Wednesday, July 08, 2015
The American household has a long and storied history of log home living, but today’s log home construction is far from that of past. According to the National Association of Home Builders’ (NAHB) Log and Timber Homes Council (LTHC), log homes today boast features found in contemporary construction."Log homes vary in size and style from tiny cabins in the woods to grand, multi-million dollar estates. There are no limits to what log home construction can provide,” says Log and Timber Homes Council Chairman Mark Elliott of Coventry Log Homes in Woodsville, N.H.
There are numerous practical benefits of log homeownership, especially for those interested in a green home. The modern manufacturing process uses every portion of the log, resulting in far less waste on the job site than conventional construction. The waste that is created is typically turned into mulch or sawdust that then can be converted into fuel. There are also fewer manmade materials in a log home than a conventional one.
Log homes also can be highly energy-efficient due to the fact that the logs used are solid and uninterrupted, coupled with the modern sealant materials and building techniques. Logs absorb heat energy during the day and radiate it at night to even out the temperature. This principle, called “thermal mass,” can make occupants feel more comfortable while using less energy over the life of the home.
To ensure the highest quality log home, homebuyers should seek out companies that are members of the LTHC. These log home professionals abide by a strict code of ethics, provide free information to consumers, grade their logs and timbers by third party agencies to ensure structural integrity, provide detailed construction manuals to ensure correct construction techniques, and sponsor studies that advance log building technologies.
Source: NAHB
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