how do you repair logs on a log home

How do you repair logs on a log home?

• Identify damaged logs and asses extent of damage. When checking for log rot, your best bet is to go around the home with a rubber mallet or hammer, tapping on ...
• Get the right replacement.
• Cut out the log - carefully.
• Put in the new log.
• Seal.
• Finish.

Full Answer

How to cure logs for a log home?

• To maximize airflow, select an outdoor location that is not surrounded by buildings or foliage that block the wind.
• Choose a location that has a slight slope to prevent water from gathering below the lumber.
• Find a spot that is not covered in foliage—foliage will expose the bottom layer of lumber to moisture. ...

How to restore a log home?

To access the Advanced startup environment to use System Restore, use these steps:

• Power on the device.
• As soon as the Windows logo appears on your screen, press the power button to interrupt the boot sequence. Source: Windows Central
• Repeat steps No. 1 and 2 two more times. (Or until the device boots into the recovery experience.)

What to expect in a log home restoration?

What To Expect From Our Restoration Process?

• Specific Tailored Instructions for Each Restoration Project - Our log home restoration crews benefit from the knowledge we've acquired from restoring over one and one-half million feet of log home ...
• Restoration Project Start and Finish Dates
• Price Guarantee
• Sample Coatings Applied for Your Approval
• Written Daily Exterior Cleanup Procedure

More items...

Should you buy a log home?

You may have to consider building if you truly have your heart set on a log home and nothing else will do. If you do find a home to buy, make sure the setting will work for you, taking into account all of the lifestyle changes living in a more rural area creates. Log homes often cost more to insure than traditional homes.

How do you restore logs on a log cabin?

4 Steps to Refinishing Your Log Home:Step 1: Inspect Your Home for Necessary Repairs. Water damage or rot. ... Step 2: Clean the Logs. You will want to clean the logs of dust and stains, but avoid using chlorine bleach. ... Step 3: Stain and Finish the Logs. ... Step 4: Seal the Logs.

How do I restore weathered logs?

0:004:13Log Restoration Part I: Cleaning and Power Washing - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd do a fairly aggressive pressure wash to help finish clean those logs I'm going to begin byMoreAnd do a fairly aggressive pressure wash to help finish clean those logs I'm going to begin by applying the CPR solution to these logs. This is just a small section. So I will just do it with a brush.

How do you repair a log house?

0:001:02Log Home Repair | Replacing Rotten Logs - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIt is very important to address the problems with rot before they get worse. And cause structuralMoreIt is very important to address the problems with rot before they get worse. And cause structural damage. Once the rotten wood has been replaced. And the cause of the rod has been addressed.

How do you repair a log cabin wall?

Dry rot in log cabin walls is generally treated by three methods....Treatment of Dry Rot of Log Cabin Walls If only a few logs are affected, they may be replaced by cutting out the logs and inserting new ones. ... Another repair procedure is to treat the decayed logs with an epoxy or petrifying compound.More items...

Should you pressure wash a log home?

We recommend cleaning logs with a combination of water and a wood-friendly detergent, i.e. TSP (Trisodium Phosphate Cleaner). We want to stress that we DO NOT recommend power-washing logs to clean them. Applying water under high pressure can be detrimental to the “health” of a log building.

How do you treat an outdoor log home?

Thoroughly washing the log siding is the only remedy for this. We recommend using Sashco CPR Log Cleaner and Brightener to remove these pollutants and keep your home's exterior in good condition. Mix the CPR powder with water and spray it on the house with a garden sprayer.

How do you stop logs from rotting?

The best way to prevent rot is to keep water out of your wood. This can be done by using a top notch exterior finish on your logs and log siding and regularly maintaining that finish per the manufacturer's directions. The key is maintaining that finish on a regular basis to keep water out.

How do you replace rotted log siding?

1:1411:13Replacing your rotten wood siding! - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYou can take your flat bar put in there and twist it sideways a little bit. And that will pull it.MoreYou can take your flat bar put in there and twist it sideways a little bit. And that will pull it. Out. They have nails behind here through this into this so it's nailed across here into this piece.

How do I stop my log cabin from rotting?

How do we keep a log home dry and stop rot?Maintain a good finish on the exterior logs. ... Have adequate overhangs wherever possible. ... Have gutters in place and keep them in working condition, again –preventing water from ever getting to the logs.Free board – in other words: keep the house up off the ground.More items...

What do you use in between logs in a log house?

In short, chinking is the material which is placed between the logs of a log home. Chinking is to logs as mortar is to bricks. Chinking is a flexible material used to fill gaps where logs don't meet completely. Essentially, chinking a log home will ensure logs which don't fit together perfectly have a nice seal.

How do you seal cracks in a log cabin?

Apply a good quality, siliconized latex caulk (not pure silicon) into the check, bringing it out close, but not even with the surface of the log. Skim off the excess caulking with your finger or a putty knife, making sure the caulking makes a strong, consistent contact with the top and bottom of the crack.

How do you treat the inside of a log cabin?

The inside of log cabins can be treated the same as the inside of a property, with interior floor oils or floor varnishes. These products can also be used on the walls and ceiling if required to achieve a desired finish and protect surfaces from dirt, dust and moisture.

What to use to cut through old logs?

You might also need to use metal-cutting blades to cut through any spikes or bolts that held the old log in place. If the damage is wide or high enough, the wall might have to be jacked up while the work is being done, generally a task for professionals.

Why are my logs rotting?

The underlying problem leading to the rot is usually exposure to too much moisture, and the logs are never allowed to fully dry. If you have no gutters above the damage, consider installing them. Fix leaky gutters.

What to do if a chip is knocked out?

If a chip was knocked out, you could do one of two things: Glue it back in or sand and refinish the place the chip came from. Both repairs have their challenges.

How long does it take for glue to dry?

Use a thin film of glue and wipe away the excess. Pressure needs to be applied until the glue is dry, about 24 hours later. (Pressure ensures that the glue enters the cellular structure of the wood, otherwise the adhesion will be weak).

What happens if a car crashes into a log?

If a car was to crash into the side of your home, some logs might be so damaged that they may need to be replaced. Making such a repair is not outside the scope of a reasonably handy owner, but it’s a big job. First, get the replacement logs from the company that milled the original logs. If you can’t get them there, ...

Can you repair a log home yourself?

You can do many log home repairs yourself, but it's best to hire professionals for the big jobs. All homes suffer damage of one kind or another from time to time. As a log home owner, you should be aware of the types of repairs or fix-its required on your home, what you can do yourself, and what should be left to a professional.

Why do you need flashing on a log home?

Flashing helps prevent moisture from entering the home or accumulating around the logs where the deck and roof attach, and around openings in the roof for things like chimneys. If flashing is not added to these areas, moisture can build up, or enter the attic of the home. This leads to rot not only of the logs themselves, but also of internal areas. Mold growth can also become a problem in attic spaces, which can lower the air quality inside the home.

How much does a log shrink?

Logs will shrink 5 – 10% over the course of their first few years. This adds up to about 6-inches per wall, and in most cases, the homes are built to accommodate this shrink. One area that it can be overlooked, however, is above windows and doors. If not enough headspace has been left, the shrinking walls could cause the windows or doors to stick fast, making them inoperable.

Why do logs rot?

If the logs on your home are too close to the ground, then they could be at risk of rot due to ground moisture. While poor drainage and splashing are two of the most common causes of rot, having logs directly on the ground can also be a serious issue.

Why do we chink wood?

Chinking is used to help seal up gaps between logs, keeping moisture and wind out of your home.

What is the first line of defense for a log home?

Roofs are the first line of defense that most homes have against moisture, rain, and snow. If your roof is improperly designed, flashed, and drained, however, it can lead to a number of common issues with log homes, including wood rot.

What are the pests that can be found in log homes?

Insects aren’t the only pests that can cause problems for a log home. Bats, squirrels, raccoons and other animals may make their way into a home through vents and large chinks. When these animals make their nests in the home, they can disturb insulation and wires, and cause significant damage.

Do logs rot over time?

Log homes made of true wood logs will face rot over time. Logs that are not lifted or protected from the ground can absorb water and begin to rot over time. Logs that are also exposed to “splash backs” or water that splashes off of decks and overhangs, and homes that do not have working gutters may experience rot as well.

What to do if wood logs are hollow?

Tap the wood logs with your finger and pay special attention to the noise it produces. If it sounds hollow, there is most likely deterioration inside and wood rot repair is probably needed.

Where to look for rot in log home?

When evaluating the condition of your log home’s exterior, it’s best to start looking at the corners of the house, the bottom row of logs, and around the window trim. These are the most vulnerable areas of the home and the places where wood rot repair is often needed first.

What happens if you scratch a log?

What we mean by this: If you scratch off flakes of your wooden logs with your nails, there is most likely rot on the surface, and you would need to confirm it hasn’t penetrated deeper. Feel It — Log home rot can be as easy to recognize as simply touching and feeling the sturdiness of the logs.

Is a log home a house?

Your log home is more than just a house, it’s your pride and joy. However, taking care of a log home is slightly different than a traditional house. One of the biggest questions we hear about is the danger of wood rot. So how can you tell when your cabin is experiencing wood rot and what can you actually do about it?

Do log homes suffer damage?

All homes suffer damage at one time or another, no matter what type of materials they’re built of. As a log home owner, you should be aware of the types of repairs you’re able to tackle yourself and when you should call in reinforcements.

Can you do a log home inspection yourself?

While everyone can perform a log home inspection to some degree, no one can do it quite like a professional team of log cabin experts. Here are a few times when and when not to do log home repairs yourself. Log home repairs to do yourself: Sealing the exterior of the log home with backer rod and caulk.

What to do if you have a rotting log?

If you have an extremely ugly and rotted log right by your front door you may want to consider replacing the log or the log face. Even a careful restoration may not look original especially since you won’t be putting paint over the log to hide it.

Why attach a porch to the bottom log?

Porch attached to the bottom log instead of spaced properly to allow for water drainage. Some of these fixes are easy and some may require a professional but it’s very important to make sure the conditions that promoted the rot in the first place are corrected before you try to restore your logs.

How to use liquid wood in a log?

Liquid Wood can be injected or poured into the log where it will surround the existing wood cells and basically petrify them. You drill small holes and then use a large (60 cc) syringe with or without a large gauge needle to inject the Liquid Wood into the log.

What is a leaky gutter?

Leaky gutter or down spout that allows water to run down the logs. Large check or crack on the up-facing part of the log that collects and holds rainwater. Garden sprinkler system that sprays the walls of the house. Horizontal beam/log surface that allows water to sit on the surface and be wicked back into the house.

Can you use 100% wood epox on logs?

Because it dries white you can use dry tints to mix in to match the color of your logs or you can paint it a light tan color and then apply your log home stain/finish over the top. You don’t have to use 100% Wood Epox to fill the void you can use other pieces of wood to take up some of the space.

Does liquid wood penetrate wood?

While Liquid Wood does penetrate wood very well, these “penetrating” products use additional solvents and are able to penetrate more deeply into the wood with a resulting loss of structural capabilities of the liquid epoxy due to being a ‘thinned product’. Liquid Wood does not contain solvents but you can thin it with (up to 10-15%), ...