Are you thinking about building a new home? When you are building a home, there are hundreds of significant and insignificant decisions to be made. The color paint you choose for your kitchen is one of the last decisions you make. Before that, you must decide out of what material you want to make your house. Wood? Brick? If you are still in the process of choosing from these foundational materials, have you considered building a log home? Log homes are still being built today, even though some people still only associate them with Abraham Lincoln; many beautiful log cabins are built in the mountains of Pennsylvania. So, why is building a log home appealing? There are numerous benefits to building your home into a log cabin and they stem from the qualities of exceptional of the wood you can use, especially when your home is made from northern white cedar. Here are just a few things to help you make your decision.
Low in Moisture
No one wants to see a damp spot in the ceiling. When you do, you know there has been a leak in your walls or roof and moisture produced mold that is growing within your walls. To avoid this problem, you need to build your home from a type of wood that will resist moisture. Does it sound possible for wood to be water resistant? Northern white cedar inherently has very low moisture content, so once it is air dried; it becomes even more solid and sturdy, creating for you a stable and strong home. Northern white cedar will also resist the common problems associated with moisture accumulation in weaker types of wood, problems such as splitting and cracking.
Many other types of wood must undergo additional kiln drying because of their high levels of natural moisture. Because northern white cedar is not prone to absorbing moisture, it does not have to be specially treated.
Resists Insects
Like the natural oil on your fingertips, northern white cedar has a natural oil emitted from it. These oils (called thujaplicins) are natural insect repellants. Pesky bugs such as beetles, ants, and carpenter bees go out of their way to avoid northern white cedar. Forget keeping your own store of harsh and dangerous chemicals for killing insects. They simply will not be interested in damaging your home.
Other woods undergo kiln drying also to kill the insects that infest them. Because of the natural insect repellant within it, northern wood cedar does not need kiln drying for this reason either. So you won't have to worry in the future of these bugs being tempted by the wood from which your home is constructed.
Resists Decay
Remember those oils that resist bugs? The same oils resist the detrimental effects of rot and decay. Don't you wish our own bodies had a natural preservative like that? Because those oils help the wood to resist moisture so well, they are less likely to decay over time. If you want a log home that is durable, northern white cedar is the way to go. The logs can be maintained for around 100 years before they need replaced.
Promotes Insulation
Northern white cedar is recommended for protecting the interior of a home, according to the Wood Handbook issued by the US Department of Agriculture. Because of its ability to resist insect penetration and decay, it's like getting an extra layer of insulation without paying for it. Not only will this protect your home, but it also helps retain the heat in the cold winter months in the northern states. However, its ability to fight moisture also makes it great for building in the southern states as well.
The Rich Color
While we want a safe, well protected home, we also want one that looks enticing to come into. Northern white cedar is as visually appealing as it is durable, stable, and sturdy. Its rich, honey color will enhance the beauty of your home with natural elegance and charm that you often feel in ski lodges. The warm and inviting nature of northern white cedar turns your cabin in a home where you can entertain guests in front of the fire during a snowstorm.
When deciding what materials to build your home from, consider building a log cabin from northern white cedar. Its ability to resist moisture, insects, and decay makes it the best type of wood from which to build your home. With benefits like these, you would be remiss to choose any other type of wood.
Mountain Creations Log Homes, located just north of Pittsburgh, PA, can guide you through the process of building your dream home. They use proven materials such as northern white cedar to produce the best quality homes with extensive concern for the environment, utilizing green technologies to complete their projects.
Choices And Exterior Siding
No comments:
Post a Comment