There are many myths and misconceptions floating around out there about log home building and living. We would like to try to dispel a few of the most common things people are concerned with when deciding if log home living is for them. Schutt Log Homes and Mill Works has been selling Oak log cabin kits for over 10 years and has built their fair share of Oak log homes. Over the years we have heard many myths about log home construction and maintenance, and now we would like share some information we have found to be true about a few of these myths.
1.Log homes are not energy efficient.
We have heard this myth many many times. The fact is, Oak log homes are very energy efficient. Oak by its nature is a dense wood and is excellent at storing heat. Once an oak log is warmed it will continue to stay warm. The reverse is true in the summer, when an Oak log is cooled it will stay cool. A well built Oak log home can retain heat as well or better than a stick framed home. A heating and cooling system in a log home can be up to 15 percent more energy efficient than the same system in a similar traditional wood frame home. Double or triple paned windows will add to the efficiency. It is because of this fact log homes are still being built in some of the coldest regions.
2. Log homes are high maintenance.
The fact is once the Oak log home is built it is relatively low maintenance, provided care is taken during the building process. After the logs are placed a chinking material is placed between the logs and a wood preservative, sealer is applied. That’s it! No drywall, plaster, mud, painting. Depending on the manufactures recommendations most log preservatives need to be reapplied every 5-10 years which is comparable to painting stick homes. Finding a crack in the wall may seem like a major ordeal to a log home, but the truth is, it’s perfectly natural for wood to crack. These cracks pose no structural problems and might just need to be sealed with chinking and a wood preservative.
3. Log homes take longer to build than a stick home
When building an Oak log home the walls go up quickly. Once finished with the log wall you have the interior wall, exterior wall, structural component and insulation of the home complete. Once the Log walls are all up the exterior of the house is complete except for the chink and wood sealant. A framed home has many more steps, framing, plywood, moisture barrier, insulation, siding, drywall, plaster, sanding, plaster, sanding and painting…
4. Log homes are not fire resistant
The truth is Oak is extremely fire resistant. The natural insulation properties of solid log walls is one aspect to be considered. A solid log wall is very resistant to fire due to its mass. Solid log walls are extremely slow to spread fire as compared to traditional frame walls. When a fire enters a frame wall a chimney is formed in the air pockets causing rapid spread of the fire. Since there are no air pockets or cavities in log walls fire is slow to spread.
5. It’s difficult to find a log home builder
This is not true at all. Many builders specialize in log home construction or have log home experience. When a log home builder is not available, conventional builders can learn from construction manuals provided by log home companies. Schutt Log Homes and Mill Works provides a detailed construction manual with each of our Oak log cabin kits.
Though we know there are many more myths out there, we hope we have helped answer a few of the common concerns most people think of when they consider log home living. Schutt Log Homes and Mill Works will be happy to answer any other questions or concerns you may have when debating whether or not living in a log home is right for you and your family.
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Oak Log Homes- Schutt Log Homes and Mill Works 