[Sirrotica]

Originally Posted by fiedlerh

My parents lived in one for 20 years during retirement. As has been said, they do require maintenance as does any type of construction. It's like owning a giant piece of furniture that is kept outdoors.

A key is to give the exterior a thorough inspection every few years and more often as it gets older. You have to keep insects at bay (mainly carpenter bees, wasps, and termites). One thing you MUST do is keep the joints between the logs sealed. You have to refinish/touch up the exterior now and then, maybe every 5-10 years. There are companies that specialize in maintenance and repairs when you get to the age where your wife won't let you get up on ladders.

I recall the home was comfortable year round and HVAC bills were normal, but this was Arkansas. You do need to dust the interior logs once in a while.

I appreciate the information.

Right now our biggest stumbling block has been finding a suitable piece of property. Middle Ohio is of course known for farming, and the woods have been clear cut in favor of tillable acreage to raise corn and soybeans. I have no inclination to build a log home in the middle of a former cornfield. Wooded property is a slim commodity in our area, the hunt goes on.