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