Reasons Solid Wood Homes Make Sense

1. Thermal Mass: A material’s ability to absorb, retain and release heat energy over an extended period of time is its thermal mass, and a solid log wall offers more thermal mass capabilities than other building components do.

2. Energy Efficiency: Log homes that have been built with proper sealing methods and are well maintained from year to year can be highly energy efficient, resulting in lower heating and cooling costs.

3. Sustainability: Wood is a naturally renewable material, too, and while some anti-log home activists will tell you that log home producers are decimating the forests, nothing could be further from the truth. Most log home producers practice reforestation or take their stock from managed stands of trees, while others harvest standing-dead timbers (those that have been killed by fire, disease or insects) as these trees have a negative effect on the overall health of the forest.

4. Fire Resistance: Safety in a house fire depends on the ability of the home’s structure to stand long enough for evacuation; so, slowing the spread of the flames is essential. Compared to a stud-framed wall with interior cavities filled with artificial materials that can quickly add fuel to the fire, a solid log wall burns slowly. Add wood posts, beams and rafters to a log home and the results are even better.

5. Durability: With log buildings lasting for hundreds of years in varying climates throughout the world, it’s clear that well-built, solid-log structures stand the test of time. Of course, when designing your log home, you should always follow local building codes designed to protect your family and prevent damage from natural disasters in your area.