A wall construction formed of solid wood members. The wall construction provides for a heating and cooling system that synergistically works with the inherent insulative properties of solid wood members. The wall construction comprises channels formed in the solid wood members to accommodate conduits for heating and cooling. The conduits are routed through multiple solid wood members of a wall and are positioned to efficiently heat and cool the interior of a building. Other grooves may be formed in the top side of the solid wood members to accommodate conduits for heating, cooling electrical service and communications carriers.

A beam and bolting construction method and an example dwelling (10) according to the method are provided. The method involves preliminary steps of selecting a site and determining a bolt array (19) and selection of dimensions and materials. Actual construction steps include forming a foundation slab (14) having vertical bolts (18) embedded therein in accordance with the bolt array (19). Alternating layers of beams (B), having aligned bolt bores (52) for receiving the bolts, are successively laid down over the bolts (18), with sides meeting at corners (29) with alternating sides encompassing the corner bolt. Once a desired height is achieved, washers (72) and nuts (78) are placed on the bolts and are tightened to desired pressure levels. The dwelling (10) is formed with beams (42) compressed together by threaded bolts (18) in a bolt array (19).

A wall construction formed of solid wood members. The wall construction provides for a heating and cooling system that synergistically works with the inherent insulative properties of solid wood members. The wall construction comprises channels formed in the solid wood members to accommodate conduits for heating and cooling. The conduits are routed through multiple solid wood members of a wall and are positioned to efficiently heat and cool the interior of a building. Other grooves may be formed in the top side of the solid wood members to accommodate conduits for heating, cooling electrical service and communications carriers.

Beam segments made of a somewhat compressible material may be arranged with the top surface of each beam segment substantially in contact with the bottom surface of a next beam segment between a first beam segment and a last beam segment. A plurality of bolt bores extends between the top and bottom surfaces of each of the beam segments in substantial alignment through each of the beam segments. The bolt bores are spaced apart to receive corresponding bolt segments and tightening fasteners compressed between the first beam segment and the last beam segment. The beam segments may be compressed to form a combined beam structure that forms a building structure unit. The combined beam structure may be joined with other combined beam structures to form walls and floors for a building structure.

A modular building includes at least one outer wall that includes at least first and second panels aligned end to end at a panel joint. Each panel includes first planks forming a part of the outer wall of the building and second planks forming a first decorative wall fixed to the outer wall. The decorative wall extends substantially perpendicular to the outer wall and terminates beyond the first planks on at least one side of the panel. The space between the first decorative wall of the panel and an adjacent decorative wall of a second panel accommodates a shelving unit or a joint cover strip that covers the panel joint.

A log wall panel is placed into a drying kiln in an upright orientation, with the log wall panel extending along an upright direction when in the upright orientation. The log wall panel is compressed by at least applying a downward force to the log wall panel along the upright direction while the log wall panel is in the drying kiln. The log wall panel is dried while the log wall panel is being compressed by the downward force.

An artificial insulated log that has outer and inner wood members that are glued to an inner core of rigid insulation. In addition to the glue, structural connectors are fitted on the top of the logs at specified intervals to provide additional structure support, Each of the wood pieces has a tongue and groove formed to receive other logs. In addition, the insulated core is also fitted with a tongue and groove for alignment. The outer, or exterior, wood member is curved to look like a natural log, The inner wood members are cut flat to for a flat interior wall. Formed corner logs can be used with regular logs to make a finished looking assembly for the building. The corners can be alternated or stacked, as desired.

A beam and bolting construction method and an example dwelling (10) according to the method are provided. The method involves preliminary steps of selecting a site and determining a bolt array (19) and selection of dimensions and materials. Actual construction steps include forming a foundation slab (14) having vertical bolts (18) embedded therein in accordance with the bolt array (19). Alternating layers of beams (B), having aligned bolt bores (52) for receiving the bolts, are successively laid down over the bolts (18), with sides meeting at corners (29) with alternating sides encompassing the corner bolt. Once a desired height is achieved, washers (72) and nuts (78) are placed on the bolts and are tightened to desired pressure levels. The dwelling (10) is formed with beams (42) compressed together by threaded bolts (18) in a bolt array (19).

A beam and bolting construction method and an example dwelling (10) according to the method are provided. The method involves preliminary steps of selecting a site and determining a bolt array (19) and selection of dimensions and materials. Actual construction steps include forming a foundation slab (14) having vertical bolts (18) embedded therein in accordance with the bolt array (19). Alternating layers of beams (B), having aligned bolt bores (52) for receiving the bolts, are successively laid down over the bolts (18), with sides meeting at corners (29) with alternating sides encompassing the corner bolt. Once a desired height is achieved, washers (72) and nuts (78) are placed on the bolts and are tightened to desired pressure levels. The dwelling (10) is formed with beams (42) compressed together by threaded bolts (18) in a bolt array (19).

A plurality of wood logs are arranged to form a vertical stack of horizontally extending logs, each wood log including a plurality of apertures that form a plurality of vertically aligned apertures in the vertical stack when aligned. The plurality of connector assemblies connect the plurality of wood logs together in the vertical stack. Each connector assembly of the plurality of connector assemblies extends through a corresponding one of the plurality of vertically aligned apertures.