Log Home Restoration: Finish Removal

The debate among log home restoration contractors rages on as to the proper way to remove old finishes from a log surface. Use a chemical and blast it off with water pressure, or use crushed corn cob or other media and blast it off with compressed air. Those are the the two most used procedures.  (Read More)

Log Home Restoration: Replacing Deck Boards

When older decks need a few boards replaced because of splinters or cracks, oftentimes unless the board is notched out for a post or has an angled cut, the board can just be flipped over. The bottom side of the board is most likely in excellent condition. This will match the existing older boards much better than buying a new “green” piece of lumber. Do the repair work first, clean or strip the deck, let it dry and then apply the finish .  Most of the time this will work very well and blend nicely. 

 

Log Home Restoration: Spring Cleaning Quick Tip

Now that the pollen is about over, its a good time to wash your log home. Be sure to do this at least once a year to remove any dirt, pollen, mildew and other contaminants. Keeping the logs clean will prolong the life of the finish dramatically. Dirty logs attract mildew, holds moisture and just plain look bad. Make sure the detergent used is compatable with your finish. If something too strong like dishwashing liquid is used it can actually remove some stains. Whatever you decide to use, be sure to start at the bottom and work up keeping the logs wet at all times. Light brushing may be needed but go easy. This to can damage the finish depending on what was used. Rinsing throughly is important so cleaning residue will not dry and streak the logs.  Cleaning a log home is not hard but care needs to be taken so the finish will look better when the job is done and not worse, For more tips on cleaning and restoration click here. 

Log Home Restoration: Quick Tip

Its a good idea to wash your log home at least once a year. In the spring after the pollen falls is the perfect time. It not only makes the home look better but, it also removes dirt, pollen and other contaminants that is a source of food that helps mold, mildew and lichens thrive. Be sure to use a mild detergent and start from the bottom and work up so as not to streak the logs.

Log Home Restoration: What About The Maintenance?

If you have owned your log home any length of time, then you have already had to deal with log home restoration maintenance issues. If you are considering buying a log home, understanding maintenance requirements and procedures can help not only in the buying process, but also help in understanding what is involved in the periodic upkeep of the home. 

Some log home owners after enjoying the initial excitement of the rustic beauty, the smell of the logs and the “log home living” atmosphere are disappointed to find that with all the beauty comes all that maintenance. However, if they understand proper maintenance procedure and maintain a practical maintenance program, they can efficiently manage the upkeep of their home without becoming overwhelmed by what may seem like a daunting task.

 The key is proper and routine maintenance. Proper maintenance does not mean waiting 5 or 6 years and then having someone to “power wash” your home with household bleach using 3000psi. water pressure. Then applying a do-it-yourself retail “big box store” stain, or the all too familiar “water-proofing” sealer. This is oftentimes mistakenly referred to as “log home restoration by some. This approach will certainly produce disappointing results. The “power washing” alone can do irreversible damage as well as can bleach if used improperly. 

Proper maintenance starts with an annual or even better, bi-annual “walk around” inspection. Take your time and inspect every square inch of your log home. Use a pen and paper to make notes of questionable or obvious areas of concern. Things like soft or rotten wood, loose or cracked caulking, bare wood, evidence of bee or other insect damage, stain discoloration, loose or missing knots, soft or decayed log ends, or anything else that may be suspicious looking. Better to take the time to examine a potential problem and it turn out to be nothing than to ignore it and ultimately be the cause of major repair work. Any problems need to be addressed immediately. Waiting only compounds the problem and it does not take long for something as minor as a soft spot in the wood to quickly deteriorate into dry rot. 

Also, at least once a year, it is recommended to wash your log home. Washing not only makes your log home look nicer, it helps keep the stain intact by removing pollen, dirt and other contaminants that feed mold, mildew and algae that erode and damage the finish. Be sure to use a very mild detergent. Too strong or the wrong kind can streak or even remove some finishes. There are some good products made specifically for cleaning log homes.

 Once clean and dry, it’s a good time to make minor repairs. Touch up areas the stain may be worn or missing. Dig out old caulk and replace with a new quality caulk. Treat and plug any Carpenter Bee holes you may have found. And don’t forget to caulk any large upward facing checks (cracks in the logs.) Depending on what you found during the inspection will dictate what needs to be done. The most important thing however, is to do something each year so it don’t pile up and become overwhelming.

 The largest and most important maintenance task is re-coating your log home.

Assuming that your log home was prepared properly to receive a quality sealer, and the sealer was applied correctly, you should expect 3 to 6 years of protection from a semi-transparent finish. You can expect less than 3 years if a clear or lighter stain is used. Keep in mind, the darker the stain, the more pigment and therefore the more protection. Lighter shades (the natural look) have the least amount of pigment and the least amount of protection.

So, it comes down to a trade off. Most people like the natural look of the logs. But to achieve this, either a clear or a light “honey” color will have to be used leaving the least protection on the logs. Using a darker color such as a pecan, mahogany or walnut tone will give the most protection thereby lasting the longest, but most people don’t like the darker shades. 

So the log home owner will have to decide which is more important; using a lighter shade to keep the natural look and sealing more often, or using a darker stain with more pigment and protection that will last longer, but loosing the lighter “natural” log look.

  Your log home is an investment. Spending the time and the money to properly maintain it is also an investment. It is important to use quality products that are made for log homes and this is one instance in which “you get what you pay for!”

Most people would not hire a body shop to go to a store and buy a can of spray paint to re-paint their car. Yet all too often, the “off the shelf” retail stains and caulks are used to maintain log homes. Most of these types of products are consumer oriented and for the “do-it yourselfer.”  Make sure you know what your log home restoration contractor uses and insist on log home specific products.

 There is nothing like living in a log home, the look, the smell, the relaxing surroundings, but be sure you know and understand what it takes to maintain one. It is an ongoing process that if routinely managed can be taken as just another characteristic of log home living, but if neglected, it can certainly become an overwhelming burden. Choose the former and enjoy the rustic lifestyle and natural beauty or your well maintained log home.

Log Home Restoration: Quick Tip

Spring is almost here. So what does that mean to log home owners? Well, just like interior “spring cleaning” the exterior of the log home needs cleaning as well.

After a long harsh winter battling the elements, the finish can really take a beating. UV rays from the sun can do just as much danage in the winter as in the summer months and maybe more. At least in the summer, most log homes have some amount of shade from trees around the house. In the winter when all the leaves have fallen, the sun has more direct contact on the logs.  The sun can actually cause more damage to the finish as well as other wood than water by drying out the wood causing it to crack and split. The sun takes its toll on the finish as well.  

Pollen, dust and dirt builds up over time. This build up is perfect food for mold and mildew which can erode the finish in a realative short period of time. Moreover, mildew will keep growing having the potential to cause some major log rot problems.

To keep your log home looking its best and protected, it is a good idea to wash the home with a mild detergent at least once a year.  Be careful what you use as some cleaners can cause major damage to the finish. Clean wood not only looks nicer, but will help the finish last longer. And that  extends re-coating intervals and more importantly, major Log Home Restoration. 

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.

Log Home Restoration: From The Homeowners Point Of View

This picture was taken from the inside during this log home restoration. This is what the homeowner can expect to see during the stripping process.

The brown run-off is stain residue that has been dislodged. The little chuncks are actual pices of the “film” from the “film-forming” stain that did not completly dissolve from the stripper. 

 This residue run-off is caustic and care must be taken so as not to damage plants, lawns, sidewalks, driveways or decrorative foundation and stonework as well as certian metal objects such as galvanized flashing, door hardware, electrical outlets, ect…Also, if the log home leaks ( and they ALL leak to some degree) care must be taken to control any residue that may enter the interior. Stripper residue can streak a log wall very fast if not addressed immediately.

As can be seen, chemical stripping is a harsh prodedure and must be monitored closely. Make sure you hire someone that knows proper stripping techniques. Once the damage is done, it is very hard to reverse any streaking or staining of interior walls.

Log Home Restoration: The Importance of Neutralizing

Log Home Restoration: Chemical Stripping

Chemical Stripping Video

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