You’ve heard it said before: the Earth is getting hotter. According to both NOAA and NASA, 2023 was the warmest year in the last 144 years of record, and 2024 is on track to be warmer (or if not, the second warmest on record). The rise in temperatures not only means more record-setting daily highs around the globe, but also more intense storms.
As the number of natural disasters increase, so too do the associated costs. The NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) says that in 2021, the U.S. experienced 20 separate billion-dollar weather and climate related disasters, putting that year in second place for the most disasters behind 2020, which had a record 22 separate billion dollar events.
With the 2024 hurricane season nearly half-over, we don’t yet know how it will all shake out. Already Beryl, Debby and Ernesto have brought devastating flooding and tornados to different parts of the country, forcing people to leave their homes without knowing what they’ll face when they return. So the question we must ask is how can we construct more resilient buildings that are strong enough to endure these increasingly stronger storms?
One such example is in Grand Chenier, LA on the Gulf of Mexico. In 2005, Hurricane Rita bared down on the region, devastating the area. One log home survived with barely a scratch. Not only that, everything inside the home was as it was when the homeowners left during the mandatory evacuation, from the dishes in the kitchen cabinets to the daughter’s dollhouse.
Consider log and timber homes
Log and timber homes don’t just look good; they also offer several additional benefits, according to the National Association of Home Builders. One is that they last for a really long time. You can find log and timber homes built in Europe dating back more than 800 years that are still in use today. In fact, rumor has it that one church in Russia constructed from logs is more than 1,700 years old.
Homes made with solid logs provide excellent protection against Mother Nature’s wrath, with the ability to withstand heavy rains, howling winds, tornadoes and earthquakes. Using logs that are kiln-dried add to their strength because they are void of moisture. Finally, mill cut logs provide optimal matching and fitting, allowing for proper stacking and fastening of the logs, which also adds to the home’s durability.
Real world examples
There are several examples of log and timber homes escaping natural disasters unscathed while the neighborhood around them was demolished. One such example is in Grand Chenier, LA on the Gulf of Mexico. In 2005, Hurricane Rita bared down on the region, devastating the area. One log home survived with barely a scratch. Not only that, everything inside the home was as it was when the homeowners left during the mandatory evacuation, from the dishes in the kitchen cabinets to the daughter’s dollhouse.
Rita’s winds also caused a giant oak tree in eastern Texas to crash through the roof of Menlo and Mickey Klingman’s 1,700-square-foot log home, but the solid log walls withstood the weight of the massive toppled tree and prevented more damage. And a log home that took a direct hit from a tornado in Columbia, TN sustained only minor damages to the roof while the neighboring homes, that were not log or timber homes, were all completely demolished.
From Marck Champion on Facebook: “Something folks don’t talk about much in regards to log homes; they hold up better than conventional homes during natural disasters. This is a home I finished restoring two months ago. It received a direct hit from the EF3 tornado in Columbia, TN. The neighboring homes were completely demolished, but this home will be repaired and look good and new in the next few months.”
What’s next for log homes?
It’s clear that homes made from logs and timber are sturdier than homes made from other materials, and their popularity is growing. As the planet continues to heat up and extreme weather barrels down, people want homes that will withstand the elements; incorporating logs and timber will help build sound and secure structures that will survive hurricane-force winds, tornadoes and earthquakes, keeping those homes standing even in the most intense extreme weather events.
Proving the Sustainability of Log and Timber Buildings
Log and timber homes and structures are vital to building a more sustainable future for the next generation. Building codes are changing to meet the demand for more storm-resistant structures, but mass timber is being left behind due to outdated data and unrealistic comparisons to R-values.
We need your help!
We need your help to prove mass timber’s energy efficiency and sustainability. We aim to raise $30,000 to fund roofing, sheathing, and wall studs for the cubes in Colorado and Texas. Donations of materials and labor are much appreciated.
The IMTA is privately funded, and we don’t receive grants or government money. Without your generous donations and support, we couldn’t continue testing.
To become an active participant, contact Rob Pickett at rpickett@imtimberalliance.org or donate to fund testing and data collection. Every little bit helps inch us closer to securing the future of the log and timber industry.
Thank you!