Sovereignty Module: Raise the Walls

Cover of Raise the Walls — Raise the Walls

Complete Log Cabin, Timber Frame, and Permanent Shelter Construction Guide

⟁ cover painted for this edition — the source module carried no illustrations

Complete Log Cabin, Timber Frame, and Permanent Shelter Construction Guide

A permanent shelter is the foundation of civilization. Protection from weather, predators, and exposure determines survival. This campaign covers building a complete dwelling from standing timber with hand tools only.

Chapter 1: Shelter Types by Effort

Type	Build Time (1 person)	Lifespan	Warmth	Tools Needed	Skill
Debris hut	2-4 hours	Days-weeks	Good (insulation)	None	Very low
Lean-to	2-6 hours	Weeks-months	Poor (one side open)	Knife/axe	Low
Wickiup/wigwam	1-3 days	Months-years	Moderate	Knife, cordage	Low
Sod house	1-2 weeks	5-20 years	Excellent	Shovel, knife	Low-moderate
Log cabin (round log)	2-6 weeks	50-100+ years	Excellent	Axe, saw	Moderate
Timber frame	4-12 weeks	100-300+ years	Excellent (with infill)	Axe, saw, chisel, mallet	High
Stone house	2-6 months	200-500+ years	Excellent	Hammer, chisel, mortar tools	High

Chapter 2: Log Cabin Construction

Step	Action	Time	Details
1	Select site (high ground, south-facing, near water, good drainage)	Day 1	Avoid flood zones, dead trees overhead
2	Clear and level foundation area (add 4 feet beyond walls)	Day 1-2	Remove stumps, rocks, level ground
3	Lay foundation (stone piers, gravel pad, or sill logs on rocks)	Day 2-3	Keep wood off ground (rot prevention)
4	Select and fell trees (straight, 8-12 inch diameter, same species)	Days 3-7	Need 40-60 logs for small cabin (12x16 feet)
5	Peel bark (prevents insect damage, speeds drying)	As felled	Draw knife or spud
6	Notch and stack walls (saddle notch, dovetail, or Scandinavian)	Days 7-21	Alternate butt/tip ends for level walls
7	Cut door and window openings (after walls are up)	Day 21-22	Brace above opening (lintel log)
8	Build roof structure (ridge pole + purlins or rafters)	Days 22-25	Pitch: 6/12 minimum for rain shedding
9	Install roofing (shakes, thatch, sod, or metal)	Days 25-30	Overlap shingles/shakes for waterproofing
10	Chink gaps between logs (moss, clay, mortar, or oakum)	Days 30-35	Keeps wind and rain out
11	Build fireplace/chimney or install stove	Days 35-42	Stone/brick chimney or metal stovepipe
12	Install door and window (frames, hinges, shutters or glass)	Days 42-45	Weathertight

Chapter 3: Log Notching Methods

Notch Type	Difficulty	Weather Seal	Strength	Best For
Saddle notch (round)	Low	Moderate (needs chinking)	Good	Quick construction, round logs
V-notch	Low	Moderate	Moderate	Quick, simple tools
Dovetail	High	Excellent (self-sealing)	Excellent	Permanent, hewn logs
Scandinavian (cope and saddle)	Moderate-high	Excellent (no chinking needed)	Excellent	Permanent, round logs
Square notch	Moderate	Good	Good	Hewn (squared) logs
Butt and pass	Very low	Poor (needs heavy chinking)	Low	Emergency, speed

Chapter 4: Roof Construction

Roof Type	Lifespan	Difficulty	Materials	Weight
Wood shakes/shingles	20-40 years	Moderate	Cedar, oak, or pine split	Light
Thatch (reed/straw)	15-30 years	Moderate	Reeds, straw, grass	Moderate
Sod (living roof)	20-40 years	Low-moderate	Sod strips on birch bark or boards	Very heavy
Metal (tin/steel)	40-80+ years	Low (if available)	Sheet metal, nails	Light
Bark (birch or elm)	5-15 years	Low	Large bark sheets, weighted	Light
Slate/stone	100+ years	High	Split stone, heavy structure needed	Very heavy

Roof pitch minimum: 4/12 for metal, 6/12 for shakes, 8/12 for thatch (steeper = better water shedding). Overhang: 12-18 inches minimum to protect walls from rain.

Chapter 5: Insulation and Weatherproofing

Material	R-value per inch	Availability	Fire Risk	Durability
Moss (dried, packed)	R-2 to R-3	Forest floors	Moderate	Good (if dry)
Straw/hay (packed)	R-1.5 to R-2	Agricultural	High	Moderate (rodents)
Sawdust	R-2 to R-3	Sawmill waste	High	Moderate
Wool (sheep)	R-3.5 to R-4	Sheep	Low	Excellent
Cattail fluff	R-3 to R-4	Wetlands	Moderate	Good
Wood shavings	R-2 to R-3	Woodworking	High	Moderate
Clay-straw (light clay)	R-1.5 to R-2	Anywhere	Very low	Excellent
Double wall (dead air space)	R-1 per inch of air	Construction method	None	Excellent

Chinking recipe: 2 parts clay + 1 part sand + chopped straw or grass. Mix to thick paste. Press into gaps between logs. Let dry. Apply second coat if cracks appear. Lime-wash exterior for weather protection.

Chapter 6: Fireplace and Heating

Heating Type	Efficiency	Complexity	Safety	Heat Output
Open fireplace	10-15%	High (masonry)	Moderate (sparks)	Low (most heat up chimney)
Rumford fireplace (tall, shallow)	20-30%	High	Good	Moderate (radiates more)
Cast iron stove	40-60%	Low (install only)	Good (contained)	High
Rocket mass heater	80-90%	Moderate-high	Excellent	Very high (stores heat in mass)
Masonry heater (Russian/Finnish)	80-90%	Very high	Excellent	Very high (radiates for 12-24 hours)
Kang/ondol (heated floor)	70-80%	Moderate	Good	High (radiant floor)

Reference Card

Keep wood off ground: stone piers or gravel pad prevents rot (most common cabin failure)
Peel bark immediately after felling: prevents insect infestation
Alternate butt and tip ends when stacking: keeps walls level (logs taper)
Chink with clay + sand + straw mixture: press firmly into all gaps
Roof overhang 12-18 inches minimum: protects walls from rain
Roof pitch: steeper is better (6/12 minimum for shakes, 8/12 for thatch)
Small cabin (12x16 feet) requires 40-60 logs of 8-12 inch diameter
South-facing windows maximize winter solar gain (passive heating)

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