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.
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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: From The Homeowners Point Of View
Inside Looking Out
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.
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Log Home Restoration: The Importance of Neutralizing
- Before and After Acid
In this photo, acid was brushed on the logs to show the difference neutralizing can make. When applying a semi-transparent finish, it is imperative that acid be applied for obvious reasons. The milky look on these logs will not show through the stain but it will make them darker and much of the wood grain apperance that is achieved using a semi-transparent finish will be lost. More importantly, the milky residue WILL interact with the new finish causing premature failure. Always neutralize!
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Log Home Restoration: Chemical Stripping
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Log Home Restoration: The Importance of Neutralizing
Before and After Neutralizing
Stripping removes failing sealer or grayed out wood but, it also raises the ph level and darkens the wood as well as leaves residue that will not rinse out. If the wood is not neutralized the darkened wood will make a semi-transparent stain several shades darker. Moreover, stripper residue WILL interact with the new sealer causing premature failure. It is one extra step but, if ignored big problems will arise!
In this log home restoration, the left door has had nothing done to it yet, The right side was stripped and still wet from the neutralizer. When it dries, it is properly prepared and ready for sealing.
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Hot Water Rig For Sale
Pictures and details are posted in November 8th archives. I don’t do commercial work anymore and this unit can make the right contractor’s job much eaiser.
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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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