Log homes are a popular choice for homeowners who enjoy the rustic, natural beauty of log homes as well as their modern appeal. The most important aspect of building your log home is the type of wood that you use.
Cedar has many benefits that have surprised many people. Although cedar may look the same as what your grandmother used for her picket fence and hope chest, there are distinct advantages to using it in home construction. Cedar, unlike other woods used in log homes like pine, is naturally resistant against insects and rot. These problems must be dealt with with harsh chemicals as well as insecticides.
Northern White cedar is the best choice to build your dream home. Katahdin Cedar Log Homes, Oakfield, Maine operates one of the largest Northern White cedar mills. Katahdin Cedar log homes in Oakfield, Maine uses traditional methods as well as high-tech ones to mill the cedar logs. Cedar has a lower moisture level than pine so Katahdin can dry cedar logs at a desired 12-14 percent. This allows for significant fuel savings and prevents the damage to pine logs caused by high heat kilns.
You are worried about the cost of fuel and how your home will be maintained. “green”As much as possible, you should look at the R value of your building products. It’s a measure that measures thermal resistance and is used to analyze heat transfer. Northern White cedar has the highest thermal R-value of all wood species used in log home constructions at 1.41 inches of thickness. Cedar insulation is 12 percent more efficient than pine, which can lead to significant savings in heating and cooling log homes.
Katahdin’s 34-year-old experience allows them to produce cedar log homes at a cost comparable to a pine log home. Visit www.katahdin.com for more information and a gallery of home plan galleries. www.katahdincedarloghomes.com/cedar.
