The Virtues of Knotty Pine and Cedar Woods for Cabins

Cabins bring forth images of getting back to the outdoors in a home made of natural products like knotty pine and cedar. These traditional building materials are more readily available than most expensive hardwoods, imported, or exotic woods. You cannot go wrong with pine and cedar on the exteriors and interiors of log cabins.

Once you see the benefits of these two wood varieties, you will be more apt to purchase them for , trim, corner systems, paneling, flooring, interior doors, posts, and log mantels. A bonus is an availability of ordering these high-quality supplies online at fair prices. We have some insightful ideas gleaned from cabin owners to pass on to you.

 

The Benefits of Knotty Pine and Cedar Woods for Cabins

The cedar woods for cabins may not be apparent without further investigation. By delving into them, you learn that:

• Both have beautiful characteristics, such as colorful knots and grain patterns
• These woods are durable, especially cedar
• Knotty pine is a very affordable wood for cabins
• Knotty cedar is more moisture and insect resistant than most woods
• Both are easier to work than hardwoods, such as sawing, drilling, shaping, and sanding
• Tongue and groove boards with the end-matching design fit snugly together
• Log siding is much more cost-effective than full logs (less material and labor cost)

Another benefit is that pine is sustainable because it is grown on tree farms that assure an adequate supply for future generations.

 

Pine and Cedar Are Traditional Cabin Materials

Most people do not think of maple, hickory, popular, walnut, or cherry as siding or paneling for log cabins. Why? They are hard to come by and too expensive for home construction. Pine and are traditional materials for inside and outside log cabins. Pine is especially known for flooring and ceilings.

These woods are durable, versatile, and simply look great for cabins, stores, state park buildings, and hunting/fishing cabins. People have used pine and cedar for centuries because

they are not as sensitive to temperature and humidity variations as many other woods. This translates into little shrinking or swelling that prevents major cracks in the wood, thus saving maintenance problems.

 

“Once you see the benefits of these two wood varieties, you will be more apt to purchase them for siding, trim, corner systems, paneling, flooring, interior doors, posts, and log mantels.”

 

Pine and Cedar for Cabins Are Affordable Woods

Let’s face it. With today’s inflation, who can afford expensive woods for cabin construction materials? We’re back to a point already mentioned – pine and cedar are affordable. Pine is about one-half the cost of hardwoods and cedar about two-thirds the cost, on average. The larger the cabin, the more savings you will realize.

Here are some nationwide comparison costs of different woods for siding per square foot:

Wood	Starting Price
Pine	$1
Cedar	$3
Redwood	$4
Cypress	$5
Spruce	$6

As you can see, pine and cedar siding are bargains. Keep in mind the linear foot cost depends on the width, thickness, and length of each board as well as the type of material.

Pine Is Sustainable and Environmentally Friendly

This virtue of pine has already been mentioned but it is worth further discussion. One of the significant problems that many hardwood harvesters create is not replanting these trees, especially oak – red and white. They should replant them on tree farms and allow enough time for them to mature which is much longer than pine.

A supply of pine is maintained by replanting them on tree farms. This creates sustainability and is an environmentally-friendly ‘green’ movement. Future generations will appreciate tree farms more as many other varieties of wood disappear. You are helping our plant when you build with pine. 

More Uses for Pine and Cedar for Cabins

Pine is the most commonly used wood for many different projects in log cabins and log homes:

• Structure – cabins and garages
• Furniture and picture frames
• on first and second levels
• Interior doors and window frames
• Molding and trim
• Mantels and shelves
• Kitchen and bath cabinetry

The possibilities for pine and cedar appear to be almost endless and you will think of more after you move into your log cabin.

References and Resources

• Benefits of Knotty Pine