White Pine and Kiln Drying Advantages
Eastern White Pine is well known in our industry for its beautiful grain, superior stability, light weight, strong insulative properties, and ease of staining. White pine is resistant to shrinkage and comes available in large sizes—up to 12″ and 14″ diameters—making it an ideal choice for the exterior walls of log homes and cabins. While we have the ability to provide most major wood species at customer request, we consider Eastern White Pine to be our species of choice and recommend it to every homeowner.
About Kiln Drying
Achieving the optimal levels of moisture and sap in logs is a key step to preparing them for use in a log home. Kilns are essentially large ovens which have been used to speed up the process of drying lumber for many decades, but in recent years, log home manufacturers have begun to use kiln-dried logs in their homes because these logs deliver a wide range of benefits.
The Benefits of Kiln-Dried Logs
A quality kiln drying process will result in dimensionally stable logs which are resistant to twisting, shrinkage, checking, and cracking after installation, allowing for a more consistent and longer-lasting home. Kiln drying also kills any insects, insect eggs, larvae, fungus, or mold that could possibly be in the wood after a tree is harvested. The process even crystallizes the pitch (sap) inside of the log, keeping it from seeping to the surface in the future
Compared to newly-harvested “green” logs and air-dried logs, kiln-dried logs are much lighter and more manageable, facilitating easy transportation and construction. Kiln-dried logs are also capable of accepting stain immediately and allow for a deeper, more thorough penetration of such preservatives. Our logs are kiln dried to an average of 19% moisture content, which makes them as stable as possible far more quickly and consistently than air drying.
