What is the best species of wood for a log home? Let's not kid about about, there are homes we are talking about.
I'd go with white cedar.
Depends. Personally I'd pick western red cedar for the wall logs. I like the look of the massive logs and they have a better than average R value. Trade off is they are typically the most expensive option. If I was building in a humid place, I'd go with cypress or another naturally decay resistant wood. For strength, doug-fir is generally the preferred species. Southern yellow pine is strong, with some grades stronger than doug-fir, but tends to twist and warp as it dries. Some species are prone to sap drips, like white pine, some spruces, while not a structural issue, sticky walls are not appreciated by owners.
Some great info in this thread, with some knowledgable people. Good to see as log homes usually get bashed with false narratives by people who never built or lived in one.
