| Today's log homes can be just as big and | | | | solid wood is energy efficient, keeping |
| luxurious as traditional stick-built homes, | | | | temperatures inside the home comfortable year |
| and they've got something your neighbor's | | | | around. |
| home doesn't: logs. What kid didn't dream of | | | | |
| having a lot home (or maybe a log tree fort) | | | | 4. If your log home is built and sealed |
| out in the woods somewhere? Well, some | | | | properly, it will be very energy efficient. |
| adults share that dream. | | | | This means you spend less money on heating |
| | | | and cooling throughout the year. Many log |
| Whether you like the rustic look or just want | | | | home manufacturers create kits designed to be |
| to live in a house built from natural | | | | 15-20% more efficient than a conventional |
| materials, a log home may be appealing to | | | | home. |
| you. But are they a good investment? Are | | | | |
| they a smart choice? | | | | 5. Log homes are usually more quiet than |
| | | | stick-built homes. Remember that thermal |
| The short answer is yes. In fact, log homes | | | | mass we talked about? Well, aside from being |
| have some benefits stick-built homes lack. | | | | energy efficient, it's sound efficient. |
| Let's take a look. | | | | Those dense logs have sound-deadening |
| | | | effects. That means you can block out |
| 1. They generally are made to a higher | | | | everything from outside noises to your kid's |
| standard with superior craftsmanship and | | | | basement drum solos. No need for ear plugs, |
| custom touches. Because of this, log homes | | | | thank you. |
| regularly appraise higher than comparably | | | | |
| sized conventional homes. Basically this | | | | 6. One last benefit, is that it's easy to |
| means that, square foot for square foot, they | | | | maintain log homes and keep them free of |
| have a higher resale value. | | | | mold, mildew, and insect infestations. In |
| | | | traditional homes, there are sealed wall |
| 2. Log homes are sturdy, stand up well to the | | | | cavities where everything from mold, |
| elements, and generally speaking last a long | | | | termites, and rats can get in and thrive. |
| time. There are many stories of these houses | | | | Log homes don't have those dank hollows. To |
| surviving the worst Mother Nature has thrown | | | | inspect for problems, all you have to do is |
| at them, including the big 2005 hurricanes, | | | | take a walk around your home and check out |
| Katrina and Rita. This shouldn't be | | | | the condition of the logs. This makes it |
| surprising. Unlike walls in traditional | | | | easy to catch problems earlier and get them |
| homes, which are just frames covered with | | | | taken care of before they become costly |
| insulation and drywall, log homes are solid | | | | situations. |
| wood. There are still-standing, | | | | |
| still-occupied log homes in Europe dating | | | | Generally speaking, the pros far outweigh the |
| back more than 800 years. | | | | cons when it comes to choosing a log home. |
| | | | Whether it's for your primary residence, a |
| 3. The notion that log homes are warm and | | | | vacation rental, or a place to retire down |
| cozy isn't just fanciful thinking. Compared | | | | the road, a log home can keep you and your |
| to a cold piece of drywall, wood is warm to | | | | family warm and comfortable for years to |
| the touch. Logs also have something called | | | | come. |
| thermal mass going for them; all that dense, | | | | |