Even new logs need care and maintenance
Whether your log home is two years old or 200 years old, it is important to keep the outer surfaces of the logs in good condition. Insects, pollen, weather and even dirt can, over time, damage the exterior of your log home. Carefully inspecting the outside of your home at least once a year will indicate what treatments are needed to preserve the integrity of the logs. Does this Spark an idea?
Stain
When your new log home was constructed, the builder added a layer of stain to the exterior surfaces of the logs. Stain protects and waterproofs wood, keeping it from over-drying or rotting. Even an old log home would benefit from a layer of same-color stain on the outside logs to protect it for generations to come. Water stain may be easier to apply, but it will only last three to five years. Oil-based stain can last five to seven years. If you live in an area with extremely harsh winters, or if your home is in direct sunlight most of the year, you may need to reapply the stain more often.
Carpenter Bees
Carpenter bees dig long tunnels into logs and other unpainted or stained wood in order to make a place to lay their eggs and rear their young. Log homes are, obviously, much more susceptible to carpenter bee infestations than other homes, so vigilant anti-bee maintenance is a must. Prevention is easier than treatment, so spray the exterior of your log home with a carpenter bee-specific insecticide.
Power Wash
The experts at Loghomeslink.com recommend that you power wash the outside of your log home every late summer or early fall. Your home may look clean, but pollen from surrounding trees can still be on your logs and pollen can quickly grow moldy in wet weather. Also, clean logs are easier to inspect for insect or animal damage and rot.
Caulk
Over time, moisture and the natural settling of your home will cause cracks to form in the logs. Any cracks over one-quarter inch wide should be caulked to prevent water from getting in and causing a deeper crack or rot. There are many foam-based products available for caulking log homes that are even tinted to match your home's exterior color. The foam will "give" and allow the logs to expand and contract with the weather, and to settle further with no more damage.
Tags: your home, exterior your, exterior your home, outside your, outside your home, surfaces logs
