Our response: You are not alone in your frustration with log home maintenance, but covering up log homes with siding isn’t the answer.

Log home maintenance can be time-consuming and, in some cases, very expensive. While I would never want to see beautiful logs covered up with siding, it is possible to cover them with siding.  Having said that, there are a few things that you might want to think about when it comes to log homes and siding.

If resale of the home is a consideration, be aware that covering up your logs with siding is most likely a drawback in a future sale.  Potential buyers and inspectors raise many questions when the logs are covered with siding.

Secondly, siding the house will create some irregular cavities between the logs that will need to be filled with insulation. If they are not filled properly, these areas may be inviting to critters like mice and bats looking for a place to live in your walls, or to condensation in colder and warmer climates, as you mentioned.

I recommend using something other than steel siding, such as cement board or cedar, which are more breathable products. The more breathable the wall is, the less likely you are to develop problems due to moisture building up in your log walls.