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.
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...
Know the R-Value of Wood for Energy Efficient Log Home
Most people are attracted to wood or log home because of the warmth, beauty and cosines it inspires. When you are building a new log home, keep in mind energy efficiency besides durability and natural beauty of wood. Log homes have been around forever, which shows its staying power when constructed properly. Log homes are more environmentally efficient being made of natural and renewable wood. Homes can be built using green methods, as in logs produced locally or using wind or fire-killer timber or log manufactured using smaller wood and insulating material together. Besides the quality of log, insulation along the logs is another factor in making an energy-efficient home, which can be achieved either by building a wall on the inside of the log wall or insulating the roof with methane...