When you go through a Log Home show or magazine most people end up more confused than when they started. Years of studies and research from the USDA Dept of Forestry has show that Cedar, specifically Northern White Cedar, is one of the best woods to use for building log homes. The USDA Forestry Division ranks it as one of the three best woods to use in exterior building. White Cedar has the lowest shrinkage factor, lowest moisture content of approximately 19%, increasing stability, resistance to rot & decay and allowing for a natural, air-dried building product that requires very little maintenance. It is one of the most versatile woods available. It has a molecular structure that gives it high thermal efficiency, and in fact, it has the highest R-Factor (a measure of thermal resistance used in the building and construction industry) of all domestic woods which means the best insulating qualities for your new log home. Cedar is one of the only three woods allowed by National BOCA Code to be used to build a deck or porch without pressure treating for rot, fungi, and wood infesting insects.

The following graph compares White Cedar to another commonly used building wood, Pine. When compared side by side its astonishing the difference the type of wood you use makes!!

Wood Specie Characteristics	Northern White Cedar	Yellow & White Pines
Decay & Rot Resistance	Yes	No
Low Moisture Content	Yes	No
Heartwood In Every Milled Log	Yes	No
Minimal Checking	Yes	No
High Natural Durability	Yes	No
Can Be Air-Dried	Yes	No
Checks Can Penetrate Heartwood	No	Yes
Left Untreated, Life Expectancy	50 + Yrs	3-7 Yrs
Moisture Content Per Cord	3500 lbs.	4700 lbs.
R-Value Per Inch	1.41	1.12
Thermal Mass Factor	3.78	2.76

This information is based on scientific research conducted by leading educational institutions and U.S. government agencies including the University of Maine, the United States Department of Agriculture, the Forest Products Laboratory, and the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-conditioning Engineers. By using cedar you are making your home more Sustainable and Eco-friendly, it will also last longer with less maintenance and be more efficient! Now remember, this is for the EXTERIOR of your home. If you are planning on building from scratch here is a good place to start but don't be afraid to use different types of wood on the INTERIOR of your home. Being sheltered from the weather conditions and elements, the inside of your home is a blank covered canvas. Feel free to decorate and design your interior with different types of wood or building materials to get the look you want :) NOTE: All of our Pine Siding IS pressure-treated to make it suitable for outdoor wear and will last. This article is strictly to inform you so you can make the best possible decision for your new home, not to dissuade you from doing your own research and getting exactly what you want.