The Benefits of White Cedar versus Pine

  • Highest "R" value of any wood species commonly used in log home construction
  • Decay and Rot resistant... Over 8 times longer life than Pine when in contact with the ground
  • Natural insect repellent oils
White Cedar
Pine

White cedar has the highest "R" value of any of the wood species used in log home production. A rating of 1.41"R"/inch thickness.

SOURCE: U.S. Dept. of Agriculture - Wood Handbook.

 According to the ASHRAE Handbook, the "R" Factor/Thermal Mass Factor of White Cedar is 3.78"R"/inch thickness .

SOURCE: ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, & Air-Conditioning Engineers) Handbook of Fundamentals.

The "R" value of various Pine species used in log production averages 1.12"R"/inch of thickness.

According to the ASHRAE Handbook, the "R" Factor/Thermal Mass Factor of Pine is 2.76"R"/inch thickness.
 


Kenomee homes are built from logs of Northern White Cedar, a particularly beautiful wood with fine growth rings, uniform texture and delicate coloring. White cedar needs neither preservatives nor pressure-treating but the logs can be stained and in fact hold paint or stain very well. White Cedar is highly resistant to decay and insects which means that no chemical treatment of the logs is needed. Kenomee logs are air-dried, a gradual and natural process.

The thermal mass of solid timber makes all log homes energy-efficient regulators of heat and humidity; however Northern White Cedar has one of the highest R-value of all timbers. It is, therefore, highly prized for a variety of uses. White Cedar also warps much less than commonly used timbers and has the lowest incidence of shrinking and cracking.

Round logs, which include the heartwood of the tree and more closely follow its natural contours, are much less likely to twist and warp than logs which are milled by cutting through the natural growth rings. Because they do not expose the growth rings to the elements, round logs are also more durable than square logs. Kenomee uses round White Cedar logs, milling only one log from each tree.

Cedar is easy to work with and, because of its density, can be precision-milled. Kenomee's patented technology uses very precise milling of the logs to create a unique double tongue and groove compression seal that is air tight. The drip edge ensures that no moisture can get between the logs; and the compressed sealant between the joints ensures that the perfect seal is maintained. The air trapped inside the joint is an additional natural insulator. The combination of Kenomee's technology and cedar's natural thermal resistance makes a wall of unsurpassed energy efficiency.

Each log is precisely pre-cut and pre-drilled to plan specifications - no cutting is required on the building site. The logs are coded in accordance with the construction plan developed for your home, bundled and wrapped in protective covering, and shipped to your site.