Log Siding: Cabin Log Siding Options, Cost & Manufacturers

It doesn’t get more traditional than log siding (otherwise know as cabin log siding)! And while this home siding option isn’t as popular as it once was it is still going strong in rural and rustic settings. Part of this continued siding trend is due to the production of faux wood siding options like vinyl log and concrete log siding.

In this RenoCompare House Siding Guide we take you through all your options, the different materials to choose from, how much they cost and who manufactures and sells them. You may also be interested in our cedar siding and engineered wood siding guides.

cabin log siding

OPTIONS & MATERIALS

As you browse log siding (or log cabin siding) options, you’ll find real wood siding and a range of faux log siding choices. Fake wood siding includes vinyl, concrete and steel log siding. A variety of siding profiles await your perusal too. This summary of siding for cabins will assist you as you narrow your choices.

SIDING OPTIONS:

Here are the styles of log cabin siding available:

Full log siding: Genuine wood logs are the most common type of full logs, but structural concrete logs are available too. Both are made in various sizes. Larger-diameter full log siding systems offer good insulation and form the interior walls too in log home construction. This is known as full-wall construction

D-log siding: The shape of these siding pieces give them the name. If wood, the inner side of the log is milled flat while the outer edge remains round. Tops usually feature two tongues with bottoms milled with grooves. Gaskets may be added to prevent air leaks. Mostly used as exterior siding, wood and structural concrete D-logs can also be used in full-wall construction when a flat interior wall is desired.

Half log siding: This is generally genuine cedar or pine log siding. While the name implies that a full log is split in two to form half logs, most are not complete halves. For example, a log with an 8” diameter might be turned into half log siding 8” high and 3” deep rather than the 4” you’d expect. A variety of the half log is the quarter log. In the example given, the siding would be 8”x2”. In both half and quarter log siding, a single tongue and groove system and end-matched design create tight fits and excellent strength.

Shiplap log siding: This natural log cabin wood siding board goes by the names ship lap and ship-lap siding as well. The name is taken from shipbuilding. Shiplap siding is flat, and one edge is milled to produce a protruding top side. The opposite edge is milled to create a recessed bottom side. Edges can be square or beveled. When installed horizontally or vertically, the protruding edge of one piece fits snugly into the recessed edge of the next in fashion similar to tongue and groove.

SIDING MATERIALS

Once the domain of natural wood only, log siding is now available in faux log siding materials, each with their pros and cons. Here is a summary of real and fake log siding for homes.

Real wood: Still the leader in market share, real wood species used are cedar and pine along with smaller quantities of fir and hemlock. The chief benefit is authenticity with the look and aroma that goes with it.

Vinyl: Most vinyl siding is embossed with wood grain, so vinyl faux log siding is the natural next step. Vinyl log siding is available in several sizes and styles. Its benefits include lower cost than genuine log siding and resistance to moisture and insects. Most significantly, vinyl log cabin siding requires very little maintenance. For more on the different types of vinyl siding click here.

Further Reading: Aluminum Siding vs Vinyl 

Concrete: The mixes used for concrete log siding produce faux log siding both lightweight and very strong. Glass fiber reinforced concrete (GFRC) and fiber cement blends are most common. Full log concrete and plank siding in flat and curved profiles are available. Concrete log siding is strong and durable, and it requires less maintenance than natural wood. Insects, woodpeckers and rot are not an issue.

Steel: Faux log siding made from tough, lightweight steel which is stamped to look like wood. Metal siding is often backed by about one inch of foam to increase rigidity and resist impact. It provides some insulation too. The obvious advantage is that it doesn’t require the consistent upkeep that natural wood does. Steel log siding requires little or no maintenance.

LOG SIDING PRICES

Here is a summary of log cabin siding cost for the various styles and materials.

Wood log cost: Here are prices for the most popular styles. Prices on the lower end of the range are pine log siding; the higher costs are fir, hemlock and cedar log siding. Costs are per square foot:

  • Full log prices: $24 to $40
  • D-log prices: $27-$38
  • Half-log prices: $4.25 to $7.75
  • Quarter-log prices: $2.50 to $5.50
  • Shiplap log prices: $5 to $8

Vinyl log siding cost: This price range is for standard (lower cost) and insulated (higher cost) vinyl log siding.

  • Vinyl log prices: $3.65 to $5.50

Concrete log siding cost: Available in full log and veneer-type siding, engineered concrete log siding is a mid-priced siding product:

  • Full log concrete prices: $7.35-$12.50
  • Concrete log prices: $1.85-$3.15

Steel log siding cost: Metal log siding offers better impact resistance at a moderately higher cost:

  • Steel log prices: $4.25 to $5.75

We have in-dpeth price guides to all the most popular siding materials. Click any of the following links to calculate and estimate or get a professional quote: Vinyl Siding Prices – Fiber Cement Siding Prices – Cedar Siding Prices – Stucco Siding Prices

LOG SIDING RETAILERS AND MANUFACTURERS

Here is a summary of where to find genuine log siding and faux log siding for sale for your construction or renovation project.

Natural wood siding:

  • Buffalo Lumber Company produces quarter log cabin siding in various widths from cedar, pine and fir.
  • Bear Creek Lumber produces Western red cedar log siding in 2” (quarter log) and 3” (half log) dimensions.
  • Heartwood Mills offers quarter log siding, half log, D-log and full log siding in Western red cedar, pine and fir
  • Home Depot offers log cabin siding in tongue & groove and square edge planks
  • Log Home Shoppe produces quarter log pine and cedar log siding in several widths
  • Mills offers quarter, half and 4” white cedar log siding as well as whole cedar logs
  • Tomahawk Log & Country Homes produces full log siding cedar wall systems
  • Woodhaven Log & Lumber produces white pine siding in quarter, half and “FatBoy” (a type of D log) sizes
  • The Woodworkers Shoppe supplies finished and unfinished cedar log siding in quarter and half log siding varieties

Many manufacturers including those listed sell directly to the public. Before you order from a distant supplier, check for log siding available locally that will reduce or eliminate shipping costs. Menards has an excellent selection of Meadow Valley log cabin siding in Western red cedar, white pine, spruce and fir. Most other building supply and home improvement stores offer log siding through special order only.

Concrete siding:

  • EverLog Siding produces fiber cement fake log siding for homes in round log and hand-hewn profiles in various dimensions. Everlog siding cost per square foot ranges between $14 and $18.
  • Old Kentucky Logs manufactures whole log siding in a hand-hewn profile

These companies sell directly to the public. You can also order engineered fiber cement siding from most building supply stores.

Vinyl siding:

  • Faux Panels produces vinyl log siding in Cypress, Spice, Maple and Smoke colors
  • KP Vinyl Siding produces Adirondack brand Cypress, River Rock, Spice and Vermont Maple vinyl log siding colors
  • Seamless Polymer Siding makes Cedar and Harvest Brown vinyl log siding that mimics half log siding

Vinyl log siding is sold by the manufacturers. Adirondack brand is available at Menards. The other home improvement chains and most independent building supply stores offer it through special order.

Steel siding:

Metal siding is available from the manufacturers or their franchisees or from most chain and independent building supply stores through special order.

 

REVIEWED AND FACT-CHECKED BY JAMIE SANDFORD

Jamie Sandford - Owner and Lead Editor at RenoCompareJamie Sandford is the Chief Editor at RenoCompare (find out more). Jamie has been involved in construction for over 30 years. Straight out of college, Jamie worked with construction crews for the television, film and theatre industries for over 12 years. In his thirties, he turned his attention to DIY decorating and construction, working on many house renovations and remodels. During this time he started to specialize in home flooring and in 2013 he launched the Home Flooring Pros website. Two years later he launched RenoCompare.

“I’ve seen interior design, remodeling, and construction from both sides of the street, contractors on one side and homeowners on the other. My aim is to close the gap between the professionals and the consumers and make it easier for both sides to work smoothly and effectively side by side. At RenoCompare we want to save you time and money by giving you the information you need as simply and as quickly as possible!”

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