How efficient are log homes for heating and cooling?
A. Our log homes are warm in the winter and cool in the summer. The main reason for this is the size of the logs. Unlike conventional construction where “R-value” is incorporated in the structure using insulation, in a log home the insulation comes from the thermal mass of the log. For instance, a smaller log has considerably less thermal mass than a 12″-16″ log. Using the envelope method of calculating “R-value” equivalency, we are happy to say our log homes, when finished as recommended, have an equivalent value of R-20 plus. Because of the thermal mass, once the logs are heated, they stay warm longer.
