Few people can resist the quaint and rustic look of old-style homes, but may not realize how easily that wood can deteriorate without log home siding. Whether made of steel, concrete, or vinyl, homeowners can have the old-world look without the old-world problems. Black mold, termites, and water intrusion are just a few ways that the old wooden structures came to be a high-maintenance ordeal for the homeowner.
Water intrusion can buckle walls and floors, but if there are no obvious damages, it allows the silent killer, black mold, to enter. Mold can cause life-threatening asthma attacks in even healthy people, and often it will take years before it is identified. In some extreme cases, it can even result in the residents moving out, or the house itself being condemned due to the overwhelming cost of remediation.
With the encroaching moisture one often finds termite infestations as well as mold. The more warmth and moisture in the area, the greater the problem with termites. Both mold and termites cause a house to crumble from within, and are a serious health and safety issue.
In one southern state in particular, it was reported that treated lumber sitting idle for a period of a week during construction was already found to be infested with termites when the builders went to use it. It had been a particularly wet year, causing the termites to spread aggressively that year, and many structures were built with already contaminated wood.
Houses constructed with vinyl, metal, or concrete rather than wood have revealed themselves to be standing up much better to the risk of fire than the old logs do. Homes on the West Coast where fires often go out of control can be at a particular risk. Logs burn quickly and cause much more extensive casualties than structures made with more modern materials which are designed to burn slowly.
Aside of health and safety issues, price is another aspect that anyone looking to build a home is going to face. Wood is extremely expensive to begin with, and many people in the world today regard logging as a practice they would go so far as to name evil. Using a less expensive alternative can save a whole forest of trees throughout the life of a home.
Not only do these optional materials cost less, but they insulate and protect a structure from water intrusion much more sustainably. With less water getting into a structure, there is less chance that mold will develop or that termites will invade. Better insulation also means lower power bills throughout the life of a dwelling.
Many people are seeking a return to a more simple way of life, and they wish their homes to reflect this attitude. However, using modern materials may actually be the best way to return to a simpler approach to living. Sustainability is the word of the decade, and there is nothing sustainable about cutting down more trees to create an old-fashioned appearance to a home.
Water intrusion can buckle walls and floors, but if there are no obvious damages, it allows the silent killer, black mold, to enter. Mold can cause life-threatening asthma attacks in even healthy people, and often it will take years before it is identified. In some extreme cases, it can even result in the residents moving out, or the house itself being condemned due to the overwhelming cost of remediation.
With the encroaching moisture one often finds termite infestations as well as mold. The more warmth and moisture in the area, the greater the problem with termites. Both mold and termites cause a house to crumble from within, and are a serious health and safety issue.
In one southern state in particular, it was reported that treated lumber sitting idle for a period of a week during construction was already found to be infested with termites when the builders went to use it. It had been a particularly wet year, causing the termites to spread aggressively that year, and many structures were built with already contaminated wood.
Houses constructed with vinyl, metal, or concrete rather than wood have revealed themselves to be standing up much better to the risk of fire than the old logs do. Homes on the West Coast where fires often go out of control can be at a particular risk. Logs burn quickly and cause much more extensive casualties than structures made with more modern materials which are designed to burn slowly.
Aside of health and safety issues, price is another aspect that anyone looking to build a home is going to face. Wood is extremely expensive to begin with, and many people in the world today regard logging as a practice they would go so far as to name evil. Using a less expensive alternative can save a whole forest of trees throughout the life of a home.
Not only do these optional materials cost less, but they insulate and protect a structure from water intrusion much more sustainably. With less water getting into a structure, there is less chance that mold will develop or that termites will invade. Better insulation also means lower power bills throughout the life of a dwelling.
Many people are seeking a return to a more simple way of life, and they wish their homes to reflect this attitude. However, using modern materials may actually be the best way to return to a simpler approach to living. Sustainability is the word of the decade, and there is nothing sustainable about cutting down more trees to create an old-fashioned appearance to a home.
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