In years past, most log homes were small second summer homes and/or hunting or fishing camps. Today's typical log home is a family's primary residence that involves a substantial investment of at least $100,000.  With this in mind it is no wonder that log home owners are concerned about protecting their homes against wood destroying organisms.

Prior to the 1930's, most log homes were constructed from large logs from which the sapwood was removed, leaving dense, insect resistant heartwood.

Most log homes are now made from fast grown pine, spruce, or fir consisting mostly of sapwood. Some are constructed of more insect resistant wood species such as cedar, cypress or hemlock. However, even these woods lose their resistance over time and become prone to infestations.

One major pest control company estimated that 40% of the log homes they inspected had some type of active insect or decay infestation.

Approximately 14,000 log homes are constructed each year. This includes homes made from both milled and hand peeled logs. Some homes are supplied as kits while others are constructed by the manufacturer. In addition to log homes, timber frame (also known as post and beam) structures are becoming popular. They too suffer from a high risk of beetle and decay infestations.

Typically, a pest control company is contacted by an owner to solve an existing problem. Although it would be easier and less expensive to do a preventative treatment to a log home during the construction process, it rarely occurs.

Many log home suppliers are reluctant to admit that their product is subject to insect and decay infestations. Some of the more responsible manufacturers have taken it upon themselves to pretreat their logs with borates, thus preventing many of the problems associated with log homes.