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Types of Wood Used in Log Homes

People often wonder what is the best wood to use in log homes and log cabins. According to Jim Cooper (from Log Homes Made Easy), there is no best wood, rather each type of what has advantages and drawbacks.

Here is some information on some of the types of woods used in log homes and log cabins:

White Pine
Pros: The eastern variety of White Pine is light in color, has a straight grain, and is easy to work with.
Cons: It is hard to find long straight lengths of White Pine. It resists twisting.

Cypress
Pros: The Heartwood of old-growth Cypress is quite resistant to decay. Cypress is fairly strong.
Cons: The wood is expensive.

Douglas Fir
Pros: Douglas Fir is moderately priced and very strong.
Cons: Since Douglas Fir is a softwood, it is prone to gouges and dents.

Hemlock
Pros: Hemlock is fairly heavy and hard which makes it less likely to twist or bow.

Yellow Pine
Pros: Yellow Pine is fairly inexpensive. It is easy to work with and moderately resistant to decay.
Cons: Yellow Pine is prone to shrinking and warping, more so than other species.

Other woods used in log homes:
Red Cedar
White Cedar
LodgePole Pine
Spruce
Oak

Source: Log Homes Made Easy