Things To Consider Before Buying A Log Cabin

Buying a log cabin offers you the opportunity to commune with nature or get away from your usual noisy surroundings one in a while. However, all these will only be possible if you buy the right cabin. The following precautions will help you safeguard your log-cabin investment:

The Threat Of Pest Damage

Pests can be a real problem in log cabins because they feed and live on wood, which is the main construction materials in these cabins. Termites, ants, and beetles can easily weaken and damage a log cabin. Fortunately, there are pest control measures that can mitigate this risk. For example, you will know that a log cabin is protected against pest infestation by confirming these things:

  • Cracks and gaps have been filled (for example with caulk).
  • The logs have been treated with pest repellants.
  • The logs haven't started to decay; it's easier for insects to attack decaying wood.

The Risk of Fire

Apart from pests, fire is a real threat to a log cabin since the main construction material is dried wood. Just like pests again, there are preventive measures that reduces the risk of fire in log cabins; here are a few examples:

  • The cabin is constructed with thick logs; smaller logs burn easily due to their low surface area to volume ratios.
  • The logs have been treated with fire retardants.
  • The log cabin has been constructed to meet legal fire rating standards.

Insulation Issues

Insulation is a problem in some log homes. This is because logs store heat during the day and release it slowly at night. However, there are measures that can improve insulation in log cabins. Therefore, inspect the log cabin to confirm that the builders took adequate precautions to insulate it. Here are some of the measures that mean a log cabin has good insulation:

  • The cabin is constructed with suitable woods such as cedar and spruce.
  • Any gaps between he logs have been sealed with caulking compounds or plastic gasket.
  • The log cabin meets local construction standards.

Insurance Issues

The risks above mean that insurance companies face more risks to cover log cabins than they do to cover conventional homes. Therefore, insurance companies have to protect themselves from these heightened risks by hiking insurance rates. In fact, depending on your location and the construction of your cabin, you may even have difficulty getting an insurance coverage. Choosing a cabin where the risks above (and others) have been mitigated increases your odds of finding insurance at a reasonable cost.

Accessibility

Many log cabins are located in out-of-the-way locations. It isn't uncommon to find a stunning log cabin in a mountainous region that an ordinary family sedan cannot access. Therefore, don't just rely on pictures when shopping for a log cabin. Make it a point contact a real estate agent and to visit the cabins you are interested in and survey the surroundings to confirm hat accessibility isn't an issue for you or your loved ones.


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