Taiga International Carpentry School

Taiga International Carpentry School was found January 25, 2006.

Our trainers are George Fuller, the owner of the Norwegian School of Log building in Lillehammer and Russian log builders with 5-year experience, who have taken classes at his school.

The Norwegian log building classes are conducted by Alexander Kurnakov, senior instructor of the school, who has also been student of Norsk Lafteskole (The Norwegian Log Building school). Being involved in log building for 8 years he has fulfilled over 30 large projects.

The training fee amounts to 1000 euro per month for a person. There is a 10% discount for teams (5 and more workers).

Duration. The Norwegian Log building course takes 1 month. On completion of a course students get a certificate.

Accommodation. Students can live in a dormitory situated next to building site. There are a couple of shops and a café not far from the place (an average lunch costs 3-4 euro). It is also possible to cook in the dormitory kitchen.

Tools. All instruments and tools are available. But all students should have safety clothing, shoes, eyes and ears protectors.

How to get to School? Students can get to school with suburban buses which run between Nizhniy Novgorod and Sokolskoye. The approximate ticket price is 5 euro. Bus schedule on your request.

The school has a big electronic resource of literature on different techniques and standards of log building and wood properties.

Course content:

• Wooden building history. Different log building techniques. The features of Norwegian Log building based on Byggforsk 523.291 Laftede vegger standard;
• Material properties. Safety measures used by building. Eye and ear protectors, safety clothing;
• Tool kit for log building. Chain saw. Choice of tires and chains. Correct chain sharpening. Norwegian axe (Norsk laftebile) handling;
• Project development. Raw material (timber) calculation for building;
• Preparations of a construction site. Diagonals control. Placing of dead ends and leveling piers. Usage of different horizontal techniques (laser level, level, water level);
• The laying of first log row. Log selection. Control of log house height. Proper placement of door and window openings according to International Log Building Standard 2000. Scandinavian compression-fit saddle-notch. Scandinavian full-scribe long groove;
• Log gables. Technology of traditional Norwegian roof. Cold and warm roof. Kerfs for cold roof rafters;
• Turf roof as an integral part of Norwegian log house. Materials, technology. Different means of log house microclimate regulation;
• Wood protection against weather infiltration and fire, decoration and reconstruction of log houses;
• Marking of log houses and shipping them on trucks;
• Installation site logistics.