There are a lot of misconceptions and misunderstandings about the longevity and efficiency of a handcrafted log home.  The article below will “debunk” some of those statements backed by research and a whole lot of experience.

Log homes are not energy efficient – incorrect

Handcrafted log home walls have comparable R-values to what you get with standard construction. However we have noted that our homes are often easier to heat than what you would expect from the R-values. There is more to the story — thermal mass. Logs offer better thermal performance based upon its mass.

This is why professionally designed log homes are still being built in very cold climates such as Northern Canada, Alaska, Nordic Countries and Russia.

Termites and other wood boring insects will be attracted to a log home – incorrect

Three words:  WESTERN RED-CEDAR.   Not only does it have a stunning beauty, the many benefits of Western Red Cedar include that it is naturally resistant to insect attacks. Bugs do not like the smell or oily texture of Western Red-cedar.  Almost anything you build with it will last longer and require less maintenance.

Log homes are more expensive than a conventional home – incorrect

Some of our smaller log homes start at just under $100,000. Canadian dollars.  A brand new truck can cost upwards of $80,000, it’s funny to think that you could drive around in something that would cost around the same as something you could live in.  With today’s pricing on average, it’ll cost $306,677 to build a house.  That’s about $200 per square foot, and that’s on the low side.

The average ‘per square foot’ price of a Cascade Handcrafted log home shell is $70-$90 per square foot (pending design), plus the cost of the interior finishing. *This pricing is purely an approximation, but as you can see it is very comparable to building a “conventional” house.

Log homes will rot easily – incorrect

Not only does it have a stunning beauty, the many benefits of Western Red Cedar include that it’s a highly revered, durable wood is naturally resistant to rot and decay. Almost anything you build with it will last longer and require less maintenance.

There is no such thing as dry rot as wood must be quite moist to rot. So a properly designed log home with adequate roof overhangs, rain gutters, down spouts and periodic maintenance, will last centuries.

Log Homes require more time to build than a conventional stud home – incorrect

The timeline for getting from the selection of your customized floor plan to being ready to build goes through a lot of different processes. These add up to anywhere from 4 (at best) to 6 months, where a “conventional” home can take anywhere from 6 to 8 months. You can learn more by visiting  our web page on Log Home Timelines.

A log home is hard to maintain – incorrect

The first step in the maintenance of the log home is proper design by a professional who knows, based on experience and research what is needed to maintain the log home. The next step is periodic maintenance (about every 5 years) with a good stain purchased from a company that specializes in log home products. The exterior of the home is the main area of maintenance that must be taken care of during the life of the home. The interior stained or varnished walls will never need to be redone unless by choice.