| 1.) Log homes are not energy efficient | | | | I have not called all of them. However, in my 35 plus |
| Most of these rumors have been started by | | | | years in the industry I have not been contacted by |
| individuals who have never lived in a log home or are | | | | anyone who had trouble getting insurance. Our |
| "concerned" relatives giving free advice to other | | | | insurance company didn't even frown on the fact |
| relatives who are considering building a log home. | | | | that we have a cedar shake roof with a wood stove |
| Now let me say that the log home that I am talking | | | | in one part of the building! |
| about is one that is well designed, manufactured to | | | | 6) Banks will not make a loan on a log home |
| modern standards and built by someone who knows | | | | Of course there are banks that do not want to |
| what they are doing. | | | | make a loan on a home that they know nothing |
| Most building codes only recognize "R" factor which | | | | about. The banks that we have dealt with get |
| does not take into account the tightness of a well | | | | comparables in the area in which the home is being |
| built log home. It does not take in the mass of wood | | | | built so that they know how much they can loan to |
| which holds the heat far better than a flimsy stud | | | | the client for construction of the home. They will |
| home. Recently a client of ours finished his log home | | | | make a $500,000 loan on a log home if comparable |
| manufactured of dry, Western red cedar logs. At | | | | homes in the area sell for $350,000! In short, have |
| that time he needed to get an air-tightness test | | | | our clients had trouble getting loans on their log |
| from the county. It came in as the second tightest | | | | home? The answer is NO! |
| home they have ever tested....most of them being | | | | |
| stud homes. | | | | 7) Log homes will rot easily |
| In the late 90's it got down to minus 27 degrees F in | | | | Yes, wood does rot, but only between the moisture |
| Pueblo, Co. We did not have any heat on in our 3,000 | | | | content of 30% to 60%. There is no such thing as |
| sq. ft. model home. The next morning I went in at 10 | | | | dry rot as wood must be quite moist to rot. So a |
| AM and there wasn't a problem. The next morning it | | | | properly designed log home (or any home for that |
| was minus 10 degrees and on Monday morning it was | | | | matter) with adequate roof overhangs, rain gutters, |
| zero. The model was totally unheated for the whole | | | | down spouts and periodic maintenance will endure of |
| weekend as we did not work over the weekend. | | | | generations. |
| The model had 9 tropical plants in it, including a fern in | | | | Whenever I get a call from someone with a rotting |
| the window. I lost two African violets which are very | | | | problem, it is due to the fact they have defied basic |
| sensitive to temperature. The fern in the bay | | | | logic and common sense. Furthermore they spend 4 |
| window had no damage what-so-ever. | | | | hours each weekend on their lawn but never seem |
| In short, there is still a reason why log homes are still | | | | to be concerned about the home itself. The proof in |
| being built in very cold climates such as Canada and | | | | the pudding is seeing the log structures in Europe |
| Alaska! | | | | (and the United States) that are in great shape after |
| 2) Termites and other wood boring insects will be | | | | hundreds of years. |
| attracted to log homes and set about devouring | | | | 8) Log Homes require more time to build than a |
| them. | | | | conventional stud home |
| Wood boring insects are not attracted to large | | | | The log walls go up quickly by those who are |
| quantities of wood. If the logs are constructed of | | | | knowledgeable about log construction. If the |
| green, unseasoned logs with the bark still on the logs, | | | | weekend do-it-yourself family does it, it takes quite a |
| then some wood boring insects can become | | | | bit longer. Here is the secret to log |
| established under the bark during the summer and | | | | construction...when you place a log you have the |
| live there for several years. Once the wood is dry | | | | interior of your home, the exterior of the home, the |
| these insects are not attracted to the logs. In all my | | | | structural component and the insulation all in one |
| 35 plus years in the log home industry, I have never | | | | component. After the log walls are up, you are done |
| seen termites in a log home! | | | | with the exterior of the home except the interior |
| 3) Log homes are more expensive than a | | | | and exterior stain or finish. |
| conventional home | | | | A frame home has many steps; stud walls, exterior |
| First of all, what is a "conventional" home? Is it a | | | | plywood, exterior roofer's felt, and siding. For the |
| double wide or a modular? Is it a 2x4 framed home | | | | interior the home is insulated, a vapor barrier installed |
| with vinyl siding? Is it a Tudor home with field stone | | | | sheet rock with its taping, sanding, taping, sanding, |
| exterior? | | | | and finally the paint. Whew! |
| Of course a custom log home with 8 or 10-inch logs | | | | 9) Most contractors cannot build a log home. |
| will cost more for the logs than a pile of 2x4's and | | | | This is not true. If they do not want to build it, it is |
| vinyl siding. But the logs will go up faster saving labor. | | | | not because the system is too complex but rather |
| I have also noted over the years that people who | | | | they are like the old dog that doesn't want to learn |
| build a log home don't finish it off with cheap | | | | new tricks! In my many years of experience I have |
| carpeting, sheet rock, and fixtures. As the exterior | | | | found that a first time contractor can build a log |
| walls are the least expensive of any home, the | | | | home. The final product will depend on his willingness |
| amenities installed within (wood flooring and ceilings, a | | | | to put the same degree of craftsmanship into the log |
| fireplace, a solid wood paneling on the walls) can | | | | home as he does the frame home that he has built in |
| boost the price of the home substantially. | | | | the past. |
| One of our clients told me many years ago that | | | | 10) The log home is hard to maintain. |
| after the house was closed in from the weather, | | | | In our present age of "space age" materials the public |
| they felt that they were nearly done with the large | | | | has been swamped with claims of low maintenance. |
| expenditures for the construction of the home. They | | | | When motor vehicles used to have the oil changed |
| started buying better materials and upgrading the | | | | at 1,500 miles the claim of the sales person is to |
| cabinets, carpet, etc. It wasn't long before they | | | | change the oil at 6,000 miles. Counter tops, siding, |
| realized that they were going to be running short of | | | | windows and roofing all give the claim of longevity |
| money to complete the home. | | | | and low maintenance. Well, to use an old adage, if it |
| In short, a log home is comparable to a standard | | | | is worth owning it is worth taking care of. |
| home, if you compare the same apples-to-apples. | | | | The first step in the maintenance of the log home is |
| | | | proper design (The Complete Guide to Log Homes). |
| 4) Log homes are a fire hazard | | | | The next step is periodic maintenance with a good |
| Again this is an argument that goes against common | | | | stain purchased from a company that specializes in |
| sense and logic. When you start a fire in the fireplace | | | | log home products and not something off the shelf |
| or build a campfire, you start with small pieces of | | | | of a local discount store. |
| wood....not large solid logs. When a fire gets into the | | | | The exterior of the home is the main area of |
| walls of a frame home, a chimney is formed in the | | | | maintenance that must be taken care of during the |
| walls and the spread is rapid. A solid log wall is very | | | | life of the home. The interior stained or varnished |
| resistant to heat due to its mass. I have put a | | | | walls will never need to be redone to any normal |
| propane torch against a log wall until I got tired of | | | | failure. If little Johnny smears the walls with marker |
| holding the torch and the log wall would not hold a | | | | or crayon, then drastic steps must be taken to bring |
| flame and burn of its own. When a log home burns, | | | | the walls back to their original condition. Always |
| the sub floor, interior walls and the conventional | | | | remember that conventional homes with an exterior |
| roofing is the first to go. The log walls would be last. | | | | of paint must be refurbished periodically as well. |
| 5) Insurance rates are higher for log homes | | | | There is no free lunch and there is no such thing as |
| This could be a case of some insurance companies as | | | | minimal or extended maintenance. |