How much you pay for log cabins depends not just on the size of the building but also what types of logs have been used to build it. There are some, which have been built using handcrafted logs, which are quite expensive, and there are those that have been built from milled logs and these types of cabins are a lot less expensive.

In this article, we explain some more about the differences between milled and handcrafted logs. This will help you to make a more informed decision as to which is the best option for you. Milled logs are those which have either been passed through a sawmill, planer or lathe to get them to the right lengths and widths. These as you will soon find generally are of a much more uniformed size and profile.

Logs, which are milled to help extract moisture from them, will either be allowed to dry in the air or be placed in a kiln. The time it takes for the exact amounts of moisture to be removed depends on the size of the log and the method of drying used. But by extracting moisture from the wood helps to prevent too much shrinkage occurring once, the cabin has been constructed.

The actual surface of these kinds of logs will be flat on the top and bottom of each one and they may also have been coped. In some cases, a tongue and groove joint will also have been inserted so that actually assembling the cabin together is a lot easier. Plus it helps to make a much more rigid and strong. These logs can be left with a rougher side to offer a more rustic look but can also be sanded smooth.

The most favoured types of woods, which are commonly used to produce milled logs for cabins, are pine, cedar, spruce or fir. The least expensive type of log cabin using the milled process are ones that are made from pine or spruce whilst those from cedar tend to be the most expensive.

As for handcrafted logs, these will have been prepared by being hand peeled using either a drawknife or through the use of water. The actual logs themselves when being prepared are green and will only have been cut and hauled a few days or weeks before. Unlike milled logs these are allowed to air dry only as kiln drying is a very expensive process, as these need to be dried whilst they are still their full lengths after cutting.

The types of trees that are most favoured for handcrafted log cabins are the Douglas fir, Pine and Spruce. However, there are some log cabin companies who prefer to use woods such as Oak, Juniper, Cyprus and Alpine Fir (also known as True Firs).

We mentioned previously that what you pay for having log cabins built not only depends on the types of logs used. But will also depend on the size of the cabin that is being built. A much larger cabin will cost far more simply because it needs to have more time spent built constructing it, plus more logs will also need to build it. If you do intend to have a large log cabin built, then go for milled rather than handcrafted logs if you also want to save money.