A modern log home.
The log cabin is part of American history. As settlers moved west, they built houses of whatever logs they could find. Some lasted a century or more, but most decayed and disappeared. Today, log homes include heat and electricity and are built with logs treated to withstand the destructive forces of weather and insects. Treating a log home starts with the basic logs. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Start your log home treatment by properly drying the wood. If you buy a kit or logs from a dealer, this will be done for you. Next, treat logs against insects with a substance called borate. You can apply the substance commercially through a pressure process, but you can also dip the logs. Borate is colorless, odorless and will last forever once sealed. Also, borate will help protect logs against decay and rot.
2. Clean and preserve your logs. Once logs are delivered to a home site, they should be cleaned of all dirt, grime or anything that might interfere with adhesion of preservatives or finishes. For example, borate may leave a salty-appearing residue. Then add preservatives. The specific type will depend on the climate where the log home is located, but you can find preservatives designed especially for log homes. This will protect against moisture, which is important because it induces rot and attracts insects. Then add a biocide, if it is not included in the basic preservative, to prevent fungi, mold and mildew.
3. Finish log home treatment with sunblock and stain. Sunblock has a similar effect on log homes as for human skin--it protects against the harmful ultraviolet rays of the sun. Some of these come with pigment to add color. Otherwise, apply a stain to get your desired log home color. Then add a final finish coat as further protection against sun and water. In most cases, preservatives and stains will need to be re-applied periodically.
4. Watch for termites. Termites are wood-eating insects that can seriously damage any wooden structure. But log homes are perhaps less susceptible than conventional houses. Termites can sneak into a conventional house and attack wooden framing and other elements and remain unseen for years. But in log homes owners can see them almost immediately and take remedial action. Termites travel through dirt, so maintain separation of wood and dirt with a concrete or similar foundation, capped with a metal "termite shield."
Tags: home treatment, logs against
