[Greenbuilding] [BULK] Re: Using trees felled onsite inbuilding process

[Clarke Olsen]

The reason that timbers (and logs) check so much is that the center is 
not drying
as fast as the outside and is being stretched around an unyielding 
center.
When I used red oak 4 x 4's as visible structure, I kerfed them 
length-wise to
their centers (1.75" deep). This allowed them to dry out from the 
inside AND let
the outside flex rather than crack. The cut opened up to a "V" and 
eventually
closed back to a saw-cut. I put that side to the wall; if they are 
joists, that side up.
Clarke Olsen
Spencertown, NY

On Sep 18, 2007, at 6:55 PM, Lawrence Lile wrote:

> P.s. No kiln drying or air drying required on a log beam!