Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
So you have decided to live in a solid timber log building....
Timber Log Buildings such as the residential log cabins offer several unbeatable benefits due to the properties of their basic construction material - timber logs.
They are more resilient to weather and other natural elements, have longer life, are more energy efficient, more cost effective and more environmentally friendly. A residential timber log home offers the best way to live a peaceful, happy and healthy life.
Q: Will my Timber Log House be Energy Efficient?
A: Wood is a brilliant natural insulator. By living in a timber log cabin you and your family are protected from the often extreme weather conditions outside. A healthy and safe log house requires very little maintenance, while it is ecological and energy-efficient to live in. This is made possible by the breathing yet tight wall structures and the characteristics of wood as a material. Wood walls naturally store thermal energy provided by the sun and then release it to the rooms when needed.
During the colder months of the year, the internal temperature of a residential log cabins remains at a very comfortable level. During the warmer summer season the excellent insulation value of the solid timber walls guarantee the utmost comfort for all inhabitants.
Seasonal temperature fluctuations do not have an equal impact on the temperature of the interiors of a wooden building. In contrast, the internal temperature of concrete or “stick and brick” structure fluctuates pretty soon after the external weather has changed.
During winter a timber log building offers warmer interiors and in summer, the internal temperature remains relatively cool. It reduces the dependency on high energy consuming equipment such as heaters or air conditioners. Just a small energy-efficient reverse cycle air conditioner will look after all your heating and cooling needs all year round.
Warm to the touch (as opposed to the always chilly plasterboard), wood has “thermal mass,” a natural property in the logs that helps keep inside temperatures of homes comfortable in all seasons. This allows log walls to collect and store energy, then radiate it back into the home. As timber has one of the best heat storage capacities (211J/kg) of any insulating material, it gives an additional benefit on top of the basic insulation value.
As in the cool of the night the stored heat radiates back to the cooler outside, the inside temperature changes very little.
It makes your residential log building a comfortable and cosy place to live. Living in a wooden house means having better physical and mental health due to living in an environment with more stable temperatures. Provided the home is sealed properly (between the foundation and the first course of logs, between log-to-log connections and where the roof system meets the log wall), you will have a super energy efficient home - also aided by fully sealed double glazed European style windows and solid wood core doors.
Also on offer are internal lining kits available for nearly all residential log buildings supplied by "Timber Log Buildings Australia".
Q: How about Effects of Changing Temperatures or Thermal Differences?
A: Wood is thermally beneficial. Other material commonly used in residential constructions such as concrete, cement and metals are affected by increases or decreases in outside heat. Most of these materials that are generally used in constructions of a building expand when temperatures rise.
It affects their structural cohesion resulting in damages. Wood, on the other hand does not expand even in intense heat. Also lower temperatures do not affect wood. This helps to preserve the structural integrity of your timber log building; they therefore have a longer life and face fewer damages due to temperature changes.
Timber Log Cabins have ZERO problems with condensation, despite the fact that they are classed as "single skin" buildings, meaning they do not normally have a cavity in the outer walls. However, due to current building regulations log cabins MUST be built with a cavity, so we have included an "INTERNAL LINING KIT" with all our residential log cabins. Click here for more information.
Q: Are log cabins noisy?
A: Wood absorbs sound resulting in less noise and echo. Many musical instruments are made of wood, due to the wood’s acoustic properties. It is also the reason why music concerts are often held in halls that have wooden walls. Wood absorbs sound resulting in less noise and echo.
Residential log cabins enjoy the same properties of the wood. Log homes are always quieter than stick-and-brick built homes, thanks to the same thermal mass that provides energy efficiency and the sound deadening effects of wood walls. The low noise of the interiors of wooden cabins provides a peaceful and quiet living environment. Also, if you like to play music, the noise absorbing property of the wood along with the serene and beautiful environment of a wooden house creates a harmonic listening experience.
Log Cabins have naturally superior insulation from outside noise (again also aided by the fully sealed double glazed European style windows and solid wood core doors used) and provide a perfectly soft soundscape inside.
Q: Will my new log cabin be Environmentally Friendly?
A: Due to less consumption of energy during the manufacturing process, timber log cabins have very low carbon emission levels, making them very environment friendly. If you are concerned about your carbon footprint and subsequent impact on the environment, a residential log cabin is your best option.
These wooden structures, due to the kind of material used in their construction also help keep the environment clean and safe. These characteristics of a residential log cabin help improve the physical health and mental well-being of its inhabitants.
Due to their excellent insulation properties heating costs are vastly reduced, resulting in an extremely low carbon footprint.
Q: Where do the Trees used in the construction of Log Cabins come from?
A: “Timber Log Buildings Australia” sources all their timber log buildings from producers with excellent environmental credentials. Logs are being sourced from certified sustainable forest plantations, grown in the Baltic regions of Europe, as well as Poland and some Scandinavian countries.
Since trees are a renewable resource, timber log buildings come with a solid green pedigree. When a cabin is made from solid logs the carbon contained in those logs are effectively removed out of environmental circulation over the entire life of the home. European countries have recognized the need to provide as much as possible of the world's demand for timber products, and for many years have created vast plantation forests thus guaranteeing a steady and environmentally sustainable supply of top quality timber logs.
Q: Will my Log Cabin look "out of place"?
A: Since this organic building material comes directly from nature, the resulting structures blend beautifully into just about any topography. Timber homes naturally integrate right into the landscape, rather than being awkwardly imposed on it.
Residential timber log buildings can also be constructed in major urban centers (STCA). These invariably look less like the traditional log cabins. They look very much like a standard timber cladded house - the difference often only becoming obvious on the inside. Urban Timber Log Houses are very common in European countries, and are also available in larger sizes, double story and up to several hundred square meters. Please check our range of 3+ bedroom cabins on this website.
Q: How easy and fast is it to construct a Timber Log Building?
A: Constructing a timber log building is much quicker and easier than building a brick-and-stick / concrete building.
By choosing a pre-cut and pre-drilled timber log system, the shell of your home can be built on site much faster than conventional stick framing, in turn reducing the likelihood of weather-related damages or mould and mildew issues. The outside walls are also the inside walls, reducing built time by eliminating the need for internal lining and the like. With the right crew and inter locking timber log building system, it can be weather tight in as little as a couple of days (depending on size of your building). In conventional construction, your home is exposed to the elements for much longer, which can lead to mold issues within the framing of the home, where it can thrive undetected for years.
The weight of the individual components of your new timber log building is very low, so they can easily be handled, carried to site if needed and lifted into place.
Hanging a picture in a conventional stick-and-brick home with internal plasterboard sheet lining can be quite a big ordeal, involving a stud finder, a hammer or drill and bruised fingers—maybe even a bruised ego after your partner told you to move the picture “a little further over to the left”. The same applies to hanging shelves, overhead cupboards and anything else that need affixing to the walls and ceilings. Owners of timber log buildings rave about the simplicity of hanging anything as one the simple joys of living in a timber log home.
Q: How long will my Timber Log Cabin last?
A: It is a common myth that timber, when exposed to the elements, deteriorates quickly. Whilst this is true to some extend when left untreated, modern timber preservatives and pest treatments guarantee that your timber log home will outlast many conventional constructions. Timber log buildings still in use in Europe routinely date back more than 800 years. And one log-constructed church in Russia is reportedly more than 1,700 years young.
As mentioned, like all natural products a timber log building does require a basic amount of maintenance both during the construction phase and over the lifespan of the building. Check out our TIMBER CARE page to find out more.
The timber log building industry has countless stories of these homes successfully weathering the worst weather Mother Nature can dish out, including the American 2005 Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. When Rita’s winds caused a giant oak tree to crash through the roof of a 157sqm timber log home in Eastern Texas, the home’s solid log walls withstood the weight of the toppled tree and prevented more damage. The owners said “There is no doubt in my mind that this log and timber home saved our lives”.
Q: How about Earthquakes?
A: Australia has only had a few minor tremors, and one major one in Newcastle NSW in 1989. Timber by its very nature is a more flexible building material. As a result many stick-and-brick constructions can loose their outer brick cladding during an earthquake - while the timber frame and roof trusses will remain standing. The same principle applies to timber log buildings - due to their ability to follow movements they tend to withstand earth movements better than dwellings of conventional construction.
Q: I know my Log Cabin will be Rustic - but is it still High Tech?
A: While “rugged” is in, “roughing it” is definitely out. Your new solid timber log home can be fitted with all the amenities and modern conveniences you can expect from any conventional home.
Your timber log building will have pre-drilled cable duct holes going all the way from floor-to-ceiling, according to your personal specifications. This allows you to run power cables, light switches, security systems, high speed video, voice and data, as well as a host of new communication technologies on the horizon. Cables run inside the logs, making them invisible to the eye and fully protected. This also reduces the amount charged by your electrician as there is no need to drill holes, all that needs to be done is run cables and connect them to switches, lights, powerpoints etc.
Q: What should I do to with regards to Maintenance?
A: If you’re worried about mold, mildew or insect infestation, then a timber log building offers clear advantages since you’ll be able to see anything that needs attention. Just take a stroll around your home and visually inspect the timber logs. In a conventional home the sealed wall cavities can hide mold, mildew and insect infestation, which can cause far more damage before its detected.
For all information regarding general timber care click here.
Q: Do I need to worry about house fires due to Electrical Faults?
A: Wood is resistant to electricity, a fact that makes timber log buildings a much safer option to live in when compared to other types of residential structures. There is close to no chance of a fire due to a short circuit. For more info on fire click here.