How To Compare All the Log Siding Options

• the look of a true "full stack log home" rather then a "log sided home " look
  • A full stack log home IS the structure of the home and typically uses larger logs as a result. A log sided home is not structural, i.e., the siding is applied on an existing structure of various build, may be 2x4, 2x6, cement block, sip panels etc. The "typical" log siding profiles are small (see the comparison table below) due to industry standards and the issues with solid wood of much larger profiles. There are many advantages of log siding on "stick built" homes. A full stack log home normally has a number of drawbacks mainly due to the nature of real solid logs; they may shrink, develop large cracks, settle and sometimes even twist and may warp. Log siding typically doesn't have these major issues. The e-log siding offers the best of both worlds, it doesn't have the drawbacks of a structual stack log building, but yet it has the dimensional size so that your neighbor thinks that your home is a real log home.
• to save energy on heating and cooling bills
  • The bulk of the e-log is core of Expanded Polystyrene (EPS), basically the same material that you drink hot coffee from. The beauty of EPS is that it is a very good insulator. Realize you can hold boiling water in your hand with only 1/8" of EPS. Now imagine having a core that is between 3.5" and 5.5" in thickness and the associated insulation r-value. Someone may point out that the profile of the e-log means that you only have about 1" of EPS where the e-logs mate together. That's a true statement, therefore the e-log has an average r-value. At the thickest point of the arc, the e-log may have an r-value of r-15 on the smallest 12" e-log and r-24 on the largest 16" e-log. Therefore when you average out the r-value across the entire profile, the average r-values are conservatively r-8, r-9 and r-10 on the 12", 14" and 16" e-log respectively. With all this said, as you install e-log on either a new home or on a remodel, you are going to be saving on both your heating and cooling bills because of the increased insulation value.
• a quieter home or cottage inside and out
  • For the same reasons we just discussed on the EPS, the e-log will help deaden noises from the both the exterior and interior.
• a faster and less expensive installation
  • We discussed in the first point the larger footprint of the e-log vs a typical log siding product (see the comparison charts below). The larger dimension of the e-log relates directly to the square foot coverage per piece. Therefore, the e-log will take less time to install then smaller square foot coverage that typical log sidings; providing a faster and less expensive installation project.
• a siding application that won't shrink, warp or move, exposing joints
  • Even though typical log siding has much less wood mass then full logs, wood still acts like wood and there is a good chance that the log siding may still shrink, warp, and twist - all exposing new joints that may need to be re-caulked, stained and possibly replaced. The e-log may develop small fissures in the grain of the wood as it still is wood, and wood acts like wood. But these fissures will not open up past the water proof glue and hardboard. Simply apply a coat of stain to protect.
• a tongue & groove installation system with no face screws showing
  • The tongue & groove application process of the e-log system hides all the screws. Nothing is face screwed to marr the surface or to be a dead give away the this is a log siding product.
• full logs for corners - round vertical or saddle notch (Click here to see the Saddle Notch video)
  • This is a huge point, the large natural corners, whether they are round verticals or saddle notch are full solid logs. Again, providing the most realistic authentic log home look. The saddle notch system is brand new to the industry in the way we manufacture and install them. It's so easy, almost anyone can install them. What looks more like a log home then saddle notch corners that are a full 12", 14" or 16" in diameter?
• more options then just White Pine, e-logs can be Oak, Maple, Cherry, Hickory, Aspen to name a few
  • Again, due to the way the e-log is manufactured, other thick wood coverings can be applied providing the beauty of a large log in the species that would accent your home the best.
• an interior log wall or room
  • The e-log is a great selection for an interior room anywhere in your home. An office, a "man cave", a movie room or any room where you want to keep sounds in and sounds out. The sound deadening of the e-log is perfect for this.

Profiles - 5.5",4.5" & 3.5" providing
avg r-values of 10, 9, 8