Pine Log Siding VS Square Full Logs

Log home construction trends are growing with each passing year. Thousands see the benefits of living in them and new styles are emerging. Three popular styles are pine log siding, square full logs, and round full logs. While much has been written about round full log homes, pine log siding, and square full logs are in today’s limelight.


Pine Log Siding Is A Superior Product

Using pine log siding to build a log home, cabin, or cottage is an affordable approach to create your dream home. It is a method of home construction you should consider if you are not familiar with it. Pine log siding is crafted from pine logs where the center is removed leaving two D-shaped pieces of siding. The thickness is determined by the thickness of the center cut and the width is determined by the diameter of the log.

Pine log siding is available in quarter log, half log, and premium log that varies in its thickness, widths, and profiles. They can be purchased with smooth or hand-hewn surfaces and unfinished or pre-finished conditions. Many stain colors are on the market to color your home just the way you want it. When stained and sealed correctly upon construction and maintained well through time, the siding will sustain its strength and color. Find out why pine log siding is superior to synthetic log siding.


Square Full Log Home Considerations

Square log homes and cabins have been around since pioneer days and even longer in Europe. They compete with wood log siding, round full logs, board and batten, and other types of wood siding. This style of home is more popular in the eastern half of the U.S. than in the western states. Although these homes can be beautiful, they carry some drawbacks to consider:

  • Stacked log homes need caulking and re-caulking over the years.
  • They are more expensive to build than conventionally-framed homes with log siding.
  • Full logs can shift over time that leads to structural issues, such as cracked joints, uneven floors, and doors and windows that don’t fit properly.
  • Some people don’t like square full-log homes, and trends could affect your ability to sell your home for a fair price.
  • These homes can be more difficult to insure adequately and are expensive to replace if destroyed.

“Log home construction trends are growing with each passing year. Thousands see the benefits of living in them and new styles are emerging.”


Pros Of Pine Log Siding Are Fantastic

Pine log siding homes are on an upswing with inflation and the high cost of building materials, labor, and delivery of products. Two appeals that pine log siding homes have are their appearance and affordability. Pine log siding is less expensive than cedar, oak, or cypress logs. These advantages are significant when planning a new log home or a conversion to a log home:

  • Pine log siding homes are faster and easier to build than full-log homes
  • The siding is secured to conventional wall framing that requires less labor time
  • It is virtually a “no-waste” product because the cut-off piece starts the next row
  • There is less time spent measuring, sawing, and installing the material
  • The tongue and groove/end-matching design can butt together between wall studs
  • Homeowners with woodworking skills and knowledge can install log siding
  • Chinking is not necessary unless you want it for decorative purposes


Pine log siding is a win-win product as outlined, plus it is a sustainable product because pine trees are regularly replanted in many states for future use.


Log Corners And Log Trims Complete The Project

A log siding home needs matching log corners and trims to complete the project. They are available in unfinished and pre-finished conditions in sizes to match the log siding profiles. Log corners are installed first followed by log trims and the siding. They are attached to the wall framing with sturdy weatherproof oly screws.

Pine corner logs are used on the exterior of the house and are made in butt-n-pass, saddle notch, and vertical styles. Log trims are used on the exterior and interior of the house. The most popular sizes for home, cabin, cottage, or commercial buildings are:

  • 2x6 and 3x4 for quarter log siding
  • 3x6 and 4x4 for half log siding
  • 3x6 and 3x8 for premier log siding


Complementary Log Products For A Log Home

You can make your log home more homey and relaxing with the addition of other pine log products. They are available from our inventory along with pine log siding and include:

  • Pine flooring and decking
  • Peeled posts and beams
  • Trusses and stairways
  • Doors and cabinetry
  • Knotty pine paneling

Knotty pine log siding receives rave compliments from thousands of homeowners for its beauty, stability, durability, and cost-effectiveness. Build and maintain your log siding home correctly and enjoy it for decades to come.


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