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Calcimator

Log Home Calculator

Log count, volume, weight, and chinking needs from building dimensions and log profile.

Inputs

ft
ft
in
sq ft
%

Results

Log courses

13

Net lineal feet of logs

1,682 LF

Total board feet11,009 BF
Order quantity (with waste)12,660 BF
Total volume917.4 cu ft
Green weight41,284 lbs
Air-dry weight29,358 lbs
Actual wall height9.42 ft
Effective log height8.7 in
Chinking/sealant length3,235 LF
Chinking tubes needed162
Profile NameRound
Net Wall Area1,219.5
How to Use This Calculator
  1. Enter Building perimeter, Wall height, and Log diameter.
  2. Set Window/door openings, Log profile, and Waste allowance.
  3. Review Log courses and Net lineal feet of logs (LF).
  4. Use Total board feet (BF) and Order quantity (with waste) (BF) to inform your decision.

How the result changes with Wall height

Wall heightLog coursesNet lineal feet of logs
5.68982 LF
9.6141,822 LF
14202,662 LF
18253,362 LF

What each input means

Building perimeter
Total perimeter of exterior walls (e.g., 35+35+35+35 = 140 ft).
Wall height
Desired wall height from sill log to top plate log.
Log diameter
Average log diameter (or dimension for square-hewn logs).
Window/door openings
Total area of windows and doors to subtract.
Log profile
0 = Round (full log), 1 = D-Log (flat interior face), 2 = Square / Hewn.
Waste allowance
Extra material for notching waste, defects, and corner joinery.

What each result means

Log courses
Number of horizontal log courses to reach wall height.
Net lineal feet of logs
Total running length of logs needed (adjusted for openings).
Total board feet
Estimated board feet of log material.
Order quantity (with waste)
Board feet to order including waste allowance.
Total volume
Net log volume in cubic feet.
Green weight
Estimated weight with green (fresh-cut) moisture content.
Air-dry weight
Estimated weight at ~15% moisture content.
Actual wall height
Height achieved with the calculated number of courses.
Effective log height
Stacking height per log after notch overlap.
Chinking/sealant length
Total linear feet of joints requiring chinking or sealant.
Chinking tubes needed
Estimated tubes of caulk/chinking compound (~20 LF per tube).

How this is calculated

Worked example, using the default values

  1. Identify Input Parameters
    4 parameters
    Building perimeter = 140, Wall height = 9, Log diameter = 10, Window/door openings = 100 = 6 input(s) provided
  2. Calculate Log courses
    Log courses = ceil(wallHeightFt / effectiveLogHeightFt)
    13 = 13
  3. Calculate Net lineal feet of logs
    Net lineal feet of logs = totalLinealFt * (1 - openingReductionFraction)
    1682 = 1682
  4. Calculate Total board feet
    Total board feet = totalCubicFeet * 12
    11009 = 11009
  5. Calculate Order quantity
    Order quantity = totalBoardFeet * (1 + wastePct / 100)
    12660 = 12660

Engine last updated . Checked against 2 independently-derived tests — how we verify calculators.

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