Fantastic Things, Log Homes

Fantastic Things, Log Homes
Log homes are:
1. Energy efficient.
2. Earth quake resistant.
3. Wind resistant.
4. Fire resistant.
5. Sound resistant.
6. Bullet resistant.
7. Tornado resistant.
Log Homes are fantastic because they do many great things that other types of homes don’t. So let’s go over the list and talk about each one.

Energy efficient:
During testing the log homes at the test site out preformed all other types of construction for cooling, and most of the time for heating, but the testing did not represent the true environment for most households. (There were no people or bathrooms or kitchens.) The average household of 4 gives off around 10 gallons of water or more per day into the environment of the home. Fiber glass insulation is directly affected by moisture. When the humidity in a standard wall of R21 fiber glass insulation reaches 85% the R factor of R 21 insulation (which is tested in the laboratories at 0% humidity.) is reduced to around R4 or less. This happens in most of the residential homes in the US. When the humidity reaches 85% or more the air becomes stagnated in the home. This can cost more energy to heat the home. Sometimes up to twice as much.
A little secret, log homes control the humidity in the home. No other type of home can do this. Most log homes can keep the humidity around 45% to 50% which is perfect for heating the home. We have tested log homes on the Oregon coast where the outside humidity averages 85% and the inside averages 50%. Log homes just won hands down.
So now we have humidity controlled in the air what about humidity in the walls. We see that fiberglass insulation starts to fail with humidity and past 85% is almost ineffective. Log walls are not affected by moisture but control it and do more. Logs store heat. Fiberglass does not.

Earth quake resistant:
Certain types of log homes can resist Earthquakes better than any other type of construction. There were 4 log homes from Lodge Logs at the epicenter of the California earth quake in 1989. They did not even have a broken window but all the surrounding buildings were compromised. Why?
These 4 log homes had bolts attached to 24” long J bolts in the foundation approximately 2’ on center along with 4 at each corner and beside each window and door. This kept the log walls together but allows them to flex. Concrete buildings fail because they do not flex. Stick frame homes and metal frame homes fail because they cannot keep from flexing too much.

Wind resistant:
This was proved by the Florida hurricane a few years ago where on TV everybody saw that a log home was the only thing left standing after a 180 mph winds.

Fire resistant:
Wood burns only with plenty of air. Some log homes that are made right have very little air infiltration so there is very little air to fuel a fire. A fire burnt in a Lodge Log home for 2 hours at 1300 degrees only burnt into the log wall ¼”. This is because the logs have very little cracking which means no air infiltration and the fire can only burn ¼” into the wood because the charcoal stops air from getting to un-burnt wood.
In California a fire crew was trapped in a raging brush fire and had only one place to go, a Log home. It was still standing while the fire burned to the ground other homes around them. Those other homes were wood studs and steel studs homes. The wood stud homes lasted about 30 minutes and the steel stud home collapsed within a few min. When steel reaches 600 degrees it turns fluid and looses its strength and cannot hold up the roof. The home collapses even before it burns. They are death traps.
A well built log home will still be standing hours later and can simply be cleaned, sand blasted and repainted, ready for you to move back in. (Not all log homes will perform this way.)

Sound resistant:
A 10” log home from Lodge Logs was built by a freeway and one could not hear the traffic. But in the home next to it, the noise would keep you awake. 10” of pine wood is one of the best sound absorbents there is.
Bullet resistant:
A 3030 bullet will only go into a log about 2”. But when a hunter was getting his riffle out of his vehicle it fired and went through one stick built home which had T 1-11 siding and sheetrock and into the next home injuring a person sitting in his front room. Even more impressive was when a propane tank blue up 50’ from a log home and did not bother it yet the stick framed home on the other side was blown apart.

Tornado resistant:
A log home that is bolted to the foundation to a 24” J bolt into the foundation and extends up through the log rafter s and this is done every 2’ cannot be torn apart. The tornado would have to have over 240 mph winds and be able to move the entire home at one time. That would be virtually impossible.

Are you living in a log home?
Log home are really the way to go if, and I mean IF, you buy the right one.
Log Man Dan
PS: If you need any technical advice about log homes just give me a call.
541-999-5477
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