According to long time homeowners, homes made of wood logs are far better than those brick homes, and the first benefit is inexpensive building material. And if you’re looking for one, real american log homes will meet your requirements. Real American log homes and timber frame buildings were some of the first homes built by the original settlers. Here we are, hundreds of years later and the homes are still being built today. That should tell you a bit about the quality of these homes. Here are some reasons why homes made of wood logs should be preferred over brick homes.
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Table of Contents
Calm, Quite and Relaxing
Log homes are often quieter than stick built homes, thanks to the same thermal mass that provides energy efficiency and the sound deadening effects of wood walls, according to a white paper produced by the National Association of Home Builders Log and Timber Homes Council.
“The acoustical benefits of a log wall, therefore, are the reduced transmission provided by its solid mass and the sound deflection provided by the profile of the log (the angle, shape, and texture of the log surface),” the paper concludes
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You can Hang a Picture Anywhere
Hanging a picture in a home with drywall is a big ordeal, involving a stud finder, a hammer or drill and bruised fingers—maybe even a bruised ego, since your spouse may tell you to move the picture, requiring patch work. Homeowners report the simplicity of hanging a picture is one the simple joys of living in a log and timber home.
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Hi-Tech and Automated
While rugged is appealing, roughing it is definitely out. That’s why today’s log and timber homeowners increasingly want a hideaway that’s connected, automated and secure. Many log and timber homeowners are adding backup generators (in case of power outages), security system and a CAT 5 wiring system that can accommodate high speed video, voice and data, as well as a host of new communication technologies on the horizon.
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Energy Efficiency
Provided the home is sealed properly (between the foundation and the first course of logs, between log-to-log connections and where the roof system meets the log wall), you can have a super energy efficient home. Indeed, some builders routinely build log and timber homes to meet the DOE’s “Energy Star” standards.
- This means it will be 30% more efficient than what building codes call for, saving you serious coin over the life of the home.
- According to the builders of log cabin homes, they can build a log and timber home to be 15 to 20 percent more energy efficient than a conventional home
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Inspection is Easier
If you’re worried about mold, mildew or insect infestation, then a log and timber home offers clear advantages since you’ll be able to see anything untoward, just by taking a stroll around your home and visually inspecting the logs. This quick detection leads to a less costly remedy.
In conventional home, the sealed wall cavities can be a hidden refuge for mold, mildew and insect infestation, which can cause far more damage before its detected.
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Room for Craftsmanship
Conventional custom homes can have their fair share of beautiful carpentry, but this is typically limited to trim and millwork.
There is a lot of room for craftsmanship in timber frame homes, including the following:
- Handcrafted staircase with its branch-like spindles and balustrade,
- Hand-scribed large timbers overhead in the cathedral ceiling,
- The one-of-a-kind light fixtures.