Log home layout

[Anonymous]

:?
:?: I am building a log home and would like any info as to what type of electrical boxes to use in the exterior walls...also any other information on the wiring of a new log home..

Thanks
Oldfoxy

[Wgoodrich]

Log homes are probably the most time consuming and difficult wiring design and work investment type wiring of new homes.

Log homes normally have predrilled holes in the logs. YOu must meet all the same rules as mentioned in the following linked article found on our homewiringandmore web site.

http://www.homewiringandmore.com/homewiringusa/2002/maindwelling/meter/meter.html

Some added thoughts working in a log home;

Log homes takes some thinking and planning in you design that is compatible to the required wiring such as the 6' / 12' rule in the living areas and the 2'/4' rule in the kitchen counter area.

Many opt to recess plastic boxes into the logs that you have to route out to fit the box and hit one of the predrilled holes in the logs provided during the manufacturing process. You can use a small drill bit or a sideways cutting drill bit drilling a series of holes around the outline of the plastic receptacle box. Place you receptalce boxes in log homes low as possible clearing any trims you use as baseboard but low as you can to limit length you have to fish through your predrilled holes. Drill a series of small holes around the entire circumference of the oultine of that plastic receptacle box. Then use a sideways to cut out the remaining wood in the line of holes drilled outlining the box that is still existing. Then take a thin wood chisel and drive into the wood in small slices to remove the center of that box hole out to make room for the box. If you planned ahead you will be deep enough to recess the box and hit one of the predrilled holes.

Many people will use the shollow box that can only take one cable then use junction boxes in the crawl or basment to make the splice sending only one wire up the wall to the receptacle box.

Switches are often done by fishing up between the door frame and the main structure then enter sideways into the top of the box area that is routed in the back to accept that cable and make that turn of the cable. If you fish up this door frame area then you need to protect any cable within the 1/4" limit from surface of the wall or door framing.

YOu may run up the predrilled holes or door frames to get to the ceiling area most likely also exposed wood. You may then install a wire mold box installing wire mold along the exposed beams to the light fixture in the center of the room. YOu may also opt to run your cable surface on the top side of a suspended beam if you like to hide the cable.

In the kitchen you may fish our wires from the crawl space through the inside of the kitchen cabinets then into a short peice of wire mold or fished into a predrilled log hole to get to the receptacles and switches over kitchen counters.

Outside lights may use surface mount weatherproof light boxes. If you use round weahterproof light boxes that will match the outline of your surface mounted light fixtures.


Don't forget to include smoke detectors and exhaust fans if no window that opens in the bathrooms.

Hope this helps

Wg