Wood is definitely an amazing building material that has always accompanied man and used to be the main material from which buildings or entire cities were erected.

Today, this state of affairs has changed and wood is no longer used so willingly.

However, there is nothing to be surprised about.

Buildings made of concrete, brick or blocks are much more durable and efficient and more adapted to today’s living conditions.

However, this does not mean that wood has been completely pushed aside today.

Because of course that didn’t happen. It is still used only on a much smaller scale than it used to be.

In addition, today it can cost much more than traditional materials. In addition, it cannot be denied that a properly placed (there may not even be a bit of room for fussiness) log house does not stand out from houses made of concrete or other materials of this type even in the slightest.

What’s more, it can even be said that wooden houses are much better in many aspects and outperform classic structures made of concrete blocks.

However, you also need to be aware that wooden houses also have their own specific properties and even some disadvantages that require work and some compromises.

In addition, the comfort of living in it will be much lower for some people.

Therefore, before we decide, among other things, on such a log house, we must think very carefully whether it is an investment aimed specifically at us.

How much does a log house cost?

We can find quite a lot of information that building a log house is much cheaper than using more regular materials such as concrete blocks.

Is it actually true? Or maybe the price is the result of the fact that such a house will be able to last much less? Fortunately not.

Log houses and wooden houses in general are cheaper due to the cost of erecting them and the material itself.

It does not mean that they are among the cheapest and there can be cases where they are even more expensive than traditional ones, but these are specific cases.

The average guide price per m2 of a log house ranges from $ 1,600 to $ 2,500 on average. $ 1,100 – $ 1,700 is the cost of material and $ 500 – $ 1,100 is labor.

Of course, rates also go directly up as inflation increases.

For comparison, a classic house made of concrete blocks in a raw state costs $ 1,800 – $ 2,600 per m2. Of course, this price may change 180 degrees as soon as next month.

However, if we decide on a log house, we must take into account that it will require additional financial outlays.

More precisely, we are talking about performing the massing process, which must be carried out regularly and must not be neglected!

What exactly is this process and how much does it cost and why is it done at all, you will find out in the next parts of the article.

ATTENTION! We must also be aware that this is a completely mandatory process that we cannot neglect in any way.

Otherwise, it will significantly and visibly affect the comfort of living in such a house.

In addition, log houses are mainly seasonal houses, so it is worth considering whether we would really like to opt for it. Such houses are most often found in the mountains, e.g. Bieszczady.

What is log house mossing?

Mossing of log houses is a special process of sealing all kinds of joints, most often in typical wooden houses.

Many years ago, moss was used for mossing, hence the original name of this process.

Today, moss, grass or other unprocessed natural materials are no longer used.

Instead, specially planed shavings are used, i.e. simply cotton wool, made of spruce wood (commonly smerka).

How to do home massing?

The woolen cloth is wrapped in decorative braids.

Then they are driven between the logs, in this way we can seal them. On the other side of the wall, the protruding „tails” are cut off.

Unless we are dealing with a double-sided mass.

Thanks to this process, the houses gain a very durable and solid thermal insulation and a really impressive decorative effect. As the saying goes „two for the price of one”.

A very important piece of advice from us. We do not recommend doing the mass on your own if you are not familiar with the subject.

It is better to hire a professional who will do the job once and properly. Incorrect insulation will result in drafts, moisture and many other negative effects.

How should we prepare the house for mass?

In order for the entire mowing process to be carried out, the house must meet the following conditions:

  • The house must be properly sanded or washed and dried.
  • It is recommended but not necessary to paint the house.
  • Masses are not performed immediately. After construction, it should stand in a raw state for a while. How much depends on the square footage, wood materials and other aspects. The contractor should answer this question.

When to perform masses?

The first mass must be done when building the house. However, there is no need to delude yourself, this is a process that will have to be repeated regularly, at least every few years.

How much exactly? It is quite difficult to say, however, it depends almost entirely on the specificity of the constructed building and its surroundings.

If it is undemanding, mass will not have to be carried out with such frequency.

What are the advantages of a log house?

Despite the fact that a log house is quite an attractive choice, it has some very specific features and properties, but it is still the material that is the most affordable for humans, even in terms of health.

This is a confirmation of a certain rule that what is made of natural materials significantly affects the comfort of a person’s life and even significantly improves it.

And it is absolutely true. And below we present to you some of the most important advantages of log houses.

Constant regulation of air humidity

Diffusion is a special process that involves the spreading of molecules in a specific environment. Of course, putting the subject in such a great simplification.

However, it is enough for us to know that it is simply about maintaining constant air humidity in the room.

This is colloquially called „wood house climate”. Average humidity without major problems is maintained on average at about 40%, which is a very good thing for our body.

Regulation of air humidity is very important for our mucous membranes, which translates directly into our health.

It can be said that they are ideal houses for allergy sufferers due to the above properties. In such an environment, breathing is much easier, more pleasant and less demanding.

Thanks to this, the body is also in a much better health condition and the risk of getting sick is much lower.

Note, this is a very important issue right now. In order for the house to maintain its self-regulation of air humidity, attention should be paid to what is on its walls.

We should avoid laying foil or any kind of plywood and impermeable layers in general. Such finishes completely destroy the idea of a wooden house and strip it completely of all essential properties and uses.

If you want to finish the whole thing in this way, do not bother and just bet on a classic concrete house, otherwise the whole idea of a log house will disappear.

Cheaper home finish

We wrote cheaper and not low for a reason. It’s hard to talk about something cheap today.

I don’t know if low is the best word. It is better to say lower than for a classic house.

What it comes from? The finishing works of the log house are relatively quick because there is no need to plaster or wallpaper the walls.

In addition, all necessary installations do not have to be carried out as usual, i.e. in concrete walls.

He can also give up fixing everything with foraminifera and tons of dust associated with it.

All sanitary installations will be led through the floor and corners of the house. Thanks to this type of solutions, we are able to save a lot of time, effort and all renovation work.

These are definitely very big advantages that will significantly improve the comfort of work.

A completely ecological house

It is obvious that wood is a 100% ecological material that is a completely renewable resource. Of course, it loses its ecological character when we decide to cover it with varnish, stain or paint.

Of course, there may be a person who will ask „what about eco-paints” and „eco-tins”? Well, it’s just plain greenwashing.

These products differ from ordinary paints only in that the amount of formaldehyde is much lower than in average products.

Wood, on the other hand, is completely natural and does not produce any harmful compounds, and the effect of those present in other objects, e.g. furniture, is significantly reduced.

Very good material insulation

In wooden houses, including those made of logs, we can freely install any form of heating (both floor and classic radiators).

However, thanks to very good insulation, their thermal insulation process is much better. Why?

First of all, wood is a material that heats up much slower than classic concrete.

This is extremely useful in the summer during very high temperatures.

Thanks to this, the house is very pleasantly cool and in winter the temperature decreases much more slowly.

Therefore, there is no pressure imposed on us to quickly heat the house after, for example, returning from work.

The logs also have a very low thermal conductivity, making them a great insulator.

This means that when they heat up, they absorb very large amounts of heat, which is then returned to the room.

Thanks to this, you don’t have to worry about it running away from home.

The thermal insulation of the walls and their connections is also a very important issue. ATTENTION! Do not use any versions of polystyrene or polyurethane boards for this.

They should be avoided due to their closed cell structure, which will result in condensation of water vapor at the contact with wood.

When we think about a log house, a very strong argument is the saving on heating costs and the above properties, which you will not find in houses made of concrete blocks.

Fast construction of the entire building

This is a very good reason to consider building a log house. Not only is the whole process and all construction work much shorter, but also the work can be carried out regardless of the current season.

But we’ll talk about you in detail in a moment.

The only common feature here is the issue of pouring the foundations, this remains unchanged.

Any wet work that occurs in the construction of ordinary houses does not take place here.

Thanks to this, we can perform our work much faster and regardless of the current weather conditions.

It is also worth mentioning that wood is a very good material for harsh conditions. Regardless of whether the environment is wet or dry and whether we are dealing with heavy precipitation, it will cope well in each of these situations.

It is also important that putting logs in itself is also much faster than making walls of concrete blocks.

How long will a wooden house last?

Contrary to the misconception of many people, wooden buildings are able to last for a really long time (even hundreds of years).

This is because wood is an incredibly durable material that is resistant to harsh environmental conditions.

Heavy rainfall and general humidity? No problem. Frost and snowfall? He’ll do great too. Seaside climate? We can do this indefinitely.

ATTENTION! Remember that for the first few years the wood shrinks and the house settles slightly.

However, this is a completely normal and harmless process because it is a material that is constantly working.

After these few years, the wood will be 100% ready and will not show any problems in use. As long as we take good care of them of course.

What is the climate like in a wooden house?

We’ve talked about this before, but now a little more detail.

One of the great advantages is definitely maintaining the moisture level at a constant level of about 40%, plus very good thermal insulation properties.

Allergy sufferers, asthmatics and all people with respiratory problems will feel extremely comfortable in such a house.

However, such benefits apply not only to people with respiratory diseases, but also to those without any health conditions.

In addition, it greatly affects our well-being and direct comfort of living in the building. The more natural notes, the better life is.

Additional advantages of a log house

  • Wood absorbs harmful substances from the environment.
  • It is a very durable and resistant building material and more.
  • It is recyclable, so it does not harm the environment.
  • It is extremely elegant and has a very positive effect on the appearance of the house.

The biggest disadvantages of a log house

As you can see, we really have a lot of advantages here, right? Wood is a great material, but it is not perfect and also has some major or minor flaws.

And it is because of them that many people will eventually give up a wooden house and go towards classic construction.

Okay, but what are the disadvantages and are they really a nuisance? See for yourself.

These will simply be issues that will become really annoying for some and in their favor they will decide on a less demanding house made of concrete blocks.

Mass

What it is, we have already written in detail before, so there is no point in repeating it in short;

This is the process of isolating connections, e.g. between logs. This is a mandatory task that should be repeated periodically depending on the specifics of the house.

It can be performed every 3 years or even every 10, but everything here is completely dependent on what type of construction we are dealing with.

This process cannot be neglected and should be performed regularly without neglect. It is best to get help from a professional who knows how to do this task.

Soundproof

Wood is not very soundproof, or rather it is much less soundproof than buildings made of concrete blocks.

As a result, e.g. wind power or sounds from the outside are more audible than in the case of ordinary buildings. Let’s not get it wrong either.

Of course, it’s not like you can hear absolutely everything in a wooden house and you can’t even sit there in peace, read or watch Netflix. and without any problems, only the intensity of external sounds will be a little higher.

The wood is still working

Due to the fact that wood is a material, as indicated by the headline „constantly working”, we will have to get used to all creaking floors, etc. Wood is a natural material that is „alive” all the time.

Is it worth building a wooden log house?

It depends, if the above-mentioned disadvantages do not bother you and you live in a place that is not a typical urban agglomeration, it will be a really good choice. Such a house is cheaper, faster to erect, ecological and healthier for the household members.

It has a lot of advantages that have a very positive effect on us and allow us not to deplete our wallet so much.

The properties that a log house and a wooden house in general give us are so good that many people can overcome and live with these small „impediments”, although it is still an exaggeration of the whole thing. Plus, remember to pray.