Building your own log cabin or purchasing one can be quite a challenge to undertake in itself but with myths about log cabins aplenty, it can seem even more arduous. While buyers should consider the potential pitfalls of their purchase, it would be wise to sift the truth from the lies. These myths usually come from misinformed sources and more often from people who have never owned or a rented a log cabin. This article will try and put to bed a few common myths surrounding log cabins.
Log Homes Can Rot Easily
As long as log homes are constructed properly from kiln-dried, pre-treated logs to resist both shrinkage and damage from termites, then it is not likely to rot any faster than other homes made with wood. Logs can crack as they dry out and from temperature fluctuations but this is no cause for concern, as long as there is proper maintenance performed on log structures. The best way to prevent standing runoff water from getting in the cracks and leading to rot is through chinking to fill the gaps. Log homes built with roof overhands, rain gutters and downspouts will not rot easily. With regular maintenance there are log homes standing after over 100 years.
Log Homes Need More Construction Time Than Conventional Stud Homes
There are fewer steps involved in the construction of a log home, especially when performed by expert log home contractors. A log home is built up by stacking logs to form the exterior walls and you are simultaneously building up the interior walls and the structural component of the home, thus saving you time and effort. A frame house on the other hand requires many more steps of construction. There are stud frames that have to be built and then siding has to be applied. Which is then followed by installing insulation and then drywall is attached and finished. Whereas the interior of a log home only needs application of some stain! Whereas an average home can take many weeks to build and also requires the skills of many tradesmen, log homes can even be built in two or three days using pre-cut logs. Log homes cost much less to build than buying a new home or building your own home using builders.
Logs are Not Energy Efficient
Read our blog post about how to optimize your log cabin homes for energy efficiency with correct construction and log insulation methods, such as building a wall on the inside of the log wall or by insulating the roof with methane foam. It requires very little planning to design an energy-efficient log home as log cabins actually store heat in the winter and allow in cool air in the summer months. The R-value (resistance to heat transfer) of wood is likely to affect the energy efficiency of your log cabin too. Using lower R-value log wood to build the walls of log homes will give good performance for heating and cooling.
Log Homes Are Harder To Maintain
Every home requires some amount of maintenance. Your log cabin will need just about the same upkeep as any other conventional home. Exterior staining and sealing in log homes should ideally be done every two to five years and it is certainly not hard work. A high quality exterior stain, not your typical wooden deck stain from the hardware store, will ensure that your investment is preserved for years to come and also bring out the natural sheen of the wood. If your log cabin is designed well, there will be less maintenance work required for you. If your logs are treated properly in the construction process, it will reduce the chances of termite infestations. Similarly ensuring that your log home is constructed on appropriate foundations and with the right roof overhand will also protect it. Making sure that the log you use are clean, dry and free from dust, pollen and mould, will help you maintain it well and make re-staining easier.
Log Cabins Are A Fire Hazard
Your log home is made out of wood. And people wrongly presume that since wood is used to start fires, so log cabins must be a fire hazard. They could not be further from the truth. Huge logs used in the construction of a log home are not exactly the same as scrap wood. When you start a campfire, do you use a huge log or small pieces of wood? It is obviously the latter. Due to its immense frame, log cabins are actually less likely to ignite a fire than a wooden frame home.
If you have been mulling about living in a log home, then the best advice is to take the leap and just do it. We hope this article has helped quell any fears you may have about log cabin construction and maintenance. Read our other articles on log homes and be confident in your decision to invest in a log home. Log homes are for life! Reach out to us at Performance Log Homes for more information.
