When the desired height of the walls
has been attained, you are ready to construct the roof. There
are several ways of framing this. Continue laying the end logs
as before, but set each pair of side logs a little farther in
than the preceding pair, until they finally meet at the peak
of the roof.
The roof may be thatched or covered
with bark, shingles, or boards. The thatched roof is the most
artistic, and when well made will last from ten to fifteen
years; but unless the straw is put on very thickly and woven
closely, it is likely to leak. If you intend to use shingles
you will require about four quarter-thousand bunches for a
roof of this size. Boards will be found the most simple and
inexpensive covering. First nail a layer of boards across the
roof, leaving a space of four inches between each board, and
then nail boards over the spaces. Fasten a ridgepole at the
peak to protect the edges of the boards. This pole may be made
out of a small log with a V-shaped piece cut out of it to make
it fit over the boards.
If you cannot obtain glass for the
windows, the openings may be covered with paper, or wooden
shutters may be made to close the openings at night and during
storms.
It is not advisable to build a log
chimney and fireplace with the intention of making fires in
it. Unless built very carefully and kept in good repair there
is always danger of setting the cabin on fire. But whether the
fireplace is used or not, it belongs to a log cabin and should
be built. Nothing is more artistic than the stick chimney.
First cut an opening about three feet
high and five feet wide in the end of the cabin for the
fireplace. Then build up the chimney in the same manner as you
did the cabin walls, until it extends two feet above the top
of the fireplace. Use large logs for this portion of the
chimney and fit the ends against the logs of the main
structure. When this has been done, make a stone hearth,
filling in the stones with clay, and packing them down until
they are level with the floor joists. Make the clay linings of
the sides of the fireplace from ten to twelve inches thick,
beating the clay until it becomes hard. Smaller sticks may be
used for the upper part of the chimney. Lay these up in clay
mortar and line the inside with clay as the work proceeds.
Fasten a shelf above the fireplace on wooden brackets.
When the carpenter work of the cabin
has been completed, caulk all the spaces between the logs with
clay and moss. In doing this use a pointed stick.
