3 Reasons Why Logs Ain’t Wood
You didn’t choose a home made with 2×4’s for a reason: any old wood just wouldn’t do. Each and every log has its own unique grain pattern, knots, and history, just as your home has its own unique design and memories connected to it.
Here are just three of the (very technical) reasons why logs are special.
Step 1 – Logs Get Really Hot
From winter to summer and everywhere in between, the upper curvature of round logs is hit by the full force of the sun at a 90° angle through much of the day. In the summer months when ambient temperatures are in the low 90’s, that upper curvature can exceed 170°F!
Conventional lumber, on the other hand, is usually hit by the sun at a lesser angle that allows much of the sun’s energy to be reflected away. That surface on the same summer day might only reach 110°F – much cooler than logs.
Step 2 – Logs move . . . a lot
Wood of any kind undergoes significant movement in response to both moisture and temperature changes. In dimensional lumber like a 2×4, this results in twisting, cupping, warping, and occasionally cracking and splitting. Logs endure these same forces, but because they’re bigger, the effects are bigger, too. Logs aren’t quite strong enough to endure these forces without breaking (something’s gotta give, right), so splits and checks develop to relieve the stress. The bigger the log, the bigger the internal stresses, which means more movement and larger checks and cracks. And speaking of…
Step 3 – Logs crack and check
The moisture that soaks in through cracks and checks usually finds its way underneath whatever stain or paint is on the logs. Much of this moisture exits back out of the wood through the cracks and checks. However, a good amount also exits (or attempts to exit) through the stain or paint. Thing is, stains and paints are stubborn. They don’t like the moisture trying to come out. Pressure builds up under the paint or stain and, over time, leads to flaking and peeling.
So what?
Whew! That’s a lot of technical stuff to simply say that it’s important to use products formulated specifically for logs.
Fact is, your log home is the culmination of years of dreaming and planning, backed by a bit (or maybe a lot!) of sweat equity. So why protect your home with products from a company who doesn’t know logs from a 2×4? At Sashco, we understand that Logs Ain’t Wood, which means a “good enough” mindset isn’t good enough. Sashco only makes high-performance products designed to keep your log home in dream-worthy, weatherproof condition. Why? To help prevent needless frustration and give you more time to actually enjoy your dream home. We like to call it “delighting the customer with a better way.”
