What Are Some Problems With Log Homes?

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to realize that wood and water don’t mix. In large quantities, exposure to moisture will cause a wooden home to rot, grow mold, or just warp. The problem is that water is all around us, and we can’t prevent all of it from hitting our homes. This is why moisture exposure is one of the fastest destroyers of a log home.

The moisture issue doesn’t just make it hard for log homes to keep their shape and structural integrity. Wood and water mean that fungus, mold, and mildew become major threats. After all, mold naturally grows on wet logs. When your home is made of logs, mold will naturally want to grow there.

Water splashing onto lower logs on decks and other accessories around the home is the number one cause of log rot. Logs continually becoming wet will cause them to rot over time and rotten logs can be very expensive to replace. Having gutters in good working condition can go a long way to prevent water from splashing back onto your log home. However, broken or improperly installed gutters can accelerate the rotting process.

We’ve all seen old Looney Tunes clips that involve termites eating entire houses, and we’ve all laughed at it. What most of us don’t realize is that there is a bit of truth to those old comic tropes. If you have a log home, your house happens to be a favorite meal of several different pests–including termites. Termites are a real danger for log homes in Southern climates. It is vital to keep these pests away from your home and if you suspect an infestation, you should call a professional exterminator immediately.

Many nuisance insects like carpenter ants, carpenter bees, and termites live in wood. They also eat the wood. Their predators, such as woodpeckers, may also start hammering away at the wood in order to gain access to them. This means that most log home owners end up having to be extra vigilant about pests.

In Northern climates, boring insects can not only be a nuisance but may also be a symptom of a much deeper issue – rot. The most common boring insect seen in log homes is the powder post beetle and the carpenter ant/bee. These pests bore into your home, leaving small holes of their path in your logs. Their only interest is eating rotting wood and are a good indicator that you have log rot.

Insects aren’t the only annoyances that can pose issues for log homes – rodents, such as mice, are always looking for warm places to call home. All of the nooks and crannies in a log house offer a great place for mice to make their way inside. The best way to prevent these critters from infiltrating your log home is to seal up the outside with caulking or chinking.

Locating and sealing up spaces around your foundation can be especially helpful in ridding your home of mice. Squirrels are another common critter that likes to make your home their home and can do a substantial amount of damage to your logs in just one season. To prevent squirrels from entering your log home and building a nest in your attic, keep your trees and branches at least 12 feet away from your house.

Bats are the last type of rodent commonly seen in log homes, as they are most often seeking out a place to raise their young. They generally occupy small or large crevasses that can be accessed from below. Over time, bats fill these spaces with their feces, which becomes a much more serious issue. Homes with bat infestations have a very distinct smell and if you notice any bat droppings, get in touch with a bat evacuation company right away.

It’s clear that pests and moisture are major threats to a home’s wellbeing, but you could probably skirt those issues by just building your log home in a nice, dry, sunny area, right? Not quite, Wood also happens to have issues when it’s exposed to direct sunlight for long periods of time.

Ultraviolet rays from sunlight actually break down wood rather quickly, kickstarting the first stages of wood rot. Moreover, excessive heat and dryness can also cause your wooden home to dry out. This, in turn, can cause your home to become more susceptible to fire. As a result, experts agree that log homes should primarily be built in the shade.

Wind is often the forgotten enemy of log homes. While air can help prevent damage caused by water, when wind is persistent in the desert or mountains it hurts more than it helps. It accelerates the cracking and drying of wood, caulk, and chinking.

With dirt and sand particles constantly hitting the surface of your log home throughout the year, wind has a very abrasive impact on the wood. To remedy the negative effects of wind, you can plant trees on the west and south sides of your home. This, along with carefully position your home on your lot, will help it avoid especially windy conditions.

Here’s the funny thing about owning a log cabin: it’s absolutely worth it. People adore this type of home and love its rustic flair. That’s why so many people want to have them for their summer homes and why they almost always get snapped off the market. However, it’s important to remember that log homes aren’t for everyone.

If you’re looking for a good house for the weekend, or if you’re just looking for a rental home investment, a log home can be a great choice. On the other hand, if you’re trying to find a low-maintenance type of house that can be built anywhere, you need to rethink your investment. After all, these houses are going to require a lot of work. That can take away from their appeal.

If you were hoping for log homes to be maintenance-free places like the ones you see in your fantasy RPGs, think again. Log cabins are known for having problems, especially when it comes to their tendency of rotting. If you want to own and keep a log home, make sure that you’re willing to tackle issues involving moisture, mold, and even the harsh rays of the sun.

Of course, worrying about the elements isn’t the only obstacle in your way, you may also have animals that choose to live in your home. At times, those critters can even destroy your home. This is why log homes aren’t as popular as they once were. They involve way too much maintenance for some peoples’ tastes.

However, that’s not to say they aren’t worth it. If you love the idea of country living and are not averse to a little maintenance, your log home can become one of the best investments that money can buy. So, it’s all about what you’re looking for in a home.