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Wood Log Siding Versus Vinyl Log Siding
Americans have a love affair with real wood products from kitchen cutting boards to log homes. Bringing nature into our homes provides an appreciation of Mother Nature’s resources. Many other materials are used for home construction such as vinyl, aluminum, steel, and cement but it’s hard to compete with real wood.
If you plan to build a new log home or convert your existing home into one, there are two products you should compare. One is wood log siding and the other is vinyl log siding. They both have their advantages but remember that vinyl is a synthetic product. It is not sustainable and its waste typically ends up in the landfill.
Log Home, Log Cabin, and Other Structures
Whether you are building a log home, cabin, garage, workshop, man cave, or retail store, you must decide on the exterior siding and interior wall materials. The same log siding used on the outside walls is also used on the inside walls to provide the full log look. Exterior vinyl siding may not be the best choice for interior walls because of its synthetic appearance and weak structure.
Wood Log Siding Benefits
There’s more than meets the eye when it comes to real wood log siding. It not only looks the part, it acts the part as a sturdy, durable, natural, and desirable product. Pine log siding has numerous benefits as a building material over vinyl that includes:
- Pine log siding is sustainable because it is harvested from tree farms
- The tongue and groove/end-matching design makes strong- fitting joints
- The siding can be end-butted anywhere between wall framing
- Pine log siding is virtually a “no-waste” product that doesn’t end up in landfills
- Pine wood lasts for generations when properly maintained
- Log siding gives the full log look without the full log price
- It also acts as additional insulation for the walls
Pine log siding can be installed by traditionally trained home builders and homeowners with woodworking skills. It is far less expensive than full log construction, and homes built with log siding go up faster in any season of the year. When you want a log home that looks authentic at an affordable price, go with real wood log siding.
“Americans have a love affair with real wood products from kitchen cutting boards to log homes. Bringing nature into our homes provides an appreciation of Mother Nature’s resources.”
Vinyl Log Siding Is a Synthetic Material
Vinyl log siding is an option for log homes and log cabins. It is less expensive than wood log siding and is not affected by insects. However, this material has some serious drawbacks.
- It is a flimsy material, not a sturdy one
- Vinyl is easily damaged
- It looks fake upon inspection
- No knots or character
- It buckles and warps when installed incorrectly
- The painted surface fades in the sun
- No heat or noise insulation
A real problem with vinyl log siding is that its lifespan is only 25 years compared to pine log siding which can last for generations. Another issue is that it is not a sustainable product and its waste material ends up in landfills.
When this material gets cold enough in northern climates, any impact against it can cause cracks or fractures. Excessive hot weather can melt vinyl to some extent. When installed incorrectly, vinyl siding can trap moisture and cause mildew and mold to form.
Selecting Your Log Siding
Pine log siding is available in four options to create the appearance you desire. Choose among the width, thickness, and surface textures of smooth and hand-hewn in these profiles;
- Quarter Log Siding is milled in 2x6 and 2x8 sizes
- Half Log Siding is milled in 3x6 and 3x8 sizes
- Premier Log Siding is milled in 3x8 and 3x10 sizes
- Hand-Hewn Log Siding is available in all three profiles
Each piece of siding should be stained, sealed, and caulked for beauty and protection from the elements. All siding can be ordered online from America’s trusted log home supplier.
Building Products To Go with Wood Log Siding
With pine log siding as your choice, there are some building materials needed to complete the work. All these high-quality, hand-inspected items can be ordered online:
- Log Corner System to complete all corner construction
- Log Trims to go around door and window openings
- Galvanized Screws to secure the siding, corners, and trims
- Stains and Sealants for coloring and protecting the wood
- Caulking and Chinking – Caulking is for sealing joints, and chinking is used for an old-style log home appearance
Choosing real wood log siding over vinyl siding provides more long-term benefits compared to vinyl for you and your log home or cabin.
