Log Home Tips
Demystifying Common Misconceptions About Log Cabins
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...
Questions You Should Ask Before A Log Home Restoration
- Who is the manufacturer of the log package?
- What species of log has been used?
- Have additions been made to the original structure?
- What materials have been used in maintenance applications so far?
- Who constructed the structure and how old is it?
- Are there any known problem areas? Any known coating or sealing failures?
- What should the structure look like when you’re done?
- What is your workable budget to restore my log home?
- Is there a priority list for the work?
- What methods are used to remove the existing finish?
- What is the estimated cost of a log home restoration?
- How long does it take to finish restoration work?
What Methods Are Used To Remove The Existing Finish?
- Ozzying (Sanding) uses an osborne brush or buffing pads at changing speeds of right angle grinder.
- Media Blasting is performed with corn cob granule, glass, walnut shells, or food grade baking soda.
- Chemical Strippers -This step of removing an existing finish from your log home requires the greatest amount of time in the restoration project. It is very important to get this right and strip off any existing finish completely so that you have a clean canvas to work on.
As a log home owner, do due diligence before selecting one of these methods. You will need to work out which method would suit your budget and needs best. When hiring a pro, do check out the contractors past work to get a clear picture of what the end result may look like.
How To Manage Settling Problems In Log Homes
Settling from wood shrinkage is a natural characteristic that you should be prepared for in a log building. In fact, anticipating it and building for it during construction can help homeowners or builders tackle it well. Most wood shrinkage and settlement around doors, windows and vertical posts cause energy efficiency problems and take up time and expense in maintenance. There is cause for concern about construction quality rather than structural integrity with settling. What is Log Home Settling? The dynamics of a log home should allow for shrinkage of logs over time and it is not even unique to log homes, as this is common even among stick-built homes. The cylindrical shaped wood fibers often shrink in the radial direction as they dry out causing the logs to contract in radius,...
Features You Should Look For in Your Log Wood
Log home owners are most drawn to the unique and natural characteristics of logs. Log structures are appealing to the eye, touch and also their innate strength. The most important question that comes to people contemplating investing in a log home is the kind of wood that is best suited for log home construction. There are many wood species, each with distinctly different characteristics. The species of wood best suited for your log home construction will depend on a number of factors, such as building style & design, geographic location, and project needs. History is proof that all wood species can be used for home construction, within certain limitations. Wood being produced from a living tree, possesses physical and material properties that are different from any other...
