![]() Creating the Perfect Log Home, Summit County, ColoradoLiving in the mountains of Colorado, one would like to adapt to the environment with a beautifully crafted log home. Learn what type of wood works the best! |
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Creating the Perfect Log HomeLiving in the mountains of Colorado, one would like to adapt to the environment with a beautifully crafted log home. If you have been thinking about building a custom log home in the mountains, then take into consideration a few specifications that are excellent to know before you talk with a builder and architect. 1. Type of wood used for building a log home - The type of wood is ultimately your decision. Below describes the wood and the general consensus of how it works in a custom home. Ponderosa Pine – The wood is used many times for wood floors, spaced sheathing, decks and other outdoor projects, built-in bookcases, benches, cupboards, desks and kitchen cabinets. Eastern Red cedar - Cedar is a beautiful wood with a pinkish-purple to orange-brown color, usually marked with creamy white marbling. This wood carries a wonderful aromatic scent that is perfect for its natural resistance to decay and insect infestation. The wood was used mainly for closets in the past to protect clothing from bugs. However, there are many uses for Cedar. Some of these uses are log siding and trim, and porch railing and posts. Northern White Cedar – used for siding, paneling, porch and deck railings, Black Hills Spruce - Black Hills Spruce is good for round house logs. The wood has a lighter color than Pine, and small, regularly spaced knots. Aspen – The aspen log can be used for a variety of decoration ideas. The wood is mainly used for rustic lighting (lamps), rustic home décor, candles, Beds, coat racks, coffee tables, and other log furniture. White Pine or Red Pine – This wood is ideal for the exterior full log home. Spruce Lodge pole – Perfect for those who prefer a more rustic appearance. The White and Red Pine has similar characteristics to the Ponderosa Pine. Cypress – One of the most durable of all woods, cypress resists much like cedar insects and chemical corrosion as well as decay and has a smell resembling that of cedar. The color is light brown and lasts a very long time. The products that the wood is used for other than homes are coffins, acid tanks, docks, pilings, poles, and railroad ties. Many times your builder will vary individual pieces of wood based on the characteristics of the wood being used for various purposes. For example, structural properties may be a big consideration due to the large snowfalls in the Colorado Mountains. Insulating factors may use another wood source, and spanning the wall yet another. Experienced builders will choose the ultimate wood source for whichever situation. |