Notching techniques have gotten complicated with all the builder debates and YouTube tutorials flying around. But here’s the thing — the corners of a log cabin tell you almost everything about the builder’s skill. You can have perfect logs, beautiful chinking, a gorgeous roof… and sloppy corners will undermine all of it. I’ve spent enough time staring at cabin corners (yes, I’m that person) to have strong opinions on this.
The Full Dovetail Notch
This is the one that makes log building nerds get excited, and for good reason. A full dovetail notch creates tight, self-draining corners that actively resist water infiltration. The notch flares wider at the outside than the inside, so as the logs settle under their own weight, the joints actually get tighter. Think about that for a second — a joint that improves over time instead of loosening.
The wedge shape also prevents logs from pulling apart horizontally, which is why full dovetail construction shows up in regions with big seasonal moisture swings. Wood expands and contracts, and this notch handles that movement gracefully. The downside? It takes genuine skill to cut well. This isn’t a weekend DIY project unless you’ve got experience.
Saddle Notch Construction
The saddle notch comes from Scandinavian building traditions — brought to North America by early settlers who knew a thing or two about keeping warm. It’s a rounded notch that cradles the log above, creating stable corners with solid load distribution. If you’re working with round logs and want to preserve their natural character, saddle notches are the way to go.
A lot of contemporary log home manufacturers favor this technique, and I get why. It’s effective, it looks great, and it’s more accessible to learn than dovetail work. Not easy, mind you — just more forgiving if you’re slightly off. From what I’ve seen, a well-executed saddle notch holds up just as well as dovetail in most climates.
Corner Post Systems
Some builders skip complex notching entirely by using corner posts — vertical timbers that the horizontal logs butt against instead of interlocking with each other. It’s simpler to build, no question. And it offers design flexibility, since you can change wall direction and integrate other materials more easily.
But — and this matters — it demands more attention to sealing. Those butt joints between log ends and corner posts need regular maintenance, or they’ll start letting air and water through. I’ve visited older cabins with corner post systems where the joints had been neglected, and you could feel the draft from across the room. It’s a perfectly valid technique; it just needs more ongoing vigilance than interlocking methods.
Choosing the Right Technique
Honestly, this comes down to three things: your climate, your budget, and what you think looks right. Tight-fitting dovetails perform beautifully in harsh weather but cost more to execute. Saddle notches give you a great balance of appearance and performance without breaking the bank. Corner posts simplify construction but require you to actually stay on top of maintenance — which, let’s be honest, not everyone does.
Whatever you choose, make sure the person cutting those notches has done it before. Corners are where cabins succeed or fail over the long haul. Get them right and the rest follows.
