You are now ready to start erection of the walls. Make frequent and
careful use of the plumb line and spirit level in this work. Without
constant checking the walls have a way of going off at odd tangents.
The simplest and least difficult style of fitting logs is the “saddle
and notch,” in which the logs are given a rough notch and laid together
without special fitting or trimming. The spaces are later caulked with
oakum. While this is the simplest method, it is the poorest from the
standpoint of weather tightness.
[Illustration: Four methods of notching logs.]
Another and better method is the same as above except that the notches
are so carefully cut that the logs fit closely and must be hewn down
along two sides to provide neatly joined surfaces. This also will
require some caulking but not as much. It is customary to lay a strip of
oakum between all logs, regardless of the style of fitting.