Energy efficiency is a priority for many homeowners, and it is an especially important consideration for those purchasing or building log homes, which are susceptible to air leaks.
A critical component of assessing energy efficiency and insulation properties is the R-value. The wood used in traditional log homes, for example, tends to have lower R-values when compared with TruLog™, a steel siding system designed to look like authentic timber but with superior insulation properties.
What is the R-Value?
The R-value is the measure of thermal resistance used for building and construction materials like siding and insulation. The R-value determines an insulator’s ability to reduce the rate of heat flow under certain test conditions.
In a uniform temperature setting, the R-value is the ratio of the temperature difference across an insulator and the thermal flux (or the rate of heat transfer through a surface). While thermal resistance varies with temperature, it is treated as a constant when determining R-value for the sake of consistent ratings.
The R-value is typically listed as the letter “R” before a number, for example R40. The higher the number, the greater the insulating power of the material.
The Importance of the R-Value
According to the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors (InterNACHI), heating and cooling costs account for between 50 and 70 percent of the energy used in the average American home.
Siding and insulation with appropriate R-values for your home’s location can help reduce thermal flux, keep your home consistently comfortable, and lower the costs of heating and cooling your home. The U.S. Department of Energy has established recommended insulation levels for wood-frame buildings based on regional climates and local energy costs.
Log Homes and the R-Value
As InterNACHI points out on its log homes web page, the woods used in most log homes have low R-values.
In fact, InterNACHI says that log walls alone “do not satisfy most building codes’ energy standards.” To achieve sufficient protection against thermal flux, traditional log homes must be extensively sealed, finished and insulated.
TruLog™ Siding and Energy Efficiency
In addition to replicating the look and feel of an authentic log cabin, the TruLog system offers a higher R-value than many comparable sidings and even insulated log homes.
In general, properly insulated steel siding like TruLog has proven effective at maintaining cool interior temperatures in warm months and warm temperatures in cool months. TruLog steel siding is backed by contoured foam that adds one to two additional points of insulation R-value to your home.
To learn more about the benefits of TruLog compared with other log cabin materials, please contact TruLog online or call us at 970-646-4490 to learn more about the advantages of the TruLog system. TruLog is based in Loveland, Colorado, but we ship nationwide and work with installers in multiple states, including Colorado, Wyoming and Missouri.
