Log Cabin with Bark Siding

EddieWalker · Feb 21, 2006

Just to add to this a little.

Log homes built in dry climates will last allot longer with less maintenance than homes built in a humid climate.

The type of wood used makes a bigger difference than how it was dried. They kiln dried, air dried and standing dead timber all reach a certain percentage of dryness before being used. None are 100% dry, nor would you want to loose all moisture in a log.

If you think your logs are impervious to the weather and that the sealant really works, I suggest you never conduct a detailed inspection.

In my business I've repaired a few log homes and in every case the home owner has only a very little knowledge of the condition of their homes. You really need to know the areas that are prone to damage and hit them with a pointed object. Many times I've found logs that were hollowed out, but looked fine on the outside.

Fixing these homes is usually beyone what I'll do. I let the homeowner know what I find and walk away from it.

In Cody Wyoming, there is a place full of old log homes, saloons and buildings from all over the West. The ownere bought them up, dis-assembled them and then put them back together. Allot of them are well over 100 years old and some might be allot more. The logs are in pretty good shape over all considering they were never protected or treated. Just cut and assembled way back when.

Its proven that logs can last for a long time. There's no doubt about that, but those same homes from Wyoming wouldn't last a decade here in East Texas. I'm thinkint the Dream House has similar weather and the siding with the bark on it will be an issue. Just my opinion, that's all.

Eddie

rox · Feb 21, 2006

here has been discussin about kiln drying and the wood bark siding is kiln dried.

I think it is fine to throw in the mix a discussion about log houses as well. FWIW I grew up in a very large log house in northern Illinois, very close to the Wisconsin border. Plenty of snow, rain and humidity. The home was built of tamarak logs, no bark, the logs were round and was probably 30 years old at the time my parents bought it. My dad had to replace one log, it was the bottom log and the ground on the corner of the hose was low and usually wet. Other than that one log the hosue was fine, very strong and nothing wrong. We lived there about 10 years. Between the logs there was chinking. I remember my dad digging out some chinking, probably he made us kids help is why I remember it /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif, and there was a wire mesh, and on the mesh was mortor. My mom's job was to paint the mortor once my dad put in new morter. It was the same thing inside the house, log mortor, log mortor all the way up. The inside walls were also log. I think my mom stained the logs once and that was it and I wondered why they were even doing that becasue they looked fine to me.

So having grown up in an old log home, and this was a big home 6 bedrooms, probably 3,500 - 4,000 sq ft where everything was log I would say that the maintence wasn't much at all. Perhaps the Tamarck logs made a difference.

I also remember taking off the old asphalt shingles, where my dad taught me how to use a block of wood as leverage on the claw of the hammer to pull out the nails form the shingles. My dad had 9,11 & 12 year old kids on the steep roof helping him re-roof the house with cedar shakes. My brother was the oldest so he had to pull the rope on the pully my dad rigged up to the big oak tree to bring the wood shingles up to the roof. My dad made us all work, but more importantly he taught us *how* to work, and he taught us how to use tools and to figure out how to build things and fix things.

When I think back to the projects my dad had us do, I do shake my head. I never would let my kids do the dangerous work my dad did. But none of us ever got hurt so I guess he knew what he was doing. he grew up on a farm and all the kids on the farm worked so that was the way he raised us. I still like tools /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif I love hardware stores, and I love learning things on TBN. Some day I would love to learn how to weld, my dad never did any welding so I didn't get to learn it.

I have very very fond memories of the tamarack log house, and growing up in it. It was structually sound and the logs were not a problem, not at all.

scesnick · Feb 21, 2006

(
(just would wonder what 'kiln dried' with respect to house logs really means however /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif ). )

Well, All I can say is buy an air dried package and find out what the difference is.

BTW, I am one of " Those sales people" So I do have some knowledge of logs and log homes. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Tom_H · Feb 21, 2006

I didn't get a response from you as to the name of this new preservative/stain that only needs application once every 20 years.

My logs were dried to 19% moisture content. That big check groove cut to the center with a chainsaw did really help prevent other checks from developing during the drying process. My logs with northern exposure and/or porch overhangs still are very smooth. It's the logs that face south and get pummeled in driving winter rains in 60 mph winds and relentless summer sun of up to 115 degrees that have developed all the 1/8 to 1/4" checks. Then, when filled with acrylic silicone, the bond inside the check between wood and caulk fails after 2-3 years and I have to clean it out and re-caulk to keep even more water out. I think Eddie is right about climate. In another climate, I wouldn't have as severe problems.

Even kiln dried wood cannot be exposed to climate extremes without extra protection. It may indeed have more initial advantage, but severe climates are going to take more of a toll on any wood if there are no extra protective measures as compared to the same wood with the same exposure factors that is treated, stained, and protected by overhang.

Again, I would very much like to hear about this new stain.

Tom_H · Feb 21, 2006

( that doesn't mean that you have the "final word" of authority on the subject, either.)

Whoa there, (LOL), not trying to go there with ya. Your points about overhangs and being off the ground are well taken. My logs are up on a 2-3' stem wall and I have 3' overhangs. Thing is, we get horizontal rain during these 60 mph winds out of the southwest and it's just impossible to keep these things from being fully drenched.

Eddie is right about climate. I have been in several 800+ y.o. log homes high in the Swiss Alps. Thing is, the only moisture that touches them is in solid form (snow) and the summers are neither hot nor humid. I grew up in south GA, where it is very hot and humid in summer. Most of the early structures were of logs, but NONE remain as exposed wood, even the fat heart wood from infamous longleaf southern yellow pine, could not take year after year of that heat and humidity in the days when complex chemical preservatives did not exist. Yes, I know there are old log homes that survive, but they're all in places with favorable climates.

I live in a log home. I designed the floorplan. I contracted it. I did a fair amount of work in building it. It is astoundingly beautiful; people walk in and gasp. I love my house. I am extremely proud of my house, but still, it takes a lot of maintenance. Regardless of what aficionados and salesmen tell you, compared to other forms of construction, and over a range of climates, in GENERAL, log homes simply do require more maintenance than the majority of the others.

slowrev · Feb 21, 2006

Wouldn't they be a lot quieter with the bark removed ?

Ben

KentT · Feb 21, 2006

( Yes, I know there are old log homes that survive, but they're all in places with favorable climates.

)

Hmmm.... so the Southern Appalachians of Tennessee and North Carolina -- where these 150-200 year old log houses are -- is a favorable climate, yet Georgia is not...

Interesting....

Tom_H · Feb 22, 2006

I don't think the curt tone is contributing to the discussion. Actually, I spent a lot of time backpacking in the Appalachians in NC and as a matter of fact, sir, there actually IS a considerable difference between the climates of those places. I am not saying these mountains are highly similar to the Rockies and certainly not the Alps, but the altitude, latitude, and deep shade in these mountains can, in places, provide a climate that is significantly cooler than south GA. It is also not as humid. NONE of the old cabins in that climate have survived. BTW, what is the species of tree from which this house that enamours you so is built? There are virtually no old fully mature virgin hardwood trees with which to build today.

You may choose to reply with more remarks like those above. That still will not change the fact that, in GENERAL, across a range of climates and styles of construction, log houses are still going to require more maintenance than most others.

EddieWalker · Feb 22, 2006

Tom,

Very well said.

Eddie

beenthere · Feb 22, 2006

Then my first inclination was right. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif (that you were a salesman of the product)
I even looked at your bio when I read your first message on this thread. I do wish you the best. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif