Having secured the food, Lin Feng focused all his attention on building the wooden house.
Especially after the walls are built to the predetermined height, the next step is the more complex topping-out process.
A sturdy and durable roof that can withstand wind and snow is crucial to the overall lifespan and living comfort of a log cabin.
Lin Feng's first task was to solve the load-bearing structure of the roof—the beam frame.
He selected several of the thickest, straightest logs to be used as the central ridge purlin and the main load-bearing beams.
Making the mortise and tenon joints for these large components is even more difficult than connecting the original timber of the wall.
The mortise is deep and large, and the tenon is thick and long. Every cut and chisel requires him to expend tremendous strength and to be constantly careful to maintain precision.
He first secured the load-bearing timbers at the top of the gable walls at both ends, and then carved out huge mortises on them to place the central ridge purlin.
The central ridge purlin needs to be made with matching "dovetail tenons" or "pipe tenons" to ensure that it can sit firmly on the top beam of the gable wall without lateral displacement.
Lifting and installing the heavy ridge purlin was a major challenge in the entire project.
Lin Feng was alone and couldn't rely on the collaborative efforts and complex hoisting tools of ancient craftsmen. He could only rely on the most primitive methods—building ramps and using levers.
He built two sturdy ramps on either side of the gable using thinner pieces of wood and stones.
Then, using a sturdy crowbar as a lever, he would pry and push the central ridge purlin upwards little by little. Every time it was raised a short distance, he would place wooden blocks or stones underneath to secure it and prevent it from slipping.
This process is slow and dangerous; if one is not careful, the heavy logs could roll down, with unimaginable consequences.
Lin Feng was completely focused, sweat pouring down his face. He tied the animal skin rope to the central ridge beam, wrapping one end around his waist and trying to secure the other end to a distant boulder or tree as a safety measure.
He mustered every ounce of strength in his body, relying on his astonishing endurance and instinctive application of the principles of mechanics, and spent an entire day before finally managing to push the central purlin shakily into its designated position and carefully insert it into the mortise.
When Lin Feng saw the central ridge beam firmly spanning the top of the wooden house, he almost collapsed to the ground, but his face was filled with uncontrollable excitement.
This is the "keel" of the log cabin; its successful installation means that the roof frame has solid support.
Next comes the installation of the rafters. The rafters are the direct load-bearers for the roof covering.
Lin Feng used relatively thinner, but equally tough, secondary branches to make rafters.
He cut one end of the rafter into a bevel so that it could fit snugly against the ridge purlin, and used a "grooving" technique to make it rest on the ridge purlin.
The other end is connected to the eaves purlin at the top of the wall using the same method of notching or making small tenons.
There are many rafters, and the angle and length of each one need to be precisely calculated and manufactured to ensure a consistent roof slope and smooth drainage.
Lin Feng patiently made and installed each rafter one by one. Standing on the simple scaffolding, he carefully secured the rafters in place.
Sometimes, to ensure a tight connection, he would use hard wooden wedges to hammer into the gaps of the mortise and tenon joints, causing them to expand and achieve a stronger locking effect.
Once all the rafters were installed, the roof framework of the log cabin was complete. Sunlight filtered through the crisscrossing wooden structure, casting dappled shadows on the ground, creating a primal geometric beauty.
For the roof covering, Lin Feng chose "wooden tiles"—tiles made from wood.
This was another extremely time-consuming task. He cut some relatively loose and easily split trees into short sections, and then used a stone axe and wooden wedges to split them into thin boards about one centimeter thick, following the grain of the wood.
These thin plates are then trimmed to roughly the same size and shape, slightly wider at the bottom and slightly narrower at the top, to facilitate overlapping.
The process of making wooden shingles is an ultimate test of patience.
One piece, two pieces, a hundred pieces, a thousand pieces... Lin Feng's fingers were pricked by splinters countless times, and thick calluses formed.
But he enjoyed it immensely, because the completion of each tile meant that his "home" was one step closer to perfection.
When laying the wooden shingles, he used an overlapping method, starting from the eaves and laying them from the bottom up.
Each shingle should overlap the shingle below it by a portion, and there should be a slight overlap between the two shingles on the left and right sides to prevent rainwater and snowmelt from seeping in.
Since he didn't have nails to fix the wooden tiles, he used thin rattan or animal sinew to tie a thin wooden strip to the rafters at intervals to serve as a "tile string". The top of the wooden tile was then stuck behind the tile string, relying on its own weight and the friction of the overlap to secure it.
For the ridge, he used two thicker, curved wooden boards to interlock, forming a "ridge tile," and then sealed the gaps with clay mixed with wood ash.
When the last shingle was laid, the entire wooden house was finally completely covered.
Lin Feng stood at a distance, admiring his masterpiece.
This small house, constructed entirely of logs and mortise and tenon joints, stands quietly amidst the snow and ice, exuding an ancient and resilient aura.
The roof's smooth lines and the walls' solid texture all demonstrate the builder's ingenuity and perseverance.
As the towering wooden frame lay silently in the snow like a lurking beast, Lin Feng felt a surge of pride, yet his resolve remained unwavering.
This is just the beginning! A true "home" is not just a shell that can shelter you from the wind and rain; it must have flesh and blood, warmth, and a soul! His gaze has already turned to the exquisite carvings inside.
"The ground is the foundation upon which we stand; how can we be careless about it?"
Lin Feng looked down and examined the patch of land inside the wooden house that had been initially leveled and compacted.
Although it was solid, the thought of the cold soil directly touching his skin, especially in this godforsaken place where it was often frozen solid, made him shiver.
The complex knowledge in his mind surged again, among which the details about moisture protection and warmth were as clear as if branded.
He chuckled, his gaze fixed on the logs that, though not serving as main beams or pillars, were still of excellent quality.
"Making use of waste is the key!"
The sound of "crack" was incessant. The stone axe seemed to come alive in his hands, precisely splitting each log in half to reveal a relatively flat core.
He placed these half logs, flat side up, and pieced them together tightly on the ground, like laying floor tiles.
This job may seem simple, but it is actually very demanding. Every piece of wood must be leveled as much as possible to ensure a perfect fit.
But that's not enough! Lin Feng is a perfectionist; even with the original wooden floor, he wants it to be as perfect as possible.
He gathered a large handful of dried moss and countless tiny wood shavings, and patiently filled every gap between the wooden planks with the care of embroidery.
Finally, he took out several pieces of solidified animal fat from his treasured collection—strategic materials that he had painstakingly refined and stored!
Flames rose, oil melted, and an enticing aroma of meat filled the air. Lin Feng, however, was generous, carefully pouring the scalding oil into the cracks of the wooden planks.
With a soft "sizzle," the grease quickly penetrated and solidified, not only completely sealing the gaps and isolating the moisture from the ground, but also forming a natural protective film on the surface of the wooden floor, preventing corrosion and insects—a win-win situation!
When he stepped barefoot onto the wooden floor, which had been the result of painstaking effort, although it still retained its original ruggedness and was occasionally a little uneven, the solid and warm touch that isolated him from the coldness of the ground was worlds apart from the icy, bone-chilling mud he had been on before! A sense of security and stability, as if he were "grounded," welled up within him.
Next came the business of doors and windows.
The wooden house has a doorway and two small window openings. If it were just standing there empty, wouldn't it be like a sieve that lets in the wind?
Lin Feng already had a clear plan for making the gate. He selected several of the thickest and sturdiest wooden planks.
The essence of mortise and tenon joints resurfaced in his mind. Instead of using a single nail or tenon, he cleverly used a horizontal strip on the back of the wooden board to tightly connect it with the mortise and tenon structure, forming a heavy and sturdy door panel that could withstand the impact of wild beasts.
As for the door hinges, they embody the ingenuity of ancient wisdom—two smooth, cylindrical wooden pins extend from one side of the door panel, like natural pivots, precisely embedded in the mortises pre-drilled in the door frame.
With a gentle push, the heavy wooden door creaked open and closed with ease.
Add a thick wooden bolt as a door lock, and you'll feel incredibly safe!
The windows, however, gave Lin Feng more to think about. He didn't want his "mansion" to be nothing more than a few dark holes, which would be both unsightly and restrict the amount of light.
In his mind, fragmented memories of ancient architecture resurfaced, and a clever design called "detachable window" came to mind.
Let's do it!
He found fine wooden strips, patiently polished and carved them, and created an exquisite window frame that could be pushed outwards.
No glass?
This was no problem for Lin Feng. He had a brilliant plan!
He recalled the swim bladders of fish and the bladders of certain small animals he had previously processed, their toughness and translucency making them excellent materials for this moment.
He carefully scraped the animal hides repeatedly until they were as thin as cicada wings, then stretched them taut with a wooden frame and placed them in a ventilated place to dry.
After all that effort, this originally inconspicuous waste material was transformed into something magical, turning into sheets of "window paper" that were slightly yellowish and very resilient!
Although its light transmission is far less than that of modern glass, under the illumination of three eerie suns, it can still bring soft light into the room, dispel the darkness, and even block the biting cold wind when snow comes.
At night, or when there was a raging snowstorm, he also prepared thick wooden planks on the inside of the windows to seal them off completely, ensuring that there was no room for error.
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