Bozeman Log Homes,
Log Homes for the REST of your Life!
There is a wide variety of different wood species for log homes; grades of wood; sizes; profiles; corner constructions and methods of securement available for log home construction. The primary concerns when evaluating the quality of the timber for log homes are (1) the moisture content and (2) the structural quality of the wood. It is critical that the logs are properly dried to avoid shrinkage. The wood should be properly graded and inspected in order to avoid using wood that is unsound or that may contain rot.
Wood Species
A wide variety of wood species can be used when constructing your log home. Each species has its own unique characteristics from spruce, pine, cedar, and fir to the more dense species such as oak, maple, and cyprus. From a structural standpoint, these species are all suitable for log home construction in most applications. The major aspect in evaluating and making a decision about a particular spruce verses another is mostly based upon the appearence of the wood. The color, the grain pattern, the knot structure and checks or cracks of the different wood species are the main features the buyer should consider.
Green Timber
It is not advisable to use logs or timber milled from freshly cut green timber if they are not cured or kiln dried. It is well known in all types of wood construction - framed, logs, or timber - that the timber must be dried before use in order to avoid shrinkage of the wood after construction.