, i had a place like that but my lovely wife that i love dearly wanted a sewing room! still have holes in my socks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I just watched this video and at no time did you explain what a Pier Foundation was. I'm a total beginner and really like your videos, but you do tend to breeze past some details that I imagine experienced builders already know. I would still like to know what a Pier Foundation is, thanks.
Hi Gabe!
A pier foundation is one in which the home sets on a few columns (typically one in each corner and often more in between... one in which the underside of the floor system is exposed... as you see in this video. Here they are made of stone... but often many will used logs or timbers which will rot eventually.
It seems a lot of individuals today take this route today... wanting to save money and move the construction along quickly. A MUCH better alternative is one in which the house sets on a perimeter foundation... a solid wall that the follows the exterior walls of the home.
I'm sorry I didn't get this out in the video... it's tough to "get it all out" and not leave anything out when standing in the woods talking to my cell phone's camera... and trying to speak to everyone from novice to expert.
Thank you for asking!... it's a good question. Please don't ever hesitate to ask any question.
Noah
It was at 0:21 that I knew you were not going to be an advocate. I swear you shuddered a bit just at mentioning it.
I've always wondered whether pier foundations were a good idea - your expression spoke volumes. 👍
How would you recommend insulating a raised floor properly
Hello Noah. great content. Thanks for sharing the knowledge. I'm starting a build of a timberframe house (wattle and daub walls) next month and I have some questions. How do feel about stone plinth foundations? Besides from the fact that wind is running beneath the house, making the floor cold and animals possibly lodging under the house, would you recommend them. You see, here in Peru, we don't have extreme climates such as really cold winters, so pipes frezzing or cold floors wouldn't be an issue I guess. What other considerations should I take into account if I wanted to make the foundations out of a single big rock. Thanks for any advice you can give away. :)
I need a lot more information on foundations. where do you suggest I look?
Dusty, maybe if you could tell me more about what kind of foundation you
were thinking about I could help guide you to the correct source...
basement? a stone or brick foundation? what kind of house are you
looking to build?
I was interested more in building a small Timber Frame style house in the Mountains of North Georgia. I would like to have a crawl space area for utility purposes. (Utility meaning, running of electrical or perhaps ventilation, etc.) I was also considering radiant heating in the floor and you would need access from below for that. I like what you had to say here to someone else: "...one with either a crawl space or a basement under the home... a foundation... that is enclosed and one that will keep the weather and animals out from under the floor. Slab foundations, on the other hand, are relatively rare for homes here in my area (central Virginia), but in many areas they make sense (like Florida). I, and quite a few people I have met over the years, find that concrete slab floors are uncomfortable to stand on for long periods and we appreciate the ever-so-slight give of a wood floor system."
I was just curious how you would know how what would be strong enough to hold the weight of "long term" construction. I have had some tell me large stone, others say continuous pore with appropriate reinforcement. When I ask people about this in construction related fields the standard answer I get is "get a good concrete man" or "talk to a structural engineer". I want to learn and do it myself. First, this is not a McMansion and those people want me to fit into a mold and not "over-engineer". Next, I want this to be something that is going to last a lifetime or two. Finally, I want to do it myself. If it takes me a decade to build and finish a house by hand, so be it. It will be my retirement home in the mountains. If I finish early it can be my vacation home.
I also prefer stone masonry to brick (i like the look of slipform stone work), is one stronger than the other?
One more question... do you plan on covering the exterior of your timber frame with SIP panels and exposing the timber frame on the interior of the home? That is my preferred method.
Exposing interior to timber. Still undecided on exterior covering.
Does the county engineer have to approve the type foundation used, even for a cabin?
That all depends upon the county, the state, and what the purpose of the cabin will be (hunt cabins and outbuildings are often exempt). Some states have no inspections and I imagine there are some that are so stringent that they would not allow a pier foundation at all on a home... it's always best to check with "the local authorities". I've only built one home with a pier foundation... that one was for myself over 30 years ago... I never built another after that experience... other than outbuildings which pier foundations work well for.
In Texas Cheryl, no one has to approve anything. Which can be good and bad. :-)
I lived in another state known for it's lower degree of government intrusion... which held a lot of appeal to me. But the first I was passed by a car with no fenders throwing gravel every direction I realized that some regulation is desirable.
@@HandmadeHouseswithNoahBradley there definitely is a happy medium level of regulation, the hard part is finding it.
i built my little cabin on piers and i am still happy with my decision. i have sprayed foam insulation underneath, and now i am wondering what to do about a skirting. any suggestions?
Yay! I was the first "like" 👍🏻 (It's the little things in life that matter 😊)
It really is. :)
So is it your belief that a slab foundation is the preferred foundation?
Hi Bonnie, I'm a big fan of a "solid continuous foundation"... one with either a crawl space or a basement under the home... a foundation... that is enclosed and one that will keep the weather and animals out from under the floor.
Slab foundations, on the other hand, are relatively rare for homes here in my area (central Virginia), but in many areas they make sense (like Florida). I, and quite a few people I have met over the years, find that concrete slab floors are uncomfortable to stand on for long periods and we appreciate the ever-so-slight give of a wood floor system.
Great question... and thank you for making it... it's hard to get everything that needs to be said in one quick video. Noah
Hello Noah, I'm posting here to you vs. below in your reply to me. Reason being I heard a youtube channel comment one day that a reply post is not as easily seen by the channel owner. I'm here in Central East Texas (half way between Houston and Dallas) and reared in North Louisiana. My great grandparents had a home like the one you show here and with a foundation like it. It too is still standing today. The slab foundation is the most common here in this part of Texas but I'm unfamiliar with a "solid continuous foundation" with a crawl space. Basements are extremely rare in these parts and the ones I've seen have moisture problems. I sell farm and ranch real estate for now 30 years so your channel and knowledge interest me. I look forward to learning more from you. Particularly now about continuous foundations with crawl spaces.
i like this channel.
Thank you!
Noah why would you not put skirting around the base. Solves all the cold problems and if done right keeps that critters out
This customer wanted to retain the original character of the cabin. With respect to skirting, outside of a full stone foundation, nothing else would have looked natural for this cabin. Thank you for your question and following along Geoff!
Those piers sure look spindly and unstable. I'm surprised they lasted all this time.
That makes two of us!
I don’t know if I’ve seen an old cabin on a real foundation in Georgia
I am sure there's one somewhere!
I like your affable delivery and I respect your opinion, but I very much disagree with it, if I'm even reading it right. At my acreage at 10K feet in the Colorado Rockies even in the Spring and Fall the temps often go below zero F. We require four feet deep to get below the frost line. This makes me wonder about heaving problems with a concrete slab. I already have a tiny house sitting on Doug Fir stumps on top of the ground with NO signs of movement. I've owned four houses on concrete slabs, and the only one that did not have a crack in the ceiling sheet rock caused by an uneven slab is the one that I oversaw the pouring of the slab.
I may have missed your point, but it seems like your saying, "Don't build your house on piers because you will make this, and this, and this mistake. But you don't have to make those mistakes. Of course you should screw plywood to the underside of your floor joists. Then you can easily lay fiberglass batt (Or other) insulation in between the joists. Screw two eye-bolts into the sheet of plywood then stand on the floor joists to secure the plywood up against the bottom of the joist and then go underneath to screw it up. And by the way, never build a house on a crawlspace unless you leave enough room for you to scoot around in the crawlspace.
Putting aluminum skirting around the house will keep most varmints out and help you resist the urge to store things under the house, but the skirting can easily be removed for repairs.
I like the use of pressure treated wood beams or even repurposed creosote bridge timbers for piers, especially at an elevation that is too high for termites. I've had 26 6x6 posts in the ground at Termite Central in the SE USA for 17 years with no problems. To ease your mind, you can easily install them in such a way that they can be swapped out using post hole diggers, an impact driver, and a twenty or thirty ton bottle jack. Pour one bag of Quick-crete or Sack-crete into the hole and then use the wooden pier to pack the crete down flat.for a base.
Treated wooden piers are the cheapest, quickest, simplest, and easiest way to build a foundation, and if done right, they're the easiest to repair. And even if this statement was mostly wrong and the foundation only lasts for forty years instead of fifty, will you really care?
The stone pier has been build wrong to avoid mice/rats. You need a wide/big stone at the top of the pier, so they can not climb/crawl into the house.
Ya need to close in that ... brrrr...not in a handmade house but I'm in subarctic climate...the house is 4 feet off ground and enclosed ....
The most important part of any foundation is ,,,,,ready.?. It has to be built into the ground down past frost level,,,, I have witnessed. Many log heads build there asses off. And. Working. Sooo. Hard only to miss. The. Most important aspect of any structure,,,,.......if u doont build the fou if you don’t build the foundation correctly in time your building will moveAnd why do all that work cut all those trees down risk your time in life to build a beautiful house that’s all I’m gonna move around
Cant they just close it I'm with rocks
you look like James Burke
pioneer home . haha, be like mine probably.
Let that dog have a place to sleep