In America the use of log homes increased tremendously and yet few people are hesitant about their use. This unwillingness is because of several myths that have developed over years and they are still impacting the people. Here are some of the common myths and the reality behind them:
• Less energy efficiency – Thermal resistance and the potency to maintain a temperature inside a log house is considered impossible. It is true in case of those DIY strategies, where there is always a chance of mistake. However, a beautifully designed and well constructed real American log homes have great energy efficiency. The air-tightness of the home is second to none and having the house installed from professionals can ensure this property. …show more content…
A good example to testify this is the demand for log houses in the coldest of regions like Alaska.
• Insect infestation – There are many that believe that there would be serious problem of wood boring insects and termites that will affect the standards of the house. However, the truth is the possibility of infestation can be seen only when the wood is still green or there is some un-tended bark found on the wood. If the wood is dry there are very few chances of affecting with termites or carpenter bees.
• Expensive – A conventional home is much cheaper than the log cabin homes. Wood is a natural resource and is available in plenty so there is no chance that that a house made of timber frames or logs can be expensive. Further, it is easy to assemble the parts of log house and there is little labor required for construction. The only thing is the after construction cost that can sometimes exceed the budget. However, in comparison to a “conventional” house the log houses are very cheap.
• Danger of fire – Wood can catch on fire instantly, so a log house can be dangerous to live in.
The wood used for the building of a house is fire resistant to a certain extent. They are compactly pressed so that there is little chance for them to catch fire.
• Insurance problems – For log homes it is difficult to claim insurance. There is truth associated to this matter as most insurance agencies are too blind to provide insurance for log houses. However, there are agencies that understand the importance of these natural houses and provide the facility of insurance without troubling the owner.
• Rotting – Log houses are prone to rotting within a few months of construction. It is true that if there is no proper maintenance log cabin homes would eventually rot. A well-constructed house with insulation and water proofing would last for decades. It is necessary to check whether the gutter system is working well and there is no leakage so that rotting is prevented. Apart from that, there is no need to worry about rotting.
These are some of the common myths which surround the building of a log home. As you can see these are common misconceptions and they can be easily avoided with a bit of knowledge and
care.