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Air Circulation in the Residential Log Cabin

Ventilation in your residential log cabin is very important. Needless to say, a log home is the same as any other construction - it is an enclosed building where moisture and heat can build up unless it is fitted with a reliable ventilation system. These types of construction are highly prone to moisture that could develop into mould and mildew buildup and many other issues. You may have heard that a residential log cabin breathes and that air flows through the timber walls. To some extent this is true. However, do not rely too much on this and neglect to do anything about your log home’s ventilation system.

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What happens inside an unvented residential log cabin?

Imagine a log cabin buried deep in the forest with smoke curling up through a stove pipe that sticks out of the roof. The warm and snug interiors of the log home provide the perfect sanctuary, especially as winter rages outside. It is indeed a picture perfect scenario for a residential log cabin. You can never achieve this level of convenience if you don’t do anything about your cabin’s proper ventilation system. Take note that proper ventilation is one of the most critical parts of contemporary log home construction. Modern log cabins actually demand it for comfort and functionality.

Pressure and moisture may find an escape route out of the cabin interiors. There are obvious marks that could be associated with water entering the cabin. This is the usual scenario in a residential log cabin that is not properly vented. A leaking cabin may pose numerous underlying issues but the main solution is to have the cabin regularly treated and upgraded for ventilation.

Just try to picture in your mind the disgusting scene you will see when you arrive in your unvented residential log cabin - damp socks, mittens, and sweaters hung and drying on lines from your cabin ceiling. Imagine wet mukluks and other moist linens and clothing drying in the corner. An unvented log home gives you a damp space in the winter but a musty and dank place in the summer. Now is that your idea of a home sweet home?

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Ventilation through Log Walls

Logs are materials that could provide not just physical structures to your residential log cabin, log walls are also great ways to vent and insulate the building. When choosing the materials for your log home, make sure you opt for the best quality and thickest logs. It is important if your location is prone to cold winters. How do you keep your log cabin well-ventilated?

Ensure seamlessly airtight joints and log walls in order to stop drafts and maximize energy efficiency. Chinking is a versatile sealant that is used for residential log cabin walls in order to seal spaces that are in between logs. For this it is best to consult professional log home contractors about proper cabin ventilation that offers remarkably tangible and effective results.

Issues with Log Cabin Ventilation

Check out some of the most common problems that log home owners usually complain about:

Log Expansion and Contraction

Logs expand and contract all throughout the year. Logs normally expand in winter but they contract in the hot summer months. The expansion and contraction of logs are quite inevitable even if the materials have undergone kiln drying. In order to better insulate your residential log cabin, make sure that you invest in wall insulation through using much thicker logs that are not prone to expansion and contraction.

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Exposed Beam Ceilings

When the beam ceilings are exposed, then the groove ceiling and tongue don't offer enough space for plumbing and ductwork. This becomes more of a challenge for a log house owner because the groove ceiling and tongue also function as the finished floor or subfloor of the second floor rooms. Therefore, it is important for the space that is right above the ceiling to be enclosed.

What do you do to provide ventilation for such enclosed space?

Installing a false floor is a seamless and elegant way to create a space for the ventilation, plumbing, HVAC ductwork, and wiring. However, this is quite an expensive option. You need to add an extra floor in your residential log cabin as well as additional logs to create the required height.

Log Cabin Roofs for Ventilation

The roof plays an equally important role in ventilating your residential log cabin as much as the walls and floors do. If you need to insulate your log home interiors, upgrade your roof system. Unlike typical buildings, high roof and rafters provide beautiful details for the log cabin especially as they are visible from the inside, with the insulation being on top of the log home, particularly a roof with sheathed features. Aged boards are highly recommended for residential log cabin in place of plywood. This adds not just the proper insulation but also a rustic aesthetic to the cabin.

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A well-vented roof must be treated and covered with a moisture resistant membrane in order to avoid moisture and pressure from entering the interiors. It is important to staple down the membrane onto the boards. The process is necessary so that the warm air is stopped from escaping the insulation layers of the residential log cabin.

Good Ventilation Plan is the Key

Designing your new log home or planning out for some upgrades require you to prioritize the ventilation system. Start with a good plan that is easy and efficient to materialize. For new or renovated residential log cabin, the most important thing is to pinpoint which location needs venting the most. You can start with the ventilation system of your bathroom in order to remove the odour and moisture. Also vent the range located in your log home kitchen to get rid of any accumulated moisture during cooking or cleaning. Provide vents for the clothes dryer as well. The drains in the roof and plumbing systems also need ventilation.

Air circulation is vital in a residential log cabin. It not only ensures good quality of indoor air for optimal health, it also makes your cabin more comfortable and durable for years to come.

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