Southern Log Crafters LLC

Log homes have three enemies, sun, bugs, and water.  Gutters divert water runoff from the roof away from the exposed exterior corners, this lessens the chance of water getting into a check or crack in the log and sitting ( log corners should have sufficient over hangs as well).  Water that constantly gets into a check or crack will over time create rot, and decay the log.  If this happens during the winter months the water inside the check or crack will freeze and thaw.  This will open the check or crack even more because of the expansion and contraction of the water during this process.

Normally, as a rule, every three to five years.  However, the condition of the exterior sealant should be checked every year.  Especially any areas where caulking is required.  Oh, by the way, this applies to any home with wood on the exterior, not just log.

Trick question, but here goes.  Normally you can estimate one to one-and-a-half working days per one hundred square foot of heated space for a five man crew(Ex. 2000 square foot should take app. 20 to 30 working days).  There are a lot of variables that can increase or decrease the time on your project, so ask your contractor how long they think it may take.

Yes, all homes settle.  Conventially framed homes will settle app. 1/2" over the course of 6 to 10 years.  The difference is in the "compaction ratio", since framed homes have all of their supporting members placed vertically, they have a very small compaction ratio.  Log homes, however, have all of their supporting members places horizontally.  For example, if the compaction ratio is equal to 1/16th of an inch per course, then in a 16 course wall the compaction ratio would be 1 inch. Over time, your log home would settle app. 1 and1/2 inches.  This is why all log homes are built to settle.

Yes.  Some wood species are less susceptible than others, but all logs can check.  The checking of logs is caused by (1) the drying of moisture that is retained in the wood, the faster it is dried, the worse the checks.  (2) constant expansion and contraction of the moisture that the wood has retained - there is no way to prevent all checking.

Definitely, log homes are on the average, 25% more energy efficient than conventional homes.  R-value is the measurement of how much air can pass through a substance.  Log walls are solid so air can not penetrate the log walls, they have what is called a "thermal mass" quality.  This means that the walls will absorb the common temperature inside the home and actually will have a time release effect in your home.  While most building departments will only recognize the the R-value of a log is app. 1.3 per inch of material (this is slightly different between species of wood), these thermal mass qualities make for much more efficient homes.  For more information on thermal mass versus R-values, go to The Log Homes Council website and view some actual case studies.