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Wood Log Siding Versus Hardie Board Siding
If you want to build a log cabin or replace the siding on an existing one, there are many options you can consider. When your goal is to replicate a full log look, wood log siding is the perfect choice. It carries advantages over other materials such as hardie board or lap siding.
Synthetic siding materials are not organic or sustainable because they are manmade. The waste pieces typically end up in landfills and create more problems than we need. The best all-around approach is to use real wood log siding.
Types Of Cabin Siding Materials
While making your plans for a new cabin build or a remodeling job, make a list of potential exterior siding materials. Consider their aesthetics, durability, availability, and cost.
- Pine log siding
- Hardie board
- Lap siding
- Board and Batten
- Vinyl and Aluminum
- Fiberboard
- Steel
When making a decision, think about using environmentally friendly materials instead of those that produce too many waste products. You will be doing all of us a favor and feel like you are helping to help save our environment.
Log cabin and log home construction is on the rise with more than 30,000 of them built each year. The best combination of a full log look with affordability is constructing with pine log siding. Samples of siding and trim are available online at a nominal cost so you can see the products before ordering them. Buying online is the most efficient way of purchasing quality log siding.
Log Siding Versus Hardie Board
The most popular wood log siding is a natural and sustainable material made from pine wood. It is the real deal compared to products made in factories. Log siding simulates the full log look without the full log prices and long-term maintenance issues. Its tongue and groove/end-matching design allows for fast and easy installation.
Hardie Board is a fiber-cement siding made from cement, sand, and cellulose fibers. Although it is durable and fire resistant, it is expensive compared to wood log siding. Its lifespan of 50 years is short compared to well-maintained wood siding that can last 100 years or more. Another con of this material is it needs higher cost installers than wood log siding. It also provides less insulating properties than wood log siding.
“When your goal is to replicate a full log look, wood log siding is the perfect choice.”
Additional Benefits Of Wood Log Siding
There are more advantages of real wood log siding than meets the eye. Homeowners and builders report they like these qualities:
- It is virtually a “no-waste” product
- Sawed-off pieces are used to start the next row
- Less time is spent measuring and sawing the siding
- It can be end-butted anywhere between the wall framing
- More color stains are available than Hardie Board
- Homeowners with woodworking skills can install it
Synthetic siding materials lack the natural appearance and characteristics of real wood. Pine log siding has beautiful knots, color, and grain patterns that stand out. Living in a real wood cabin provides a calming and natural atmosphere compared to one made from imitation materials. Log siding is used on the interior walls where Hardie Board does not fit in there.
Cost And Availability Of Wood Log Siding
Two other factors stand out in our comparison of these two materials and that’s cost and availability. The average square foot cost of pine log siding is about $6 while Hardie Board’s cost ranges from $6 to $15 per square foot. The labor cost runs $4 to $9 per square foot which is considerably higher than installing pine log siding.
Pine log siding is always available by ordering online from our store. The wood is supplied from local forests and milled to the highest quality specifications.
Pine Log Siding Is Available In Hand-Hewn And Pre-Finished Options
Standard log siding comes with an unfinished smooth surface for staining and sealing. Two options are available to give you a different look and more convenience.
Hand-Hewn Log Siding looks like it was created by pioneers by hand with an axe or adze tool. It is realistic-looking and sets a cabin or home apart from other log structures. It is available in quarter log, half log, and premier log profiles.
Pre-Finished Log Siding is stained and sealed before delivery to save you work and time. It is not only more convenient, but it is also professionally applied in a controlled environment that gives a superior finish. This is perfect for when you want to finish construction faster.
Pine wood log siding has been a favorite building material for decades. You will be pleased with its appearance, durability, and price.
