Framing a sliding wall

Framing an interior wall in a log cabin requires some extra thought. The logs of this building will shrink about 1 1/2". That means that the ridge pole will be lower than it is when it was first installed, the openings for the door and windows will be smaller too; care must be taken to allow for this shrinkage or door and window frames will carry the weight of the building separating the logs. Interior walls are also effected by the outer walls settling.

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Here you can see that I've left space between the gable framing and the square interior wall below to allow the gable to settle. The interior walls are held against the log walls by first cutting a slot in the stud then pounding in a 20d spike in the upper part of the slot. As the wall shrinks the spike will keep the wall vertical but slide down the slot as the building shrinks. Since the sauna also has an interior shower I've had to make sure the water supply has room to move. Don't install water pipes without room for them to move! It you don't the building will shrink and push on the pipes. Not shown is the 1/2" sliding bolt that keep the lower wall trim with the gable wall. This is the same principal as the side walls. A bolt is secured to either the top or bottom plate, then allowed to pass through the other plate. The bolt keeps the walls together but allows them to settle evenly.