Abstract: The invention provides technology for building houses and many other structures using logs. Log-positioning apparatuses are provided. Also provided are assemblies that include a plurality of logs and a plurality of log-positioning apparatuses. Finally, various log building methods are provided.

Abstract: Kits for building log structures, and methods for producing such kits. A kit for building a structure having a plurality of log walls each including multiple layers. The kit comprises a combination of logs which when assembled form the structure. Logs of multiple layers are marked for long groove cuts and for final corner notch cuts. These marked logs substantially retain the natural contour of the tree boles from which they came. In other embodiments, final corner notches have been cut in logs of multiple layers and long groove cuts are marked but uncut. In still other embodiments, long grooves have been cut in logs of multiple layers and final corner cuts are marked but uncut. Certain embodiments provide kits wherein logs of multiple layers each have cut therein at least one final corner notch or long groove, with the remaining cut(s) marked but uncut.

Abstract: A method of building a log structure using naturally-shaped logs is provided. The method involves stacking layers of the log structure upon one another in a rough approximation of the final desired positioning, determining the distance of the greatest gap existing between the pairs of logs at each layer, determining groove cuts to be made for every log in the same layer using the same vertical groove dimension, determining a dimension of a final notch cut to be made in the logs of the lowest layer stacked according to this invention, and determining the final notch cuts to be made at layers above according to a relationship among the vertical groove dimensions that were marked for each of the grooves in a single layer and the dimension of the final notch cut determined for the lowest layer of logs stacked according to the present invention.