What is the “Gable End” of a house? Thanks for reading and as always, check back for more posts. If there is every a home question we can answer or a log product you are looking for, go to the Contact Us page and send us an email!
The gable end of a house is the triangle of the home in the eves of the roof. With logs which stack with a single or double tongue and groove, very commonly the solid logs are stacked to a height of approximately 105” or 14 to 15 rows of logs. Above the logs, in the gable of the home, where the log siding is utilized. Here you can see the logs ending at the top of the wall and the framed wall beginning. On the outside of the home log siding is used to give the appearance of solid log. Then on the inside of the home, very commonly 1×6 tongue and groove pine is installed, as shown on this photo. 
For a round on round log profile, also known as a double D log, with a double tongue and groove stack, it is also possible to use the log siding on the inside and the outside of the gables. This yields a solid log look inside and outside.
An advantage of using log siding is there is a lot less settling on the gables. A solid log wall all the way to the peak has more shrinkage. Typically a Swedish Cope home uses solid logs to the top of the peaks. The solid logs to the top looks really nice, but one disadvantage is the added area for shrinkage. As the logs get higher, if each log shrinks just a little, it is magnified as more logs are stacked. This sort of “accordion” effect makes for added gaps in the gables.
The reason Swedish Cope homes don’t typically have log siding on the gables is because the log siding to match this type of home is actually a full half log. Basically a log is taken and cut down the middle. So with a framed wall in the gable, there is not usually enough room for the full half log siding plus the framed wall.
Flies and insects are another concern with log homes. By using the log siding on a framed gable end it leaves the home more weather tight. Thus it also helps to seal out the bugs.
Log homes are a treasure. Through techniques such as log siding on gable ends, things such as shrinkage can be minimized and weather tightness maximized.
Thanks Sue Lemmon