While log cabin maintenance may depend on site location, design prudence, maintenance, and environmental factors; one thing is certain, routine log house maintenance is an often neglected step to ensure the longevity of your home. Log cabin maintenance is a task that most people don't enjoy, but it's a necessary part of owning your log home. If you are careful and consistent, you can keep up to date without too much work and it will prevent a small maintenance problem from turning into a costly replacement problem later on. Depending on where you live, you are more likely to face certain log house maintenance issues than others.
The Forest Service notes that wood decomposes faster in the southeast and northwest coast than elsewhere due to high rainfall and hot, humid weather. But all log houses finally show signs of the elements and age. Log home owners have many queries and doubts about the maintenance and care needed for their home. Obviously, everyone wants to keep their investment in good shape for the next few years.
By log house maintenance, we mean the general maintenance required to ensure there is adequate protection against moisture, harmful UV radiation, air infiltration, and insect and rodent intrusion. Keep reading for answers to burning questions about staining your cabin, chinking techniques, and tips for protecting yourself against mold, termites and rot. The natural beauty of log houses attracts many of us to build one, but they also require more maintenance than a typical house. When you know what's needed, there are ways to minimize maintenance.
Log cabins are prone to mold and mildew formation, especially without good air circulation outside. If you suspect that an area of your trunks has termites, you can touch the place with a hard object and hear an empty sound. Keep plants and shrubs at least 18 inches away from log walls to ensure good air circulation, Bell says. The amount of maintenance your log house will need depends on several factors, such as the location, design, and finish of your home.
It will tend to break, twist and move less over time, and since it's really a small percentage more in the total turnkey cost of a home to invest in higher-quality logs and timber, it makes sense. Nobody likes to think of spiders lurking in their log walls, but the truth is that spiders are often attracted by the cold shade and hiding places provided by logs. Recommend Weatherall UV Guard Premium; Saschco Conceal, Log Builder or Through the Roof; or PermaThink Energy Seal or Woodsman. Low prices and convenience make it tempting to buy stains from a home improvement store, but there could be an invisible cost.
Only when the surface of the logs is properly prepared will a high-quality stain fulfill its true potential to protect the logs. The Best Spring Maintenance Tips These top spring maintenance tips can help keep your log cabin in excellent condition. Look closely and critically at areas where water may be a problem, such as around doors and windows, dormer connections, roof joints, chimney corner flashings, and logs at the ends of your log cabin. If you spot any faulty downpouring, mark those spots and remove them with a knife or razor blade so that the area can dry out before starting again with the backup bar in the log house and grinding synthetic logs.
To find out which product is right for your home and how to prepare the surface for application, contact your local dealer or contact log house specialists. .
