Log Cabin

Every province in Canada has a building code to govern and regulate development of commercial and residential housing. All these building codes are derived from the National Building code, which provides the overall framework.

When I started my research on how to build a custom log home as a full time permanent residence, I really had a hard time to figure out how my EcoLog log home could satisfy the building code here in British Columbia. I talked to builders, municipalities and developers, and everybody told me different things. Building inspectors just said, as long as it’s compliant with the BC Building Code, you can build it. But the BC Building Code describes in elaborate detail how stick frame construction walls are built, how they are insulated, how to waterproof them, and what kind of vapor barriers are needed. But not a single word about a log home.

Log homes and log cabins don’t have vapor barriers. And waterproofing of windows and doors is done differently then with frame construction. And a big question is insulation: Even 8″ thick timbers (which I wanted to use for building the walls) only have an R-Value of R12 (most wood has somewhere around R1.5 per inch) – far too less to comply with the BC Building Code of R20. But due to Thermal Mass most log homes are great in storing heat in the walls, and provide a much better living climate then most frame construction homes.

After running around for several months I finally found following solution for my own building process:

In order to build any home using unconventional consruction methods not described in the BC Building Code, you need to involve one or more Engineers. Depending on how “strict” the Municipality is, in which you want to build, you will need an Engineer to design and inspect the structural aspects of your home, and another (or the same) Engineer to design and inspect the so called “Building Envelope”, which covers aspects like insulation and waterproofing.

I found an Engineer who could luckily cover both aspects, the structural part and the building envelope. He had to file a so called “B1/B2 Schedule” as part of my building permit, where he listed all aspects of the building process, for which he would be responsible. This takes any responsibility away from the Municipality for these aspects, and the Engineer (or his insurance) would be responsible for any later issues like leakages through windows sills.

When I started my research, I couldn’t find much information on this subject on the internet. That’s why I wrote this blog article. I like to encourage anybody who has similar (or even more experience), or questions, around this subject, to comment on this post.

It would be good to extend this article by providing more information (which I don’t have right now), like

• What about cottages and cabins? I think the building code for recreational buildings is not as strict, but I don’t know any details. Does anybody have experience with this?
• How are totally standardized kits like pan-abode log home kits handled? Are they pre-approved so that they don’t require Engineer involvement?
• How does the building process for log homes vary in other provices like Alberta, Winnipeg, etc?  I heard a bit about Ontario, where they need to involve an Engineer for the structural aspects only. Anybody willing to share his/her experience?

Tags: building code, building kit, custom log home, log home kit

This entry was posted on Sunday, January 3rd, 2010 at 1:31 pm and is filed under Building Process. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.