| p>The following log home restoration questions are | | | | brand new home, they probably would think twice |
| two of the most often asked by new log home | | | | before staining as soon as the logs go up or shortly |
| owners. By new I mean, new to them and may or | | | | after. |
| may not be a newly constructed log home. | | | | The problem begins before the first log is laid. New |
| Oftentimes the owner or future owner knows very | | | | logs have oftentimes been freshly cut down and are |
| little about a log home except they love the look, | | | | "green" or wet from water and tree sap. Some log |
| they want one and what they have read in a log | | | | home manufactures "kiln dry" their logs and that |
| home magazine. Then comes REALITY! | | | | takes care of this problem. But most log home |
| This is not meant to scare people from buying a log | | | | manufactures don't have expensive oven kilns. |
| home but to the contrary, educate them so they | | | | The next problem is "Mill Glaze." This is the bi-product |
| know what to expect when they have owned one | | | | of the milling process in which the logs are run |
| for a few years and are starting to see signs of | | | | through fast turning blades that shape the logs and |
| maintenance. Knowing what you are getting is much | | | | cuts the tongue and groove. These fast turning |
| better than getting something you know little about | | | | blades heat the wood and in turn draws the sap to |
| and then finding out ..."nobody told me about this or | | | | the surface. After the sap cools, it forms a film or |
| that." | | | | "glaze on the surface and prevents any stain from |
| These answers have been condensed. If the | | | | penetrating. |
| question is not answered to your satisfaction, please | | | | Finally, there is a good possibility the logs were not |
| consult a professional that can go into more detail. | | | | cleaned properly to remove not only dirt but more |
| Can you power wash my log home and apply | | | | importantly mold and mildew. Too many times I have |
| another coat of stain? | | | | gone to a customer's log home and found the same |
| The answer is "yes" but is it the recommended way | | | | thing over and over again; logs that were not |
| to maintain a log home finish? The answer is no. | | | | properly cleaned and prepped for sealing. |
| Power washing is only needed if the home has to be | | | | What has happened is the logs were sealed shortly |
| stripped meaning taking off the old stain. Depending | | | | after construction, sometimes not being washed at |
| on the type of stain on the home will dictate the | | | | all. Just because a log looks bright and clean does not |
| proper procedure for preparing and re-applying a new | | | | necessarily mean it is. Usually it is not clean upon close |
| sealer. If it is a latex stain or paint and is intact, then | | | | inspection. |
| a mild detergent with a small amount of bleach to kill | | | | The result is a wet log that has mill glaze and most |
| any mildew spores applied with low or no pressure | | | | likely mold and mildew, even though it is not visible by |
| will work fine. A garden sprayer or a bucket and | | | | the eye, and has been sealed. Any wood should have |
| brush can be used to apply the solution. Working | | | | no more than a 20% moisture content before any |
| from the bottom to the top and in sections (to | | | | type of finish is applied. The reason is because the |
| prevent streaking) a light brushing should remove any | | | | finish will not adhere properly and the wood is a |
| dirt, pollen, mildew or other contaminants. Once | | | | breeding ground for mold and mildew. Moreover, all |
| cleaned a garden hose is all that is needed to rinse | | | | this is being sealed in. So you have a log that has |
| the debris from the logs and other woodwork. If any | | | | moisture, mold and mildew and it is sealed. Is it any |
| existing stain comes off while cleaning in this manner, | | | | wonder the finish is fading and turning black? |
| there is a good possibility the home needs to be | | | | All of this is can be easily avoided if the logs are |
| stripped. If the stain comes off that easy with a | | | | allowed to "weather" for a short period of time. A |
| brush, it must have poor adhesion and a new stain | | | | good rule of thumb is to wait until the log home |
| should not be applied on top of a stain that is coming | | | | starts to turn slightly gray. Then do a thorough |
| off. If the stain is intact then a new stain can be | | | | cleaning using a chlorine and TSP solution. The chlorine |
| applied after the wood has had sufficient drying time. | | | | will kill any mold and mildew and the TSP cleans the |
| If it is an oil based stain, consult a professional. | | | | wood and also removes any remaining mill glaze. Of |
| My log home is only two years old and the honey | | | | course this is not the fastest or cheapest way to |
| colored stain is fading badly and it also has black stuff | | | | have the home sealed, but if all the time and money |
| that some will come off and some will not. With it | | | | has been poured into building the home, it seems |
| being only two years old, what's the problem? | | | | logical to spend a bit more to make sure the house is |
| There are several things going on at once in this | | | | prepped and the finish applied correctly so to last |
| situation. With the home being only two years old | | | | more that a couple of years. |
| indicates that more likely than not the logs were not | | | | It's either spend a little more in the beginning and do |
| cleaned properly prior to sealing. With new | | | | it right or come back in a couple of years frustrated |
| construction homes the best method for sealing is | | | | and spending much more to strip the entire home |
| first to do nothing. This usually don't happen, but if | | | | and do it all over again...only this time...right! |
| the homeowner knew what was being done to their | | | | |