The ends of logs may have splits and cracks that allow water to penetrate and rot the lumber.
Log cabin construction began to spring up in America during the 17th and 18th centuries as Eastern and Central European immigrants brought their log construction knowledge with them. Frontier settlers of the late 18th and 19th centuries built log homes as they cleared woodland and moved south- and westward. Many of these structures are still standing, but a number of them are in need of repairs or reconstruction due to internal and external rotting. Replacing rotten logs may be necessary if the structural damage is greater than 50 percent, but if there is only partial rotting, repairs and reconstruction can be a quicker and simpler option. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
Log Face Repair
1. Put on safety goggles. Remove the face of the log over the rotted section by sawing it out with a reciprocating saw. Set the face of the log aside.
2. Remove the rotten interior wood. Use a chainsaw for larger areas and a chisel for smaller areas. Deteriorated wood may also be able to be removed by hand. Remove any rot on the inside of the face of the log with the chisel.
3. Put on respirator and protective gloves. Apply Clear Penetrating Epoxy Sealer (CPES) to the inside of the log face with a paintbrush. Set it aside.
4. Cut the fence posts and 2-by-4 lumber to fit in the log where the rotten wood has been removed. Use the chainsaw and chisel to shape the wood as needed to fit, and fill up or plug the interior space.
5. Fill the garden sprayer with CPES and spray the inside of the log and the plug lumber. Allow to dry for a few days.
6. Mix together the two parts of the Layup and Laminating Epoxy Resin (L-L) in a bucket. Add a little sawdust to the mixture that matches the natural exterior color of the log until the mixture is the consistency of cream of wheat.
7. Apply the L-L and sawdust mixture with a putty knife to the inside of the log cavity and to the plug lumber. Insert the larger plugs into the cavity. Insert the smaller plugs; fill any gaps with the mixture. Coat the outside of the plugs with the mixture so that it is within an inch of the finished log depth. Cover repair area with clear plastic poly sheet until it is dry. Pull off the poly-like tape.
8. Chisel the inside of the face of the log until it fits well on the outside of the repaired area and lays flush with the adjacent log faces. Mix up another batch of L-L and sawdust and apply it to the repair area and the back of the log face. Fit face over repair area, and drive nails halfway into the face with the hammer to hold it in place until it dries. Fill any cracks or holes in the exterior of the face with the L-L and sawdust mixture. Cover with plastic sheet until dry.
Log End Repair
9. Drill holes using the electric drill and twist the drill bit into the rotten log ends four inches apart.
10. Spray or inject CPES into the holes in the end of the log until it is saturated. Allow the log to dry for a few days.
11. Fill the empty caulk tube with a mixture of L-L and sawdust. Insert caulk tube into caulk gun. Squeeze mixture into the holes in the end of the log with the caulk gun.
Tags: face with, inside face, repair area, sawdust mixture, with mixture, Allow days, caulk tube
