Full Answer
Are log homes easy to maintain?
A log home is not a conventional home and will require non-conventional maintenance, but as long as you are aware of this up front, you can design and plan for this. Myth: Log home maintenance is complicated. Not necessarily. So, how DO you maintain a log home?
Are log cabins difficult to maintain?
Log cabins or log houses are not very much difficult to maintain. Wood preservative liquids should be applied to these houses as soon as the construction has been completed. This can help to reduce the problems like moulds and other damaging issues. Browse through the internet to know more.
Why are log homes so hard to insure?
One reason is because log homes are often located in remote locations, far from fire departments that could respond more quickly to the fire if the home were closer. Log homes are also expensive to rebuild if they are lost to a fire or other disaster, causing some insurance companies to raise their rates or shy away from log homes altogether.
How do you take care of a log home?
The most important factor is to clean: Clean and dry the wood's surface before and after you stain, and keep the dust, pollen and mold off your logs every season. Pay special attention to the south and west walls of your log home, as they are more susceptible to the elements.
Are log homes a lot of maintenance?
While all homes need upkeep, log home maintenance goes beyond what you might encounter taking care of a home in the city or suburbs. A log home's greatest enemies? Moisture, sun exposure, extreme temperatures, insects, and microorganisms. Here are a few ways to keep your log home strong and beautiful year-round.
What are the problems with log homes?
The most common log home problems are:Moisture problems in log homes. Rain, snow, humidity, and damp places all cause moisture damage. ... Insects and critter problems in log homes. Insects and critters tend to love our log homes just as much as we do. ... UV Ray damage in log homes. ... 0 comments.
What are the disadvantages of a log home?
Cons of Living in a Log Home The most important thing to keep in mind is that logs deteriorate over time without care and maintenance. Therefore, you will have to clean, re-stain and re-caulk your log home from time to time. If you don't, the wood will start to rot or break down from the sun's UV rays and water damage.
How long will a log home last?
Log cabins have a long and illustrious history of longevity. They usually last twenty, thirty to even fifty years, if they are kept in good condition. They are even seen to stand for a century if they are located in a place that does not face extreme weather conditions and is properly maintained.
Are log homes worth the money?
Longtime homeowners say log and timber homes offer rich rewards over the stick and brick homes of their neighbors. The benefits start with the building materials. Because trees are a renewable resource, log and timber homes come with a solid green pedigree.
Are log homes warm in winter?
We've written an article breaking down how log homes are insulated. Even though logs have their own form of insulation and are considered to be four times warmer than concrete blocks, six times warmer than brick and fifteen times warmer than stone, there is still need for a secondary heat source.
Are log homes more expensive to insure?
Log homes are generally more expensive to insure because they're constructed with expensive lumber or timber, and insurers consider them to be higher risk since they are often located in remote, hard-to-reach locations.
What are the pros and cons of owning a log home?
Owning A Log Cabin: 3 Pros And ConsPro #1: Energy-Efficient. ... Pro #2: Environmentally-Friendly. ... Pro #3: Much Needed Comfort And Relaxation. ... Con #1: Maintenance-Prone. ... Con #2: Little To No Insurance Coverage. ... Con #3: Prone To Pests. ... Conclusion.
What maintenance does a log home require?
By log home maintenance, we mean the general upkeep required to ensure there is proper protection from moisture, damaging UV radiation, air infiltration, insect and rodent intrusion.
How often do you need to stain a log home?
every 3 to 7 yearsAs a general rule, you will need to stain your log home every 3 to 7 years, depending on the elements. Elemental factors include exposure to rain, sunlight, hail, wind, climate, and more.
Are log cabins good homes?
Log homes are great at maintaining temperature and conserving energy. This is due to the massiveness of the logs and their ability to absorb heat during the day and radiate it at night. This helps keep the home comfortable without having to rely as much on your HVAC.
What's it like living in a log cabin?
There's something about living in a log cabin that makes you feel closer to nature. You feel the elements more — whether it's the snow piling up against the logs or the breeze blowing through. In warmer months, our windows and door are open often, letting in the air and sounds of outside.
When should I maintain a log cabin?
Maintaining a log home should be a bi-annual activity, specifically during spring and fall. Regular maintenance of your log cabin reduces the damage from UV, water, insects, and air infiltration. During spring you will want to give specific focus to any water damage to exterior wood from freezing water and snow and then preparing your cabin ...
What is routine maintenance of log cabins?
Whilst log cabin maintenance can depend upon site location, design prudence, maintenance and environmental factors; one thing is for sure, routine log home maintenance is an often-neglected step for ensuring the longevity of your home.
How to get a stain out of a cabin?
The key to ensuring the stain lasts for three or more years is the quality of your preparation. Once your cabin has thoroughly dried you can apply your stain. Initially apply the stain using a garden sprayer and then back brush the stain.
Why is it important to clean a log cabin?
Your cabin’s logs can become darkened by splashback from water very quickly, which can cause decay, infestation, and many other expensive problems. You would first notice this when cleaning your cabin if certain patches are darker than others.
How to get blonde stain out of log cabin?
If you have an oil-based stain then look at the knots in the logs, if they have become blonde then it’s time to apply a new coat of stain too. If you haven’t recently washed your cabin, then another quick check is to spray some water on the logs. The water should bead and very quickly run down the cabin.
What is the best way to clean a cabin?
spider webs, eggs, etc…). The best technique I would recommend to wash your cabin is to use a mild detergent and a soft-bristle brush.
How to clean logs with detergent?
We recommend two cleans (once bottom-up and once top-down); To start with, work your way from the bottom-up. Initially wet the logs and then applying the detergent mix with a soft bristle brush by gently scrubbing in circles – this will avoid streaking of your logs.
Do log houses have insulation?
Full log homes have no insula tion – It is really hot in the summer and really cold in the winter without conventional systems in place. A log wall is a solid mass and since there is no insulated space, R-Value does not apply correctly. When the logs shrink, you have to keep caulking between them.
Is 1/2 log home insulated?
1/2 log home is extremely insulated. 1/2 logs are anchored to regular studs, thus shrinkage is not a problem. Easier to get financing for a 1/2 log home. Log walls are natural sound insulators. The inside walls can be finished with wall board to enable surfaces to be be papered or painted. “Greener”.
What are the problems with log homes?
The most common log home problems are: 1. Moisture problems in log homes. Rain, snow, humidity, and damp places all cause moisture damage. Wood and moisture are not friends. Moisture can result in log rot, water stains, fungus, and mold. Moisture is one of the quickest destroyers of log homes and one of the easiest to prevent.
How to keep rain from coming through log home?
Divert rain using gutters, overhangs, and trenches. If a log home is not protected, rain can cause huge problems. Using gutters and overhangs will help keep the water away from your walls and windows. Maintain your log home’s sealing.
What are the bugs that live in log homes?
Insects and critters tend to love our log homes just as much as we do. Insects such as beetles, termites, carpenter ants, and carpenter bees eat wood and live in it. Most of these, like carpenter bees will drill small holes inside logs and the wood around doors, windows, and the eaves.
How high should a log home foundation be?
We recommend having a foundation that is approximately 2 feet in height and well drained. It is also a good idea to clean the bottom logs periodically to remove any moss or dirt that might collect.
What is UV damage in log homes?
UV Ray damage in log homes. The ultraviolet radiation from the son (UV Rays) breakdown the outer surface of wood. This is the beginning process of rot as micro fungi will feed off of the damaged wood and increase the rot process.
Why do woodpeckers peck on logs?
Woodpeckers have a reputation for pounding holes into our beloved log cabins. They peck to find insects and for mating purposes. To keep woodpeckers away from your log home it is important to keep insects away from your cabin and to use fake owls to scare them away.
How to keep a dog from moving in?
To keep these little critters from moving in, you want to inspect eaves, and other places that may be a hole of entrance for them. Do not leave dog food or cat food outside and if you have a doggy door, lock it when you can. We also recommend using a thick garbage can that you can lock.
How much more efficient are log homes?
Log homes that are properly designed and built can be made 15 percent to 20 percent more efficient than homes made of more modern construction materials. Log homes also tend to be quieter than other homes, since the same log properties that contribute to energy efficiency also possess sound-deadening properties. Advertisement.
What is a log home?
Log homes create warmth and are often full of small details overlooked in stick and frame construction. Log home builders are craftsmen, and their work is highly visible throughout the home in stairs, ceilings, banisters and other features. Log homes are often built as someone's dream home, and as such no detail is overlooked.
Why are log homes considered green?
Log homes are considered a green building option because trees are a renewable resource. It is even possible to build a log home using standing dead timber harvested from trees which were already dead due to insects, and some builders purchase materials only from forests that are certified in following sustainability practices.
Why are log homes so expensive to insure?
One reason is because log homes are often located in remote locations, far from fire departments that could respond more quickly to the fire if the home were closer. Log homes are also expensive to rebuild if they are lost to a fire or other disaster, causing some insurance companies to raise their rates or shy away from log homes altogether. To reduce the insurance rate, shop around with several insurers, opt for a fire-resistant roo f when building rather than wood shingles and avoid cabins with freestanding wood stoves, or replace them with a safer heating choice.
What are the insects that live in wood?
Pests and Critters. There are many insects that feed on, live in or otherwise make use of wood, including carpenter ants, carpenter bees and termites. You'll need to be aware of these pests and others, such as woodpeckers, and look for signs of them frequently so you can stop small problems before they become large ones.
Do log homes fit zoning?
Log homes don't always fit local zoning ordinances and aren't a good fit for the look and feel of some neighborhoods. As a result, you won't find them everywhere, and the log homes you do find will tend to be built in more rural areas. This makes the available inventory somewhat limited when it's time to go house hunting.
