In our efforts to make this log home process easier on you, we have taken the time to provide you with some of the most frequently asked questions.
· What is a log profile?
· What is a corner profile?
· What is meant by log species?
· What is EWP?
· What is WRC?
· What is meant by log shrinkage?
· What is checking?
· What is a log profile? A log profile is the shape and size of the log you wish to use for your log wall. Click here to view our log profiles.
· What is a corner profile? A corner profile is the style of corner you want for your log home. There are a few styles available, however not all styles look the best with all log profiles. We could offer suggestions as to what is most commonly used with the log profile of your choice. Click here to view our corner profiles.
· What is meant by log species? Log species is the type of wood you wish to use for your log home. Such as Eastern White Pine, Western Red Cedar, Oak, Cypress, etc.
· What is EWP? EWP is an abbreviation for Eastern White Pine. Eastern White Pine flourishes in the Northeastern region of the United States. Virgin growth of Eastern White Pine is known to reach two (200) hundred feet in height, and up to six (6) feet in diameter. Eastern White Pine was the principal source of logs and timber used in the first New England colonies because it is lightweight, soft, even-textured, light in color and easy to work with. Eastern White Pine is probably the least resinous in the pine family and therefore, it does not swell or shrink greatly with moisture content changes. Eastern White pine also displays remarkable durability as shown by the number of log homes built in New England over 200 years ago and are still in existence. Eastern White Pine's plentiful supply, combined with its desirable characteristics, make it the most affordable and most used wood species in the log home industry today. Each log or piece of timber is dried to proper moisture content after quality controlled precision manufacturing.
· What is WRC? WRC is an abbreviation for Western Red Cedar. Western Red Cedar is a unique tree that flourishes in the Pacific Northwest from Southern Alaska through British Columbia and Washington to the Columbia River. Red cedar is light, splint resistant and strong. Because it is free of pitch and resin, has a high percentage of heartwood and natural grown-in preservatives. This species of wood is famous because of it's resistance to insects and decay. This natural grown-in quality becomes very apparent under a microscope. There are about ten (10) million cells per cubic inch and this uniform cell structure means a highly workable wood with low shrinkage and swelling characteristics providing stability and a superior capacity for holding paint or stain. A high percentage of dead air space gives Western Red Cedar twelve (12) times the insulating value of stone or concrete and also provides as a good insulator against noise. This slow growing tree is massive when mature- as tall as two (200) feet with diameters well over six (6) feet. With ample supplies of Western Red Cedar standing in the Pacific Northwest forests of the United States and Canada today, this beautiful rich wood plays an increasingly important role in the North American construction industry. Each log or piece of timber is dried to proper moisture content after quality controlled precision manufacturing.
· What is meant by log shrinkage? Wood is dimensionally stable until it is cut, then its' moisture content drops as it seeks an equilibrium moisture content with the surrounding relative humidity. As wood approaches its equilibrium moisture content, it changes dimensionally. One of the changes it can undergo during this process is shrinkage. Most shrinkage occurs in the direction of the annual growth rings or tangentially. It shrinks only half as much across the growth rings and very little in length or radialy. Tangential shrinkage causes logs to check, that is, to separate lengthwise. The combination of tangential and radial shrinkage can cause an eight foot-high log wall to shrink as much as one to two inches when green or freshly cut wood is used. Even kiln-dried logs which are heated to remove moisture will still shrink slightly. Logs must be allowed to stabilize their moisture content and it appears that long term air drying is a satisfactory tried and proven method as an alternative to kiln drying. Kiln drying allows the manufacturer to reduce the moisture content much quicker than natural air drying that can take up to a year on certain species. Air-drying allows the wood to stabilize slowly. Kiln heat-drying usually can be completed in a matter of days. Naturally, the drying method is a consideration that a potential log home customer should take into consideration. Log Home Builders take wood shrinkage into account as they design and build their houses. They can calculate the amount of shrinkage a log, whether it is green, kiln or air-dried will undergo, and apply construction techniques to allow for shrinkage. If your log home is properly constructed according to professionally designed plans, shrinkage should not be a problem.
· What is checking? The drying process may cause a log to separate lengthwise for a few inches or just an inch or two. This separation or "checking" has already occurred prior to the log walls being erected. In most cases your builder will fill the check with a matching caulk and it will go un-noticed. Unless of course you prefer to leave the checks as they are! It does present itself to be more rustic!