Contractors Get It Done

Posted on: 22 October 2021

There are few home designs more cozy and quaint than a log home. Can you think of anything more charming than sipping a hot drink next to a roaring fire in a warm log home? However, if you are thinking of building your own log home, you need to do some research in order to ensure your dream will become a long-lasting and comfortable reality. Here are four essential things to keep in mind as you are sourcing your log home materials.  

R-Value

Because the logs you use for your walls will also act as insulation when building a log home, you need to make sure that you source wood with a good R-value. The R-value is a measurement of a material's resistance to heat flow. For wood, the R-value ranges between 1.41 per inch for softwoods and 0.71 for hardwoods. If possible, choosing logs with the highest R-value will help keep your home cool in the summer and warm in the winter.  

Seasoned Wood

The wood you source for your log home needs to be seasoned. That means it's had either adequate time to dry in a protected environment away from weather or it's been artificially seasoned using a kiln drying method. The reason for this is because wood naturally expands and contracts depending on the amount of moisture in the air. If you build a home with unseasoned wood, expansion and contraction can cause serious structural issues as the seasons change.  

Wood Species

The species of wood is also essential when choosing log home materials. It's important to use a species that performs well in the climate where you'll be building your home. Some of the best species options that work well in any climate are cedar and pine. Cedar is probably the most popular log home material because of its natural water-resistance and decay resistance. Pine is also popular as long as its been properly seasoned so that it has developed some decay resistance. Other common species that might be climate-dependent are redwood, spruce, oak, and even cypress.  

Experienced and Reputable Supplier

One way to avoid problems with unseasoned wood is to choose a supplier of log home materials that is both experienced and reputable. The longer the supplier has been in the business, the more experience they have with sourcing wood and ensuring that it's properly seasoned and stored. Make sure to read reviews. If you know anyone with a log home, ask about their supplier and whether or not they are happy with the results.  

To learn more about Log home material suppliers, contact a professional near you.