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The following articles provide authenticated information on building, remodeling or finishing your existing or new log / timber home using northern white cedar or other natural building products. The building products you choose will determine the longevity and maintenance requirements for your home. Please click on the article title of your choice for additional information or call us for assistance with your project.
LOG HOME BUILDING ARTICLES
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BENEFITS OF USING HALF LOG OVER FULL LOG CONSTRUCTION
HOW OFTEN DO I HAVE TO STAIN MY CEDAR HOME?
TOP FIVE REASONS TO USE NORTHERN WHITE CEDAR ON YOUR LOG HOME
BUILD GREEN - NO CHEMICALS REQUIRED FOR NORTHERN WHITE CEDAR!
WHAT OTHERS SAY ABOUT NORTHERN WHITE CEDAR
GUARANTEED TOWN AND COUNTRY QUALITY STANDARDS
COMPARE CEDAR VERSUS PINE
TURN A MODULAR HOME INTO A DREAM LOG HOME!
Benefits of Using Half-Log
vs. Full Log Construction 
Many log home owners experience difficulties with the standard stacked full log wall systems found in many log home producer’s designs. For example, a stacked full log home building systems may have clear through checking, excessive air infiltration, home movement and high maintenance. We know this first-hand as we provided stacked full log systems for over 40 years.
Decades ago we realized that for complete customer satisfaction, we had to design a unique log building product that addressed these complaints. Much time and research went into developing, patenting and implementing our half-log tongue & groove, end-matched white cedar siding and it became the framework for continued success. Now you can benefit from the hand-crafted, kiln-dried log and timber building products that are the basis of Town & Country Cedar Products' quality. This half-log wall system, combined with the unique properties of Northern White Cedar, offers you superior performance in terms of insulating value, durability, beauty and ease of maintenance.
KEY BENEFITS OF HALF LOG CONSTRUCTION
Less Overall Maintenance: A conventionally framed wall system will never have the problems associated with stacked weight settling. Stacked full log homes are just that -- stacked logs that move over time and require continual maintenance as a result of home settling.
In addition, our Northern White Cedar is kiln dried down to 8 – 10% EMC, that’s furniture quality and unheard of in the industry! Our wood is extremely stable and won’t shrink or crack. Full logs cannot be completely kiln dried. Changing temperatures and moisture levels can cause seasonal shrinking and expanding in full log homes.
Our tongue & groove, end-matched logs provide a tight fit and do not require chinking. Chinking on a whole log home is there for a reason: to prevent air infiltration. Chinking requires regular review for worn, cracked or chipped areas and must be repaired immediately. In addition, chinking must be taped off during re-staining of the logs, requiring additional charges from your staining contractor.
Less Initial Cost for Construction: half-log wall systems are conventionally framed and allow wiring, plumbing and duct work to be run easily in the interior and exterior walls. Full Log construction does not easily allow for mechanical system wiring and add additional cost to construction. In addition, changes, additions or repairs in some full log homes can be very damaging to the structure, as well as costly.
Construction costs for half-log wall systems are less as expensive daily crane rentals for erection is minimized. When constructing a half log home, cranes are only necessary for the truss work. Whole log construction requires a crane on site throughout the construction process – a costly proposition.
Less Design Expense: A half-log, conventionally constructed home requires no design restrictions for doorways & windows -- or any area of the home for that matter – while stacked logs homes may require special engineering and design for structural integrity.
 More Interior Design Options: With half-log construction, you have the ability to choose whatever interior wall treatment or finish you desire. You are not limited to just log finishes. You'll appreciate having the option to install drywall, cabinets, custom tiling, wallpaper or other unique finishes to suite your interior.
Maintain or Improve Your Home's Energy Efficiency: Because half-log construction utilizes a conventionally framed wall system, it's also completely insulated. Adding in the insulating factor of the log siding is your home will typically exceed all energy codes. This system is considered one of the most energy efficient log home styles of today.
Town & Country Cedar Products have a wide variety of log and timber building products to provide you the ability to construct your own dream home. For the most advanced log home wall system, the obvious choice is Town & County Cedar Products! Contact Us today to get started.
HOW OFTEN DO I NEED TO STAIN MY CEDAR HOME?
This is one of the most frequestly asked questions we get asked. Our short answer for that would be something like every 3-5 years to begin with depending on a number of things.
But our long answer would involve things like overhangs, site conditions, covered porches, the product you chose to use and the expertise in which that product was applied.
Your White Cedar home does not need to have a stain applied to it, it is naturally resistant to rot and decay and naturally bug resistant. If left unstained, the cedar would weather to a silver patina, just like you see on some barns. People tend to put stain on their White Cedar homes for aesthetic reasons only – it is not preserving the wood. Once applied, you are maintaining the STAIN, not the wood.
The stain is affected by sunlight and water. If improperly maintained, over time, these two things will wear down the covering properties of the stain and may result in a worn and uneven look, perhaps even some blistering or peeling. Features like your extended overhangs and covered porches are very protective of your home. These protected areas will need less attention (maintenance) than areas with more sun and water exposure.
The orientation of your home will be a factor in stain maintenance as well. Typically, your southern and eastern sides will receive more direct sunlight, making them age quicker than the western and northern sides. If the sunnier sides of your home are not protected by a covered porch then these sides may need a maintenance touch up sooner than the other sides.
The site conditions of your lot will also play a role. Some sites may have no tree coverage at all, providing the most opportunity for exposure to sun and water. Other sites may be over-wooded, shady and damp, providing potential problems on the other end of the spectrum. Most homes fall somewhere in-between, but the point is that there are many site conditions that could affect your home’s stain life and every homeowner should be aware of their site specific situations and build your maintenance program with these facts in mind.
And what about the stain and the stain specialist? This is not an area that you want to skimp on. Bad decisions on the product and the application of your stain to begin with will result in years of extra maintenance and the expense that comes with that for certain.
Make sure that your stain specialist is someone of experience, check their references and look at homes in your area that they’ve finished. Make sure your specialist plans on power washing your home prior to finishing (no matter how clean you think it is). Also, make sure that your specialist has a moisture meter and that they test your home’s moisture content prior to starting.
Every stain product has its own recommended maintenance ‘program’. While one product may say to apply 2 coats of their product, another may have 3 and so on. One product may say to apply a maintenance coat just 1 year after the first; another will suggest 3 years or more. The fact is that you must be familiar with the product recommendations as well as the stain specialist’s professional advice and take into consideration the design and site conditions for your particular home. Pay attention to the potential trouble spots of your home in the early years, work your stain’s program using the knowledge you’ve gained and as time goes on, you will not need to tend to the exterior as often. You will reap the rewards years down the line with less maintenance and a great looking home.
Top 5 Reasons to use Northern White Cedar on Your New Log Home or Cabin:
Today's new log or timber frame homeowner is much more enlightened than ever before. You make a point of researching all aspects of your dream home, especially when it comes to species of wood used. At Town & Country Cedar Products, we've staked our reputation on the beauty and warmth of northern white cedar, however, there are a few more facts of interest you might want to consider for yourself when choosing the species of wood for your new home....
1) Northern white cedar is naturally resistant to rot, mold & decay.
Northern White Cedar contains a natural resin, Thujaplicin, which strongly inhibits the growth of mold and bacteria (www.ntsresearch.com/html/research_thu.html).
2) Northern white cedar is naturally resistant to insects.
This same natural resin, Thujaplicin, is also repulsive to insects. Typically invasive insects such as ants and termites will not forage a Northern White Cedar Home.
3) Northern white cedar does not absorb water.
When kiln dried, our northern white cedar is much like cork in its ability to resist water absorption.
4) Northern white cedar does not require chemical treatments.
Many other species require chemical treatment and re-treatments to achieve the same resistance to rot, mold, decay and insects that northern white cedar has occurring naturally.
5) Northern white cedar is a favorite species of woodworkers.
As a softwood, it's easy to work with, making it a favorite among craftsmen and woodsmiths. In addition, northern white cedar's coloring is naturally light and consistent and hold all stains beautifully.
Northern white cedar is the primary wood of choice for exterior use, especially where a high degree of durability and resistance to the elements is necessary, but it is also legendary for it's natural beauty for both inside and outside applications. It is a beautifully rustic wood with warm color variations and tight, small knots. These qualities gives northern white cedar tremendous personality compared with other
species.
NO CHEMICALS REQUIRED FOR NORTHERN WHITE CEDAR
Unlike many pine log companies that “dip treat” their logs in chemical preservatives and insecticide, Town & Country Cedar Product’s logs are not treated with any chemicals. Cedar is naturally resistant to insects as well as nature’s elements. After your log home is built and closed up nice and tight for the winter, Town & Country clients fortunately do not have to live with treated log chemicals that literally come out of the walls and into your living environment. The scientific term for this is called “out gassing” and this is what can happen when a log is dip treated in chemicals.
You may be told that these chemicals are harmless, but what may be considered safe today may be causing health problems that will only show up later on; just as so many harmful chemical products have done in the past. The point is, why live with chemicals if you don’t have to? Not to mention the costly, time consuming, chemical maintenance program that your pine or other wood product log home warranty will force you to follow. ~ Instead, visit your white cedar relaxed living!
THE FACTS - Northern white cedar versus other wood building products:
● Pine requires chemical treatments, and cedar does not.
● Any outdoor items that are made of pine such as a mailboxes, birdhouses, picnic tables, fencing or outdoor furniture must be treated with chemicals if they are expected to hold up to exposure to the weather and insects.
● Cedar has a closed cell molecular structure. Pine does not. Cedar’s molecular structure, as well as natural resins in this species, makes northern white cedar “naturally” resistant to insects. Its’ closed cells will not absorb water and become water logged as do pine and other wood species.
● The decay resistance of northern white cedar does not require treatment with chemicals.
● Northern white cedar also has the highest insulating R-value of all wood species!
Think about it.
● Did you know that the shavings from cedar mills are often used to make bedding for pets and animals because it keeps the fleas away?
● Have you ever gone into a sauna or steam bath that was constructed with pine paneling and pine benches? Never! It is always going to be cedar or redwood because of their outstanding durability and natural resistance to dampness and mildew.
WHAT OTHERS SAY ABOUT Northern White Cedar – Nature’s Best Building Material By Rebecca E. Neely
Beauteous, enduring, inspiring – the quintessential appeal and the extraordinary versatility of northern white cedar has been prized and revered for centuries. Today, as the popularity of log homes continues to soar, so does the demand for this elegant and durable wood, known in the industry as nature’s best building material.
Archaeological excavations have shown that the Indigenous Peoples of the Pacific Coast were using Cedar as far back as 6,000 years ago. The people used the wood, bark, roots and withes to produce a myriad of goods, including their homes, fishing nets and canoes, as well as a legacy of magnificent art. Cedar was referred to as the "Long Life Maker" and "Rich Woman Maker" because the tree provided the necessities for a comfortable and full life.
This slow growing conifer tree, found primarily in swamp areas along rivers and streams in Canada and the adjacent states of New England and the Great Lakes region, has a natural resistance to rot, decay and insects. Because of its unique cellular structure and naturally occurring preservative oils, it will not absorb moisture – much like a cork. Tight knots, a light, consistent coloring, and a clean, fresh fragrance are the beloved hallmarks of this resilient wood. While it holds finishes well, it does not need one for protection. Left unstained, it will gradually attain a natural silver-gray patina. Cedar is a lightweight, soft wood that is considered easily workable. According to the Wood Handbook of the Forest Service/USDA, “White cedar is primarily used where a high degree of durability and resistance to the elements is necessary.” In addition, white cedar has the highest “R” value, or insulation rating, of any of the wood species used in producing log homes, and possesses superior dimensional stability.
For many, building and owning a log home is the realization of a lifelong dream, whether it’s a primary residence or a vacation home. As an integral part of the team effort it takes to design today’s luxury log home, architects and designers can streamline the process for their clients, who face overwhelming numbers of choices. The many clear cut benefits of Northern White Cedar, including its beauty, high quality, and versatility in application and design, coupled with its increasing availability, have many architects and designers obtaining specs on the wood for their clients’ projects.
THE 7 STANDARDS OF QUALITY FOR TOWN AND COUNTRY NORTHERN WHITE CEDAR BUILDING PRODUCTS!
The quality of the products you use on your home and business projects can make an incredible difference in the total outcome and worth of your finished product. Poor or inconsistent quality log home products purchased at a great price is a recipe for disaster both during and after construction. Time wasted on the jobsite rummaging through unusable product or fitting improperly milled products wastes valuable time and money. Using log cabin wood products that don’t stand up to the elements over time will cost you immeasurable dollars in warranty – not to mention the cost to your reputation. At Town & Country Cedar Products, we offer you only the highest quality log home products, consistently time and time again. Not all northern white cedar products are considered equal.
To make sure you are getting consistent, high quality products, make sure that you purchase from Town & Country Cedar Products, where we offer this guarantee:
1) All our log home building product has the sapwood ring removed, leaving you with only the decay resistant heartwood remaining with which to build.
2) All our products are kiln dried in our patented kiln, bringing the moisture content down to 8-11% - which is furniture grade and unheard of in the lumber industry! This provided you with a stable and check-free ½ log.
3) Our logs are knife peeled for a natural hand hewn look – never a telephone pole look!
4) Our tongue and groove paneling products are pre-sanded and ready for immediate installation and staining saving you time and money.
5) Our log siding and paneling is endmatched and should save you in installation time and much more in waste over products that are not endmatched.
6) We offer a large array of profiles to choose from and provide you with endless possibilities for customization -be it log, timber frame or cottage.
7) We are one of the largest white cedar mills in the nation with over $3 million in inventory ready to deliver your order anywhere in the United States or Canada.
A TREE IS A TREE -- So What's the Difference Between Cedar and Pine???
In short, the species of tree you choose for your log home can make a huge difference. Northern White Cedar (Thuja occidentalis) provides many advantages over pine, a commonly used wood in log homes.
Rot Resistance & Insects
• Northern white cedar naturally produces preservatives that make it one of the most decay and rot resistant of woods, as well as insect tolerant. In a 1995 study, cedar flake board panels in Hawaii showed no symptoms of termite attack, despite two years of extensive termite exposure.(1) Cedar displays minimal cracking or checking because of its lower moisture content, and any checks will not penetrate through the heartwood of the log.
• Pine is not naturally resistant to rot or insects. Pine requires kiln drying to kill insects in the wood, and preservative treatments to prevent future rot and insect damage. Surface treatments for pine lose their protective abilities once logs begin to crack and open up untreated areas. Large cracks in pine are common because of the higher moisture content.
Water Content
. Northern white cedar has less water content when green weighing about 3500 lbs. per cord.(2) Town & Country combines a combination of naturally air drying and our patented kiln drying to obtain a desirable EMC* of 8-11% moisture level. Air-drying allows the larger timbers to acclimate to a new moisture level without harming the wood fiber's molecular structure. Then, our custom designed dehumidification kiln continually adds and withdraws moisture from our lumber, easing it into the desired moisture content so as not to harm the woods cell structure. Technically speaking, lumber may be labeled as “kiln dried” at 19%, but hat is not the same as EMC, which is much more skin to the standards for manufacturing fine furniture.
• Green Pine weighs an average of 4700 lbs per cord, with more than twice the water content that cedar does.(2) Pine characteristically retains its water and usually is dried in a kiln to season the wood. Because the water is forced out quickly, cell rupture becomes a possible risk, which can weaken fibers and lead to cracking. Moisture levels for typical lumber yard pine are generally much higher (14-19%) than that of Town & Country kiln dried Northern White Cedar.
Durability
• Untreated Northern White Cedar possesses high natural durability. A study conducted by University of Maine found that surveyors' cedar corner posts and rail fences were still serviceable after 50 to 60 years of use.(2)
• Untreated pine has a life expectancy of 3 to 7 years when in contact with the ground.(3)
Thermal rating (R-value)
The R-value is used to measure how well a material resists the flow of heat through it.
• Northern White Cedar has an R-value of 1.41 per inch of thickness, the highest R-value of any of the species used in log homes.(4)
• Pine species used in log home construction have an average R-value of 1.25 per inch of thickness.(4)
Thermal Mass Factor
Another measure is Thermal Mass, which reflects a material's density (in pounds per cubic foot) and its specific mass. The higher the R-Value/Thermal Mass Factor, the easier your home is to heat.
• Northern White Cedar has an R-Value/Thermal Mass Factor of 3.78.(5)
• Pine has an R-Value/Thermal Mass Factor of 2.76.(5)
Sustainability
• Northern White Cedar is a renewable resource that is actively managed to ensure biodiversity, wildlife habitat and high-quality forest products.
• Pine plantations are able to produce usable timber in relatively short periods of time, but they require a tremendous amount of resources to stump, seed, and prepare seedlings. Unlike cedar, which has natural resistance to insects and other pests, pine plantations need to use phosphate fertilizers, herbicides and insecticides to maintain healthy growth.
Sources:
1. Haataja, B.A. and P.E. Laks. 1995. Properties of flakeboard made from northern white-cedar. Forest Products Journal 45(1): 68-70
2. University of Maine-Orono - Forest Products Laboratory and Forest Service, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture
3. Forest Service, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture
4. U.S. Dept. of Agriculture - Wood Handbook
5. ASHRAE Handbook, American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-conditioning Engineers
*Equilibrium Moisture Content (EMC) is defined as the point at which the wood is neither gaining nor losing moisture. In most of the US, that will be between 6-11%.
MODULAR LOG HOME CONSTRUCTION
Sold on the convenience and cost efficiency of modular home building? Or are you a modular home builder? Now you can apply the same attributes you love about modular homes to log homes. Transform new or existing modular homes into modular log homes at a fraction of the cost by buying our white cedar half log siding at MILL DIRECT PRICING for both builders and homeowners. Apply any of our log siding and other log home products to your new or existing modular home and achieve nearly the same results as a custom home at a substantially reduced rate. The possibilities are endless ...Rustic log, timber frame, cottage, or combinations of any of these styles are available.
Design your log cabin using our vast array of LOG SIDING, SANDED TONGUE & GROOVE PANELING, LOG TRIMS, LOG CORNERS, STAIR SYSTEMS & TRUSSES. Interiors can be transformed as well! Pick and choose which rooms you’d like to have the warmth and charm of our log siding, t&g paneling or beadboard accents and complete all or some of your log home with our rustic hand hewn trim – the rest can be finished in conventional drywall!
Years of experience with the Systems Built industry has established us as a trusted provider to builders and homeowners who wish to transform modular homes into sensational, one-of-a-kind log homes. We can work on individual projects or develop a whole program for your company. To complete the transformation, we can customize log covered porches, log stairs, decks, gazebos and more.
Using modern technological advances, the system-built industry has really come into its own in the last decade. From standard plans to full customization capabilities, the industry has opened its doors to meet any home owner’s demand, including white cedar logs! Superior engineering, controlled climate building conditions and lower costs are just a few reasons that homeowners are building modular. Now you can open the door to your dream log home using this same technology and simplified building process.
HOMEOWNERS: We work with modular log home builders around the country. Please complete our contact us form to see if one of our associated Builder Contractors are located in your preferred modular log home building area!
Call or Contact Us today for your free personal tour of our mill and kiln facilities. 888-829-5909
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