Log home construction has come a long way since cabins were built by hand with trees from the woods out back. Today, log cabin construction is much more precise thanks to modern technology and advanced milling techniques.

Whether you’re planning to build a large family home or a small vacation cabin for weekend getaways, one of your biggest decisions will be choosing a construction approach. While log homes have a distinctive appearance, without an expert eye it’s not always easy to tell exactly how they were built.

Keep reading to learn the difference between milled log cabins and prefab log cabins and the special advantages of milled logs. We hope this information helps you choose the best construction method, based on your needs and goals.

What is a milled log cabin?

Milled logs are precision-cut with saws and planers. These machines help give natural logs a uniform size and shape. Most log homes you see today are built with milled logs. In fact, 90% are constructed with this technique, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). Milled log homes are true log homes, with log walls visible from both inside and outside the home.    

What is a prefab log cabin?

Prefab log cabins are often built in sections before they arrive at the construction site. They can also be built off-site and shipped whole. Prefab cabins are what you might call “cookie cutter.” They’re usually conventionally framed (stick-built) with log siding—not full logs. In other words, they have the appearance of a log home from the outside, but the log siding is cosmetic, not structural. Prefab homes usually do not allow for customization since they are pre-built off site (based on the stock model purchased). 

Advantages of Milled Log Homes

There’s a reason 9 out of 10 log homes and cabins today are made from milled logs. Milled log cabins are durable, energy efficient, versatile, and aesthetic.

Durability

Milled log cabins have exceptional structural stability. The milling process precisely cuts and shapes the logs, and each joint is measured precisely for a perfect fit. This helps ensure the structural integrity of the home over time.

Milled logs are also dried to prevent warping and shrinkage. This is a huge advantage, since even the slightest amount of warping can lead to settling, which can damage your home and foundation. Shrinkage, meanwhile, can create gaps that allow air to infiltrate the home. 

Energy Efficiency

Thanks to the thermal mass of wood, milled log homes are energy efficient. Choosing a milled log home can help you keep heating and cooling costs lower throughout the year. 

Log walls help your home retain more of the heat generated by your furnace or fireplace in the winter months and more of the cool air generated by your air conditioning system in the summertime. Even in homes without air conditioning, log walls can help keep interior temperatures cooler in the hot summer months. 

Versatility

Since prefab log cabins arrive in pre-built sections, they’re usually not customizable. Milled log cabins, on the other hand, are built on site and offer much more flexibility in terms of customization. This is true for both interior and exterior spaces.

With milled log homes, you can choose from a variety of log sizes and styles as well as different corner styles. You also have more flexibility in terms of interior layouts. For example, you can work with your builder or general contractor to decide how the kitchen and bathrooms will be configured. This kind of customization usually isn’t possible with prefab or modular homes. 

Milled log homes are also much more versatile in terms of square footage. Size options for prefab log cabins are limited, and they’re usually not customizable. Conversely, the size of a milled log home is only limited by the size of your property.  

Aesthetics

Milled log cabins are unsurpassed in the beauty department. Precision-cut milled logs offer the best of both worlds: the unique richness of wood walls with a clean-looking finish.

Milled logs allow for a variety of profile options, including round, flat, and beveled. This versatility makes it easy to blend rustic and modern elements. 

For example, logs with a rounded exterior surface and flat interior face (often called “D-shaped logs”) impart a rustic look on the outside with a more modern vibe inside. A flat interior surface also makes it easier to hang cabinets and decorative elements.

Partner with eLoghomes on Your Log Cabin Project  

From greater versatility to exceptional durability and energy efficiency, milled logs are the clear winner, in our view. It’s why we use them exclusively in our log cabin kits at eLoghomes. 

Every eLoghomes’ kit includes precision-cut logs processed by reputable mills known for their quality workmanship. We use Eastern White Pine in our designs, a durable wood species known for its clean-looking finish and exceptional stability.  

eLoghomes offers a huge selection of milled log cabins, from 400-4,000+ square feet. See what’s included in our log home packages, take a virtual tour of some of our most popular models, then contact us for pricing. 

We look forward to helping with your project. Our knowledgeable team is ready to offer guidance and support, from ideation to construction. When you work with eLoghomes, you gain a partner through your home-building journey.