I have a two-story parsonage with log walls from the late 1800s. In the 80s, a small extension was made from the ground floor and a 180 cm wide opening was made in the outer wall on the long side of the house. On the second floor, right next to the lower opening, an opening for a double balcony door was made.
The "new construction" is light and nice, almost like a sunroom, but hardly any light comes into the kitchen inside. If the opening were widened by a meter, both the kitchen and the room outside would function much better and the kitchen would be much brighter.
The current opening is clad, so it is not possible to see exactly how it was done, but there should be two log rows left at the top and probably also under the chipboard floor. It is likely that they just sawed an opening without any support.
I am considering the cost it would entail if I wanted to widen the opening by a meter while we're remodeling the kitchen. It's probably just a matter of sawing, but I am thinking about incorporating a laminated beam into the log structure for safety.
Can you just "notch" the current log rows at the ceiling from one side and insert a semi-thick laminated beam, such as 90x225, 90x270, or whatever fits, so that it is slightly longer than the opening itself and rests on the short ends of the logs? You could even nail and glue this to the old timber.
Or should you hire a carpenter with a good reputation and liability insurance just to be safe...
