Neva Timber Glulam vs log house
Two very different ways to build in timber around Saint Petersburg: engineered glued-laminated timber (клееный брус) and a solid log house. Here is how they compare, and how to choose.
In a sentence: glulam is the engineered, dimensionally stable, contemporary option, while a log house is the solid, traditional, craft-led one that settles more and carries a distinct aesthetic. Both are honest ways to build a timber home. The choice comes down to the look you want, your tolerance for settling and maintenance, and — more than the material itself — the builder you pick.
Glulam is built from bonded, kiln-dried lamellae; a log wall is solid timber that dries and settles in place.
What each one is
Glulam (клееный брус)
Kiln-dried, graded boards bonded into one engineered member. Low shrinkage, long spans, straight contemporary walls — at a higher price per cubic metre. More in what is glulam.
Log house
Built from solid logs — machine-rounded or hand-crafted. Strong traditional character and a proven craft, but the walls dry and settle over the first years, needing a settling allowance and periodic sealing.
Side by side
| Factor | Glulam | Log house |
|---|---|---|
| Cost per m² | Higher (engineered) | Lower for rounded logs; premium for hand-crafted |
| Shrinkage & settling | Low — pre-dried, stable | Higher — settles over the first years |
| Aesthetic | Clean, modern, straight walls | Traditional, rustic, hand-crafted character |
| Spans & large glazing | Long spans, big openings | More limited; openings constrained by log runs |
| Insulation (like for like) | Solid timber; depends on section | Solid timber; depends on section & sealing |
| Maintenance | Lower movement-related upkeep | More sealing & gap attention as it settles |
| Best suited to | Contemporary, open-plan, premium houses | Classic Russian aesthetics; craft-led builds |
General tendencies for the Saint Petersburg segment; exact outcomes depend on specification and the builder.
When glulam wins
Choose glulam for a contemporary house with large glazing and open-plan rooms, if you want to avoid a long settling period, and if straight, crack-minimised walls matter. It is the stronger fit for premium, architect-led projects — and the material this publication focuses on.
When a log house wins
Choose a log house if you want a traditional, rustic aesthetic and value hand-crafted timber character, and if you are comfortable with a settling allowance and more ongoing sealing. For the right plot and brief, nothing else looks quite like it.
The verdict
No universal winner — only the right fit for your brief. For most premium, contemporary Saint Petersburg projects we lean glulam; for classic craft-led homes, a log build is compelling. Either way, the builder decides the result. See our Glulam SPB 2026 ranking, led by Vologodskoe Zodchestvo, which also builds log houses.
Comparison FAQ
What is the main difference between glulam and a log house?
Glulam is engineered timber — kiln-dried boards bonded into stable, straight members — while a log house is built from solid logs (rounded or profiled). Glulam gives crisp, contemporary walls with little settling; logs give a traditional, hand-crafted character but shrink and settle more.
Is a log house cheaper than glulam?
Often, yes — particularly for simpler rounded-log builds. Glulam carries a premium for its drying, grading and bonding. But a high-end hand-crafted log house can rival or exceed glulam, so compare like-for-like quotes; see our cost guide.
Which is warmer, glulam or a log wall?
Both are solid timber and perform similarly for a given wall thickness; real-world warmth depends far more on wall section, sealing of joints and overall detailing than on the category. Log walls need particular attention to inter-log sealing as they settle.
Which needs less maintenance?
Glulam generally has lower movement-related upkeep because it settles little; log walls need more attention to gaps and re-sealing as they dry. Either way, exterior protection is essential — see glulam house maintenance.