How do you maintain a log home exterior?

Tips for maintaining your beloved cabin exterior.

1. Drainage counts. Walk around your retreat to inspect the ground around your foundation.
2. Oversize your overhangs.
3. Cover your gutters.
4. Apply sunblock.
5. Be watchful.
6. Just add water.
7. Watch for mold or mildew.
8. Keep an eye on the roof.

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Subsequently, one may also ask, is it hard to maintain a log home?

Log homes are not difficult to maintain. There are 2 main areas of concern when maintaining a log home. The logs and the space between the logs. The maintenance required includes staining and chinking.

One may also ask, how often should you seal a log home? For example, once your entire home is properly sealed the south and west walls will usually need recoating first (often within 3-5 years). The north and east outside walls are more protected from UV sunlight and weather, and may need resealing only every 5-8 years.

Similarly one may ask, how much does it cost to maintain a log home?

For a typical 1,500 square foot home, the price tag for this type of log cabin maintenance may run anywhere from $3,000 to $7,500. Homes that are not maintained properly may sustain damage. Wood that rots must be replaced when the resealing occurs, raising the cost even more.

What are the problems with log homes?

The most common log home problems are:

• Avoid planting bushes or plants close to walls. Plants and bushes naturally attract moisture and if to close to log walls, will cause moisture damage.
• Divert rain using gutters, overhangs, and trenches.
• Maintain your log home's sealing.
• Protect from ground moisture.

Related Question Answers

How long will a log home last?

Log cabins can last anywhere between 20-50 years if done right. Log cabins can even last for a full century if it's properly looked after and built in a good location that doesn't experience extreme weather changes. If one is built incorrectly, it can require extreme maintenance within 5 years.

Do log cabins require a lot of maintenance?

Cost of Log Cabin Maintenance Maintaining a log home should be a bi-annual activity, specifically during spring and fall. Regular maintenance of your log cabin reduces the damage from UV, water, insects and air infiltration.

Are log homes worth it?

Are log or timber frame homes more expensive than conventionally constructed homes? The short answer: The shortest, but not-very-useful, answer is yes. That is true no matter who manufactures the logs or timber frame. If it is simply shelter you want, then conventional is cheaper.

Do log cabins get termites?

Termites and Log Homes. Termites and log homes don't go together well. Termite infestation is one of the big questions that many people have when they are considering building a log cabin. There are a number of things you can do to address this, both prior to construction and during regular log cabin maintenance.

What do I need to know about buying a log home?

Let's take a look at all nine of the exterior elements you should inspect at before buying a log home:

• Condition of Log Cabin Staining. Water is the number one enemy of log homes.
• Logs Touching the Ground.
• Rotten Logs.
• Overhangs/Exposed Logs.
• Gutters.
• Insect Infestation.
• Chinking and Checking.
• Settling & Shrinking.

How often should you stain a log home?

The short answer is, you should stain your log home or cabin every 3 to 7 years depending on the kind of stain you use and how much your cabin gets exposed to things like wind, rain, sun, hail, and other harmful elements. Let's dive in further to help you figure out exactly how often to stain your log cabin or home.

Do all log homes need chinking?

Virtually all log homes are chinked. Yes, even 'chinkless' log homes usually have some form of chinking. That's because it's hard to find a craftsman using the old tradition of real form-fitting notchwork. And rarely do commercial builders properly air season their logs due to time constraints.

Do log cabins rot?

Yes, wood does rot, but only between the moisture content of 30% to 60%. There is no such thing as dry rot as wood must be quite moist to rot. So a properly designed log home (or any home for that matter) with adequate roof overhangs, rain gutters, down spouts and periodic maintenance will endure of generations.

What are the pros and cons of a log home?

Here's a look at the pros and cons of today's custom log home construction:

• PRO: Green Building Material.
• CON: Higher Maintenance Level.
• PRO: Energy Efficient.
• CON: Insurance Can Be Tough To Find.
• PRO: Available in Kits.

How long does log chinking last?

Good chinking should last for at least 20 years. The time ranges between 20-50 years depending on weather and consistent maintenance.

How do you seal a log home?

Chinking ensures that logs, which don't perfectly fit, have a nice seal. Permachink is a sealant you can use to apply in the gaps between your hewn logs to prevent external infiltration (air and water) and heat loss. Always remember when using caulking to apply a first coat of stain before caulking.

How much does it cost to replace a log on a log cabin?

Based on national estimates, the cost of renovating a log home may range from about $15,000 to upward of $100,000. The process can also be a lengthy one. Even with the help of experienced contractors, the restoration of a log home may stretch beyond a month.

Can you side over a log home?

We have certainly seen examples where pine siding was installed to cover rotten logs and the siding itself rotted. In many situations, putting siding over the affected logs does not alleviate the environmental pressures that caused the original logs to rot in the first place, i.e. moisture and sun.

What do you treat log homes with?

Borate Treatments Some log home producers also protect the wood from insects and fungi by dipping logs in tanks filled with a borate-based solution or infusing them with a borate preservative through pressure treating. Borate is an eco-friendly and economical way to protect your logs.

What is chinking for log homes?

Today, log home chinking refers to a flexible elastic sealant that resembles the appearance of the old portland cement which historically was used to seal logs together. Prior to cement-based chinking; traditional chinking was made from a mixture of clay, sand, lime, silt, ash and dirt.

What is the best sealant for log homes?

The Best Log Home and Cabin Stains

• Outlast Q8 Log Oil.
• Seal-Once Eco Friendly Premium Wood Sealer.
• Capture Log Stain.
• Cascade Clear Top Coat.
• Transformation Log and Timber Stain.
• Transformation Stain Siding and Trim.
• X-100 Natural Seal.
• Organiclear Log Stain.

Are log cabin homes a good investment?

1) Log cabin homes are more energy efficient than “traditional” homes. Log cabin homes are uniquely designed to help you stay warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer, thanks to the R-value of wood used in a properly built home. 2) The possibilities of where you could live are endless.

Are log homes warm?

Log cabins can be really warm year-round if they're built well. There are a lot of log cabins in cold climates like Canada and Alaska. But a traditional log cabin doesn't have insulation—the logs are the insulation.

Can you pressure wash a log cabin?

Pressure washing can be perfectly safe for your log home so long as you use the right technique. Always keep the wand moving, especially at higher psi settings, and use a wide fan setting. Holding the stream in the same place for too long or standing too close could damage the wood.