how do you treat an outdoor log home

How do you take care of a log home?

The most important factor is to clean: Clean and dry the wood's surface before and after you stain, and keep the dust, pollen and mold off your logs every season. Pay special attention to the south and west walls of your log home, as they are more susceptible to the elements.

How to treat wood for a log furniture project?

How to Properly Treat Wood for Your Log Furniture Project 1 Prepare the Wood. Raw pieces of logs are brilliant as they are,... 2 Add Stain. In order to get a great stain on the wood, you will need to work methodically. 3 Seal the Log. At this point, the log is well-treated for use in your log furniture project.

What is the best way to clean old logs?

Assuming your logs that have been stripped of its old stain and top-coat, a mild bleach solution works well for logs that show signs of possible mildew development.

What is the best way to protect my logs?

Borate is an eco-friendly and economical way to protect your logs. Borate powder is mined from the earth, and can be applied by either mixing with water to apply to large areas or dusted into cracks and crevices.

How do I protect my log home exterior?

Apply sunblock. Like your skin, wood is susceptible to sun damage. Harsh ultraviolet (UV) rays can cause the surface of wood to break down, so consider using pigmented stains and products infused with UV combatants to protect your exterior logs, cedar siding and decking against sun damage.

What do you treat the outside of a log cabin with?

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 weatherproof a log cabin?

Sealing and Staining When weatherproofing your cabin, you have to consider the natural climate, cabin size and also your budget. There are two basic forms of sealing- caulk and weather stripping. With caulk, which is a flexible compound, you can fill cracks in any construction material.

How do you weatherproof a log?

10:4315:44Weatherproofing and Insulating Your Log Cabin - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo you want to push it in and you don't want to just to protrude out too far right that way when theMoreSo you want to push it in and you don't want to just to protrude out too far right that way when the water gets down here maybe it can drip off before it gets back into the oven. Sure.

How often should a log home be sealed?

every 3-5 yearsHow often should I reseal my log home? The short answer is usually every 3-5 years but this can vary due to many factors.

How often does a log home need to be treated?

every 3 to 7 yearsAs a general rule, you will need to stain your log home every 3 to 7 years, depending on the elements. Elemental factors include exposure to rain, sunlight, hail, wind, climate, and more.

Do log homes need to be treated?

Once the logs are assembled at your home site, they should be treated with a cleaning solution to remove mill glaze, road grime, mud and dirt accumulated during construction. Each of these substances can prevent preservatives and finishes from adhering to the wood.

How do I keep my log cabin 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.

What is the best sealer for a log cabin?

2022 Best Log Home and Cabin StainsOutlast Q8 Log Oil.Seal-Once Eco Friendly Premium Wood Sealer.Capture Log Stain.Cascade Clear Top Coat.Transformation Log and Timber Stain.Transformation Stain Siding and Trim.X-100 Natural Seal.Organiclear Log Stain.More items...

What are the problems with log homes?

The most common log home problems are:Moisture problems in log homes. Rain, snow, humidity, and damp places all cause moisture damage. ... Insects and critter problems in log homes. Insects and critters tend to love our log homes just as much as we do. ... UV Ray damage in log homes. ... 0 comments.

Is it hard to maintain a log home?

All homes require some exterior care and maintenance, but log homes require a bit more than usual. Once a year, the home's exterior should be washed to remove pollen, insect debris and other dirt. At that time, the home should be checked for mildew and mold, which should be removed if present.

What is the best way to treat logs after cleaning?

Applying a Wood Preservative. The next treatment your logs will receive after cleaning will likely be the application of a wood preservative. The most important role of a preservative is to repel your logs' primary enemy: water.

What to do with logs after they are assembled?

Once the logs are assembled at your home site, they should be treated with a cleaning solution to remove mill glaze, road grime, mud and dirt accumulated during construction. Each of these substances can prevent preservatives and finishes from adhering to the wood.

How to protect logs from insects?

Borate Treatments. Some log home producers also protect the wood from insects and fungi by dipping logs in tanks filled with a borate-based solution or infusing them with a borate preservative through pressure treating. Borate is an eco-friendly and economical way to protect your logs.

What does kiln drying do to wood?

The heat from the kiln will eliminate insects, larvae, or fungi. Kiln-drying will crystallize pitch (sap) in the wood, preventing it from seeping to the surface years down the road.

Why do log homes need to be air dried?

Because water inside the wood can support a host of harmful organisms, the first step log home producers take is to reduce the moisture content of the logs. They may air-dry the wood for up to a year or more, heat the logs in huge kilns or use a combination of air- and kiln-drying.

When to apply stains to a log home?

Some tips for applying stains to your log home: Stains should be applied early in the construction process — usually once the roof is completed and the trim boards have been installed. Always apply stains before applying a clear topcoat. While the stain protects the wood from UV rays, the topcoat protects the stain.

What are the chemicals that protect wood from mold?

Biocides. To protect against fungi, mold, mildew and insects, some manufacturers add chemicals called biocides to their wood preservatives. Although these agents are safe for humans and animals, they kill the organisms that feed on wood. and includes a UV Boost additive.

What is the focus of a log cabin?

The focus is mostly on wood and the special cleaning and maintenance it requires.

Where to hose down cabin?

Hose down the entire exterior of your cabin, paying particular attention to areas that collect cobwebs, dust and dirt. Under the eaves, on corners and around windows and doors are usually the dirtiest areas of any cabin.

What is the roof of a log cabin made of?

Fascia (the vertical edge of a typical roof) on many log cabins is made of wood. This is an especially harsh environment because roof run-off and sunlight make it difficult to keep wooden fascia finished and looking good. Consider covering high-maintenance wooden fascia with factory finished aluminum.

When is the best time to check gutters?

Wet weather with heavy rain is the best time to check for leaks and overflowing gutters. Inspect the hardware that holds your gutters in place and tighten or replace any that are loose. Consider having some kind of leaf guard installed over the gutter to ease future cleaning chores.

How to prevent streaking on logs?

Always remember to apply cleaning solutions from the bottom of the walls going upward to prevent any possible streaking that might occur. Many log washes must remain wet to work effectively; so the best approach is to wet down the wall with water mist from your garden hose, apply the log-wash solution and work an area that is limited so ...

What is a log wash?

Log washes can be used as a maintenance cleaner or to prepare the surface of wood for a new coat of stain or topcoat.

What is the blue stain on logs?

If you notice blackening, you could have mold/mildew, tannin stains or what is called blue stain under the logs’ staining and topcoat products. The only way to remove these eye sores is to remove the stain product and topcoat and get down to bare wood.

What is the best way to clean logs?

We recommend cleaning logs with a combination of water and a wood-friendly detergent, i.e. TSP (Trisodium Phosphate Cleaner).

Why do you clean logs?

It is a wise idea to clean the logs to remove as much of the residue mentioned above. Clean logs breath better, therefore they dry out more readily. Cleaning them can help remove spores that can cause mold or mildew to develop. Most importantly, it is necessary to clean them in preparation for applying another coat of finish to them in order ...

Is it good to clean logs?

Log homes – cleaning the exterior logs is a good thing. Log homes have so many features that make them a desirable place to spend time in. Aesthetically, they evoke so many emotions such as quiet, peace, and relaxation. If you own a log home yourself, you know that they also demand a certain amount of attention on a regular basis ...

What to do after cleaning log cabin?

After you’ve successfully cleaned the exterior of your log cabin or log home, the next step is to perform an exterior visual inspection. Make a note of where you observe signs of the following:

How can I make my old log cabin look new again?

The first step to make your old log cabin or log home look new again is to clean the exterior – especially if the logs have become severely weathered or grey in color. By cleaning first, you can better assess the true condition of the logs and then establish what needs to be done and the materials needed.

How long do logs last?

If you keep your logs dry and off the ground, they can last at least a lifetime.

What is the real story of log homes?

The real story is how the homes got that way in the first place. The homeowners were either unaware of wood upkeep or neglected to take care of their logs. But if you educate yourself and plan ahead, you will have a minimal amount of time, money and effort to place in your log home maintenance regimen. The following questions should help dispel ...

What is a good stain for logs?

A good log home stain is formulated to prevent moisture from entering the fiber of your logs and has the right amount of pigment to prevent sun damage. A log home stain will also give you the best overall look for your home.

What is the purpose of a log home stain?

Fact: A log home stain’s main function is to repel moisture from being absorbed by the wood AND protect the surface from the sun’s damaging UV rays. Dry areas usually have lots of sun and you want to prevent wood degradation. The pigment in the stain helps with this.

What is a check on a log?

Cracks , also called "checks" are a natural characteristic of logs and nothing to worry about, unless they are on the topside of an exterior log where rain, snow and dirt can accumulate. The best prevention method is to clean well, add borate rods to prevent moisture retention, fill with backer rods and then caulk. Make sure that all new cracks are treated with borate, stained, and then caulked.

How to keep carpenter bees from destroying wood?

The best way to keep carpenter bees from destroying your wood is to use liquid formulations containing permethrin and cyfluthrin and dusts containing boric acid. Once bees are gone, plug holes with steel wool and caulk, followed by a finish stain.

Can you use oil stain on logs?

Remember, oil and water don't mix, so if you have an oil-based stain on your logs already, you must stay with an oil-based product. Be sure and check manufacturer recommendations.