Sunday, 15 July 2018

Benefits Of Selecting Log Home Siding Versus A Stacked Full Log House

By Matthew Mitchell


The rustic look of log cabins appeals to a lot of people. Most of them don't want to go all the way back in time, living like their ancestors though. If you are considering plans to build your version of a cabin in the woods, you can do it in a number of ways. You might decide that you want the total, stacked full log experience or you could opt for more efficient log home siding.

There are a lot of advantages to choosing cladding over a full log home. One of them is the maintenance factor. Stacked logs are by their very nature subject to shifting and settling. You won't have this problem with cladded materials. Conventional homes, when they are well done, are constructed in such a way that shifting is not an issue. You may find yourself having to raise a full logged house at some point to correct a settling problem.

Drying out full logs completely is extremely difficult. That can leave you with the problem of expansion and shrinkage during the coldest, warmest, and wettest times of the year. With cladding you don't have these issues. You also don't have to worry about chinking when you choose wood cladding. Full log homes require it to help keep the outside air where it belongs. Cracking, chipping, and wearing may occur. This has to be checked regularly and corrected promptly.

If construction costs are a concern, you will find that cladded homes, which are conventionally framed and wired, are much less expensive to build than stacked full wood homes. The pipes and wires can be easily run between the interior and exterior walls. A typical construction crew can handle the cladding, but it takes a more experienced crew to frame and wire stacked log homes.

Exterior design possibilities are almost unlimited with log cladding. The same is not true of full log houses. There are a lot of restrictions placed on designers of these structures, including the size of window and door frames. If you want to design a unique stacked log house, you will probably require the services of a structural engineer.

Some people like the idea of having a stacked wood house, outside and in. Others prefer to leave the rustic look outside and design a more modern and efficient interior. With cladding you have this option. You can have drywall hung and add paint, wallpaper, or paneling to it. Cabinets and flooring can be customized to fit your style.

Homes constructed of log siding are among the most energy efficient of the new home designs currently on the market. It is almost impossible to make a stacked log house anywhere near as efficient as those with cladding. The expense to attempt it would be almost prohibitive.

If rustic charm is what you are after in your house design, you can have it without the added expense and issues that come with stacked full logs. A cladded exterior is just as unique. You have more interior options and less expense with wood cladding as well.




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