Log Home Restoration: Don’t Forget The Decks
Over the years since pressure treated lumber come onto the market, most every home constructed including log homes has a deck of some type. Large or small, exotic woods or just the typical Southern Yellow Pine, decks have become very popular. From using them for family cook-outs, lounging or using them as a screened enclosure to keep out insects, decks are an asset that adds value to the home. That is if they are maintained.
We have all seen decks that have turned gray, mildewed and have warped, split and splintering handrails and decking boards. Sometimes they have been neglected to the point that wood replacement is the only option. Oftentimes however, many of these decks can be saved through Deck Restoration and used for many years to come.
Deck construction, repair or replacement is costly and as an extension of your home, it only makes sense to maintain it. However, because most decks in the southeastern United States are pressure treated lumber, many people consider them to be almost indestructible. They do hold up well in inclement weather especially in damp locations. Pressure treated lumber is very resistant to water. That is why it is used almost exclusively in dock construction. But the drying effect of the sun is what really does the damage. UV rays dry the natural oils in the wood allowing it to split cup and warp prematurely. This is the main reason for keeping a quality sealer applied.
A good analogy is to compare it to dry skin. When your skin gets dry, it can crack and split so you apply a moisturizer. This rejuvenates the skin by adding essential oils. It is the same with wood. The sun’s UV rays dries out the wood and a good oil based sealer replenishes it.
Keeping the wood coated or conditioned with a quality sealer is imperative to the longevity of the deck. If maintained properly it can add value to the home and can be enjoyed for many years to come.
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Log Home Restoration: Quick Tip
Your log home is a large investment. Spending the time and the money to maintain it is also an investment. Most people would not go to a “big box” store and buy a can of spray paint to re-paint their car. Yet all too often, the “off the shelf” retail stains are bought and used to re-stain their log homes. This is one instance in which “you get what you pay for!” Make an investment!
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Log Home Restoration: Short Photo Show
This Photo Show of our latest log home restoration show a few before and after pictures of a cabin in Boone, NC. that we did as typical “strip & seal. Heading to Fredericksburg, VA. to a 4200 sf. home to be cob blasted.
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Log Home Restoration: New Videos
Be sure to check out our YouTube Channel videos!
We will be adding new video on a regular basis so check back often.
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Log Home Restoration
This log home restoration required stripping this pine dove tail log and pressure treated deck.
There was no finish on the logs or deck but we stripped using a mild stripping solution as if there were a f
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Log Home Restoration: Cedar Garage Doors
Cedar Garage Door Before Stripping
Cedar Garage Door Refinished
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Log Home Restoration: Bleaching Logs
During this log home restoration, We bleached the logs to remove sap staining, mildew, mold and degraded wood. As you can tell, the logs are left looking really “washed out.” The bright clean logs (left) were defelted and neturalized using a very mild solution. It also was rinsed very well. It is imperative to remove all chemical solutions from the wood before sealing.
Also, it is best to do it all (cleaning, stripping, neutralizing) at one time while the logs are still wet. Once the logs have dried, it is much harder to activate whatever chemical solution was used and then rinse it completly out.
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Log Home Restoration: Another Cedar Garage Door
- Cedar Garage Door
This garage door had a linseed oil based stain. Between the sun and applying the stain to an improperly prepared surface, it turned black in a matter of a few months. Most likely, the door was cleaned with bleach and not rinsed well enough. Also, it probably was not neutralized. The homeowner thought the door was beyond repair. We were in the process of stripping it when this picture was taken. We did neutralize afterwards. Makes all the difference!
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Log Home Restoration: Decks and Docks
Two tone deck, stairs and boathouse
1oo Steps!...finally finished!
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Log Home Restoration: Restoring More Than Logs
Log Home Restoration is generally thought of as repairing or improving the interior and exterior logs and other woodwork of a log home. This can be as simple as cleaning the home and applying a fresh coat of stain or can be as complicated as performing major rot repair and log replacement. However, another aspect of log home restoration that is often overlooked or thought to be beyond restoration is the roof. Specifically asphalt shingled roofs.
Many log homes as well as conventional homes today with asphalt shingled roofs are streaked or completely covered with a brownish-black stain. Many homeowners think these stains are signs of a worn out roof that must be replaced. Oftentimes though, depending on the age of the roof, a good cleaning is all that is needed.
Log Home Restoration is generally thought of as repairing or improving the interior and exterior logs and other woodwork of a log home. This can be as simple as cleaning the home and applying a fresh coat of stain or can be as complicated as performing major rot repair and log replacement. However, another aspect of log home restoration that is often overlooked or thought to be beyond restoration is the roof. Specifically asphalt shingled roofs.
Many log homes as well as conventional homes today with asphalt shingled roofs are streaked or completely covered with a brownish-black stain. Many homeowners think these stains are signs of a worn out roof that must be replaced. Oftentimes though, depending on the age of the roof, a good cleaning is all that is needed.
In the southeastern United States with the warm temperatures and high humidity, there is a growing problem with algae on roofs and particularly asphalt/fiberglass shingled roofs.
This algae is known as Gloeocapsa Magma which is identified by the brownish black stains. Usually it is noticed on the north side of the house first (where there is the least sun and the most moisture) and then spreads to other areas over time. In such a warm and moist climate, the only thing the algae needs is a food source to grow and spread. One food source is readily available in the form of limestone. Limestone is used as filler in the shingles.
With the ever increasing cost of petroleum used to manufacture asphalt shingles, companies needed to find a more economic way to produce the shingle so they introduced fiberglass. This reduced the asphalt, and made the shingle much stronger, but it also made the shingle much lighter in weight. Therefore shingle manufactures started adding a relatively cheap crushed limestone mixture to the asphalt shingle mainly as a filler. However, this created an entirely new problem. A food source for Gloeocapsa Magma.
So, is this algae a problem or just an eyesore? In the early stages, Goleocapsa Magma is more of an eyesore, but as it grows, it can become a significant problem.
Gloeocapsa Magma in some cases left untreated can become a health issue to some people with chronic breathing and allergy problems.
It also inhibits the shingle’s ability to reflect the UV rays of the sun. This in turn causes excessive heat build up in the attic which not only causes higher cooling costs, but also increases premature deterioration of the shingles. Another problem if let untreated, the algae buildup acts as a bed for leaves, dirt and pollen to collect creating a home for mold and mildew as well as having the ability to cause water to “dam” up under the shingles causing leaks. So it can be both an eyesore and a significant problem.
The best advice is to have it removed by a professional roof cleaning contractor when it becomes unsightly. The longer it stays on the roof and the more it spreads, the more likely there will be problems and it will only cost more to remove it.
There are a few different ways to remove the algae, but according to ARMA, (American Roofing Manufactures Association) a chlorine solution applied lightly, (meaning no pressure washing) and properly rinsed is the recommended and proper way. The other most commonly used methods are pressure washing and using Sodium Hydroxide. Pressure washing can easily remove the granules from the shingles as well as actually cut into the shingle. Sodium Hydroxde is a caustic degreaser often found in dish washing detergent and oven cleaner. Applied to an asphalt shingle, it can dilute the asphalt pigment resulting in loose granules and thin spots or holes in the shingles. I would not recommend Sodium Hydroxide.
Removing Goleocapsa Magma from your log home is a good idea, but only if it is done properly. The homeowner should have a reputable log home restoration contractor inspect the roof to determine if it is this particular algae and if the shingles are in good enough condition to be cleaned. Older shingles may actually need to be replaced. A reputable contractor should tell you if that is the case. Be careful who you call. It is very easy to have someone with their own interest in making a dollar tell you what they want you to know so to benefit themselves more than to benefit you.
Log home restoration is really not complete if you are standing back admiring the beautiful new finish of your home and all you can see is ugly black streaks and stains all over the roof. So, restoring more than just the logs may be a good idea!
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