I got an interesting question from a visitor to this site today:

My husband and I are looking at making one room in our home look like a log cabin. We just need interior log to put over our sheet rock. Do you have any suggestions? Where do I go to find this?" -- Emily B.

My recommendations below...

A few years ago, I saved this statement that I found in a magazine or online:

Log homes are stronger & sturdier and more likely to survive tornadoes & hurricanes, largely due to all of the inner-locking joints.

Unfortunately... I didn't write down the source. (It was long before I had this website.) So, I recently decided to do a little research in hopes of determining a log home's ability to withstand hurricanes and tornadoes.

On websites discussing common log home myths, I found this...

Log homes are stronger than conventional homes. This is almost completely true, because it's actually the massive log walls that provide strength. Even though other parts of a log home may not be as strong as the walls, the walls tend to hold everything together in times of storms or earthquakes. Source

And this...

Log homes have established a record of surviving other natural disasters in much better condition than frame houses. Ripped from their foundations by floodwaters, they've been known to simply float intact down the river. During Hurricane Hugo, a log home was the only Carolina beachfront home to remain standing. Florida log homes survived the destructive winds of Hurricane Andrew in 1992 with only minor damage, and in areas of utter devastation during recent California earthquakes, log homes were among the few dwellings that escaped major damage." Source (.pdf)

With hurricane season upon us (June 1 through November 30), I thought it might be worthwhile to see how well log homes fare under typical hurricane conditions.

I found an old, yellowed article I tore out of the newspaper several years ago.

It's as interesting today as it was then (circa 2001 - when we lived in Pensacola - which is the newspaper it came from - as determined by a car dealer ad on the back).

The article gives you an idea of the sheer volume of building materials that are used when building a "traditional" single-family home.

Who are log home owners? What are their ages? What do they like?

When it comes to log home trends, there are a number of things we can say about log home owners, in general.

Log homes are also becoming popular in the cash-laden celebrity world. While the producers -- log home producers, that is -- would love to name drop, confidentiality agreements keep these identities guarded more closely than our nation's nuclear secrets. [Hint: One is a female media mogul who rules daytime TV.]" And don't rule out the mainstream buyer. More "everyday" people are looking to infuse little slices of luxury into their log homes, too. Whether it's a spa-style master bath or an indoor rock-climbing wall, choosing a few special amenities works for many buyers -- and their budgets. Source

More about log home owners below...

Here's a growing list of the reasons that I look forward to moving out of a "traditional home" in a "traditional subdivision" and into a non-traditional home (a log home) in a non-traditional setting (on a lake).

See if you have the same subdivision pet peeves as I do...

Goodbye to this...

Fewer people are parking in their garage than ever before. The reasons for this are numerous. Not the least of which is the fact that today's families simply have bigger cars and more stuff.

As a last resort, families are using their garages as storage sheds, rather than for parking their cars.

Hindsight is 20/20... I would encourage you to plan now -- in the design phase -- so you don't find yourself second-guessing your new home's design later.

Wondering what's going on in the log home industry these days?...

Here are some little-known facts about log homes, including a number of log home trends that are affecting the housing market today.

If you're building a new log home, check here first for the inside scoop on log homes!