Log Home Restoration: What a Difference a Procedure Can Make!

In this picture, on the left side shows the logs recently stripped. A typical oil stain was removed. Oftentimes after this step, some will go ahead an apply a new sealer on these logs without further preparation.

When using a semi-transparent sealer, any imperfection, stain or discoloration in the logs will be magnified when it is applied. So if a stain were to be put on top of this wood, it would not only look “washed out” but, it would not preform properly due to the stripper residue left on and in the wood.

On the right side of the picture, you can see how much better the logs look. This is what they should look like after they have been stripped and then neutralized.  Neutralizing does a couple of things. It actually brightens the wood as is evident from the photo and it also neutralizes the stripping residue. Some think this is a waste of time and is not necsessary. If this procedure is not done, stripper will be left in the wood because it is impossible to rinse it all out. I describe it as trying to wash bleach off your fingers ( very slippery) . You can rinse and rinse, but it seems to still stay slippery. The same thing happens with the wood. You can  not rinse all the stripper out. The only alternative is to…….Neutralize.  Once it has been neutralized, rinsed  and allowed to dry ( to at least an 18% moisture content or lower) the logs are then ready for the finish.  It takes longer, cost more but…..but that is the proper process and it will last far longer than putting the finish on top of a log that has stripper residue still on it.