Quick Guide of Buying Log Cabins
Recently, naturalness in everything has become very popular, including home. Therefore, more and more often you can see advertisements for the sale of log cabins. It is exactly what is called the most environmentally friendly material for the construction of housing, since wood is ideally combined with the idea of a healthy lifestyle. Log cabins are not only safe, but also warm, comfortable and cozy. But in order for a wooden blockhouse to meet all the listed criteria, it must be chosen correctly.
Benefits of a Log Cabin in the Garden
Wood has been used as a building material for hundreds of years. And this is due not only to availability, but also to a large number of its positive qualities. The advantages of log cabins include:
1. Psychological Aspect
The natural properties of natural wood are positively perceived by the human subconscious. Its surface has a warm hue that gives a sense of calm and serenity. The scent of wood can also lift your mood and tone.
2. Environmental Friendliness
No building material can compete with wood in this parameter. Even after processing, the tree is absolutely safe for humans and the environment. In addition, the processing process is absolutely waste-free, since the shavings are also processed and used for the production of finishing materials.
3. Wellness effect
It has been proven that wood can improve the microclimate in any room. In addition, the optimal level of humidity will always be maintained in the house, which cannot be said about stone or brick. Also, wood is able to make the air in the house cleaner by neutralizing various toxins that may be in the air. This quality is especially appreciated by allergy sufferers and parents of young children.
4. Air Exchange
Natural wood is able to “breathe”, so the temperature, humidity and other indicators of the microclimate in the room will always be normal.
5. Possibility of Savings
Wood has minimal thermal conductivity, so it perfectly retains heat in the house, allowing you to save on heating the room. Also, the blockhouse does not need insulation or facade decoration.
6. Structural Strength
Due to its elasticity, wood is able to withstand significant loads, including ground vibrations. Under the same conditions, the stone wall will crack or shrink.
7. Ease of Construction
It will take less time to build a log house than to build a brick house.
8. Relevance
Naturalness will always be popular. Therefore, wooden houses will never go out of style.
Wood Log Cabins Selection Guide
The abundance of offers makes the buyer think about what to look for when choosing a high-quality and safe log house.
Experts advise focusing on the following rules:
- Choose a wood from the “winter” forest. The characteristics of wood harvested in winter are the most ideal. This is due to the fact that at this time of the year there is no sap movement in the tree, so it can be dried throughout its depth. Over time, the material does not deform, does not change its shade and will be resistant to fungal attack, which cannot be said about wood that was harvested in the warm season. But only a professional can determine by eye what material is in front of you.
- Check the quality of the wood. This indicator is influenced by the region in which timber was harvested for the construction of a log house. It is best to give preference to fine-grained wood that grows in higher elevations. If the tree is grown in a wetland, it will rot over time.
- Choose well-finished wood. The surface of the logs must be smooth, without errors. Such a log will not accumulate moisture and deteriorate when the temperature changes.
- Evaluate the appearance of the wood. It should be free of any defects (chips, cracks, blueness, etc.). Having noticed at least a minimal sign of damage to the logs, it is better to refuse the purchase. When choosing, you should give preference to a house, the surface of which has been impregnated with special antiseptic solutions. Such a tree can last for more than a dozen years.
- Check the corners of the log house. All the cutouts on the logs must match perfectly, otherwise the house will be blown out.
- Don’t go for the cheapest offer. Anyone who wants to buy a log cabin should understand that high-quality timber cannot be cheap. If the seller offers a suspiciously low price, most likely this indicates poor quality (low-quality material, improper log laying). But at the same time, the highest cost is not always a guarantee of quality..
The Advantages of Buying a Ready-made Log Cabin compared to one that you can Make Yourself
Is it better to buy a ready-made log cabin or build one yourself from scratch? Sometimes, offering a disassembled log house, the supplier tries to hide any flaws. Therefore, it is better to take a ready-made structure, from which it is possible to check the quality of the material. In addition, a house that has stood for a certain amount of time can already be checked for build quality for sure.
Also, before buying, you should consult with an expert. It is not worth saving on such a consultation, since very often a common man in the street cannot determine the quality of the wood or the assembly of the log house by eye. Therefore, subsequently runs the risk of encountering various defects in the structure.