Log Home Pros and Cons: Things to Consider Before Choosing Your Dream Home

pros and cons of log homes

Have you ever dreamed of building your own rustic escape away from the daily grind? Of kicking back beside a roaring fire in an idyllic setting or sitting on your front porch drinking coffee in the woods? A log home is a picture-perfect way to achieve your getaway dreams. Even the act of building a log cabin seems picturesque. However, it’s not as simple as it may seem, and if you’re truly considering building a log home, there are pros and cons of log homes to consider.

Pros and Cons of Log Homes

Log homes made from real wood can be prone to pests, require over and above the maintenance of a traditional home, and pose issues with finding insurance. However, there is another option available. Steel log siding like the kind provided by TruLog offers an alternative to achieve the real wood look of a log cabin without many of the drawbacks.

Log Home Pros and Cons 1

Consider the pros and cons of building and owning a log home.

3 Cons of a Log Home

1. Pest Control Can Be an Issue

A disturbing detractor for log homes is the fact that pests are attracted to materials used. Bugs like carpenter bees and termites can do major damage to your home and are more likely to be interested in a log home than any other kind. Be sure to do your research on what is required to remove and prevent these pests before choosing to build with real wood. Steel siding, on the other hand, is completely resistant to pests and does not require the same preventative measures.

2. Increased Maintenance and Upkeep

It’s no secret that log homes require much more maintenance than traditional homes. Logs, unlike many synthetic materials, shift and expand and if this is not taken into consideration during the construction process, these natural processes may cause damage to the structure of the log home.

Log homes also need to be sealed and re-sealed every few years to protect the exterior. The chinking and logs also need to be checked often for necessary repairs and for any mold and mildew that may have invaded the wood. All of these concerns are wiped away with steel siding. Steel is easy to clean and does not require the maintenance of real wood.

3. Higher Insurance & Risk

Finally, a concern for log homes that might not have crossed your mind is difficulty in finding home insurance that will cover your investment in case of an emergency.

Since log homes are very expensive to replace if destroyed and because most log homes are located in remote areas away from emergency services, they pose a great risk. Because of this, many major insurance companies do not cover log homes and the companies that do provide coverage charge a higher rate on premiums.

Steel siding is not flammable and can give you the look of a log cabin without the hazards and insurance concerns. Always check with insurance providers on what option would be best for you.

3 Pros of a Log Home Made of Steel

Log Home Pros and Cons 2

Choosing a material like steel for your log siding will help to counteract the cons of using real wood. Whether it’s pest control, maintenance or fire risk, steel log siding can tackle these obstacles while giving you the log home look you desire. There are additional benefits of choosing steel as well.

1. Cost Efficiency in Steel Siding

There are many more pros to choosing steel siding for your log home, but the most attractive might be the cost efficiency. When looking at faux log options, TruLog steel siding is an affordable solution. You will also save money on your reduced maintenance needs, which means more money for activities you enjoy at your log cabin.

2. Increased Options with Many Color Choices

Because a log home can only be built with certain types of wood, you are not open to the full color spectrum of nature when choosing the aesthetic you want for your log home.

TruLog has changed all that when you look at steel log siding options. They even have a “Barnwood Gray” color that mimics the weathered look of a romantic old barn, without you having to deal with your wood actually being weathered by nature. There are seven colors in all to choose from so you can get the wood you want, without variances in cost and strength.

3. Extra Time for Relaxation

Another pro to consider for building a steel log home is how much more time you will have to relax and enjoy your space. Building a log home fulfills a dream of escaping the daily grind of the world– not creating more work. Without all those maintenance needs, you will be able to relax with friends and family and enjoy making that dream come true.

Understanding Pros and Cons of Log Homes

Though log homes can be beautiful and idealized, there are many considerations to take before embarking on a log home adventure of your own. If you build with real wood, you would also be risking damage from pests, increased maintenance time and costs, and difficult to find insurance coverage with higher premiums than you’re used to.

However, if you consider steel siding for your log home, you could benefit from cost savings, varied colors, and increased relaxation! Be sure to research all of these pros and cons thoroughly before taking on a log home project to make sure you have the proper preparation and contingency plans in place. Contact TruLog for more information on building a maintenance-free log home.

Newsletter Signup

TruLog Product Catalog

TruLog Product Catalog

In our free catalog, you will learn about the benefits of TruLog’s™ Steel Siding