Log home
If you are the owner of a log home, then you know that the elements can really take a toll on the appearance of your logs. Sun, rain, wind and snow can all wreak havoc on the surface of your logs, even if you've sealed them. To keep your home looking its best, you should restore your log home every five years, or as needed depending on the harshness of the conditions of your area. Making sure you carefully strip, stain, inspect the logs for rot and use a protective stain will keep your log home looking like new. Does this Spark an idea?
Stripping Stain
The stain on your log home takes a beating so that the logs don't have to. After time, it will start to darken and look dull, and you'll need to strip that stain to put new stain on. Stripping stain can be a messy process. The best and most thorough way to strip stain is to corn blast or sandblast the old stain away. In corn blasting, you'll use a rented machine to shoot broken corn kernels at the logs, stripping the stain away. Many homeowners prefer this as a biodegradable option. Sandblasting basically does the same, only with fine grains of sand. You can rent the machine from a tool rental shop, or hire a restoration specialist to do it. Make sure you have proper body and eye protection before taking on this project.
Inspection
Before you reapply stain to restore your log home to its former beauty, you must take the time to inspect the logs. Through the process of the logs contracting and expanding, getting water logged and even being exposed to insects, you may find that you have rot in some of your logs. Check in the cracks or V-grooves of your logs for any dark or moist areas. If you find rot, you'll need to call in professional restoration experts to help remove the rotting would and replace it with new wood. If some of the checks on the exterior are larger than three quarters of an inch, fill them with a bead of caulking or chinking, but leave the interior checks open so that the logs can continue to expand and breathe. Inspecting your logs and correcting small problems can help your restoration go much smoother.
Reapplying Stain
Once the stain has been stripped and you've carefully inspected the logs for possible problems, you can re-stain the logs to protect them from the elements. Choose your stain carefully. Many have additives that protect from damaging UV rays, rain and even insects. Consider your location carefully. If you are living in a damp or humid area, choose a stain specifically made to resist moisture. If you've had problems with termites, choose one with an insect repellent. Log home restoration is not a one-size-fits-all job. Consider your home and situation, and choose the materials that best suit it. Apply at least two coats of stain for maximum protection, and take note of the year and write it on the leftover stain. That way, you'll remember when it is time to restore again five years down the road.
Tags: your home, your logs, Consider your, five years, home looking
