Log Cabin with Bark Siding

[EddieWalker]

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]

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]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">(
(just would wonder what 'kiln dried' with respect to house logs really means however /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif ). )</font>

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]

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]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( that doesn't mean that you have the "final word" of authority on the subject, either.)</font>

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]

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

Ben

 

[KentT]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Yes, I know there are old log homes that survive, but they're all in places with favorable climates.

)</font>

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]

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]

Tom,

Very well said.

Eddie

 

[beenthere]

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

 

[scesnick]

And that inclination would be??

 

[KentT]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I don't think the curt tone is contributing to the discussion. ......

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. )</font>

Sir, I would point out that I began my posts in this thread with "not necessarily"... and I have continued to use words that were not "absolutes" while you continue to make broad, categorical statements as though they are absolute truth. You're also the one who has "escalated" the tone with your sarcastic statements about bringing written proof...

So, in that vein:

Myth #3: Log homes require a lot of maintenance. The truth: This is partially true but log homes typically require no more maintenace than any other type of wood-sided and wood-framed home. Maintenance usually means periodic cleaning and application of protectant stains.

Common Myths About Log Homes --one source, among many

So, using your own conversational tone -- I'll continue to stand by my "not necessarily" comment until YOU can provide written documentation to convince me otherwise....

 

[Egon]

slowrev:

Getting rid of the "Bark" sure does make it quieter. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

In another life I built and spent 25 years living in a log home. They do have an ambient atmosphere.

Would I build another log home -- No.

Egon /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[timjowers]

"In the pioneer days, some people did build log homes without debarking. All those structures are long since rotted away."

-- I keep seeing posts like this. Doesn't make any sense. One of the oldest standing houses in the USA is in Sesquicentennial State Park in Columbia, SC. Its a log cabin with bark still on it. And no surrounding structure or anything added to protect it. Similarly, I went down the road here in Charlotte and met a lady who has a log cabin in her yard she says is over 100 years old. This idea the bark must come off does seem to rectify with the facts on old log cabins. (BTW, no visible signs of bark loss on either of those.) The idea one must peel seems to be more of an urban legend than a natural building material fact. Haven't heard anyone argue with facts otherwise. Maybe having the logs up off the ground and out of the rain keeps the bugs away. BTW, both of these cabins are regular pine from what I can tell. Maybe the old timers were smart enough to harvest when sap was high or something. Seems they may have possessed some lost knowledge.

Tim

 

[clemsonfor]

Nice, digging up a 6 year old post to make your first one!!

Anyway welcome to TBN.

But as a forester i can tell you that southern yellow pine will loosen if the bark is not peeled. It may not fall off but i assure you its not tight, It will survive with bark on and out of the rain. I have some put up for 7 years and fine and we have some sheds that are 50 yrs old with pine slabs, some still ahve the bark on.

 

[s219]

Interesting topic. The pines being cut on my land and set aside for structural use (bridge) have the bark removed as soon as they are felled. I was told by several experts that was the way to go.

On the other hand, we hope to use poplar bark shakes on part of our new house, as a design/style element. They are cut, pressed, kiln dried and have a 50 year warranty. I have read about native americans and early settlers using poplar bark as a siding, so there seems to be some precedent for it.

 

[Jstpssng]

Pine and other softwoods will get bugs plus pine stains if they're left unpeeld in summer. We don't have yellow poplar up here, but I've been told it's very durable and makes great log cabins.