The next step was to
consider construction materials… with what would we build this
structure? We considered steel frame, pre-cut standard wood frame,
concrete (poured and block), and log.
After pricing the various
materials, then comparing price differences to function and visual
appeal, we picked log construction. For the building shell only,
we priced $42,500 for standard measure wood frame versus $45,000
for log. Both prices included standard pre-formed 2x4 trusses.
Function: self-insulating
and sturdy structure.
Appeal: From the beginning
of European settlement in the lower Appalachians, the majority of
homes were built of logs and the majority of log homes were constructed
of logs hewn flat on the sides, chinked between the logs, and joined
at the corners with some variation of a dovetail-type notch. The
dovetail or half-dovetail
was employed to provide stability without the requirement of nails.
The hand-hewn, dovetail
look is the most historically accurate and the most visually attractive
of the log building designs.
From the beginning,
a major objective was to produce a visually attractive building
to market the Scouting program. Many people have no knowledge
of Boy Scouts and we feel that an attractive structure will invite
inquiry.
