| p>While working around the southeastern United | | | | and I walked away. |
| States, I have come across many newer log homes | | | | I hope this is not the normal practice when finishing |
| (between 1 and 3 years old) that the finish is not | | | | log homes, but it does help explain what I have been |
| only failing, but the stain looks like it has black specks | | | | seeing on my jobs. Mold under stain can be caused |
| all through it in some places. I'm not talking about | | | | by many legitimate reasons. Wood stored in damp |
| Artillery Fungus. That looks like little dots. These are | | | | locations prior to construction can cause major mold |
| specks or spots (for the lack of a better description). | | | | and mildew problems. Moisture content of the logs |
| It is not in just one area, but can be found on all | | | | above 18% when sealed is another factor. These |
| sides of the home. Sometimes worse on the shaded | | | | issues are supposed to be addressed prior to sealing |
| sides. Some of the black specks (or spots) can be | | | | (usually) by pressure cleaning the home using a |
| wiped off by hand while others can not. The stain is | | | | chlorine/TSP solution. The chlorine not only removes |
| of course faded more on the west and southern | | | | mold and mildew, but also kills the spores deep into |
| sides of the home, but seems to have no bearing on | | | | the wood. TSP is used for removing dirt, clay and |
| the amount of spots. | | | | other pollutants from the surface leaving the pores |
| After taking a trim board down on a particular house | | | | of the wood open and ready to receive the sealer. |
| and having it analyzed, it was determined that the | | | | However, from my experience and coming to my |
| spots were Black Mold! Returning to the house armed | | | | own conclusions, it seems likely that some newly |
| with chlorine, we begin to wipe off the mold using a | | | | constructed homes are never properly cleaned prior |
| chlorine and water solution. It came off great!...Until | | | | to sealing. Two things are happening. The mildew |
| we got to areas where the stain was more intact | | | | although maybe not seen at the time of stain |
| like shaded areas, under eaves and other less worn | | | | application is growing and at some point shows up |
| areas. The chlorine did not remove it. Under closer | | | | through the existing stain and keeps growing. Also, |
| examination, we determined that the mold was under | | | | the stain is failing prematurely because of not only |
| the stain. Yes, under the stain! | | | | the mold between it and the wood surface, but also |
| Remember, we were seeing this on many different | | | | the stain never adhered properly to the wood |
| houses and are still seeing it today. | | | | because of the mold as well as the moisture content |
| Well, One day we were working on a house stripping | | | | of the wood itself. If the wood had been dry (at |
| the old sealer off and next door was a newly | | | | least at 15% moisture content) the mold would not |
| constructed log home that had recently been "dried | | | | have appeared to begin with. |
| in." We don't do much new construction and I | | | | Now the problem becomes how to remedy the issue. |
| wanted to inspect it closer. I walked over to have a | | | | No easy way out now. The original stain must be |
| look at the house. It was laid out nice, wrap around | | | | removed either by chemical stripping if it is an oil stain |
| porch, two story decks on the back, cathedral | | | | or cob blasting if it is a latex. A chlorine solution is |
| ceilings, it was nice. | | | | then applied to kill any remaining mold or mildew. |
| As I approached the front, it was unfinished (had no | | | | Oxalic Acid is then used to neutralize the chlorine and |
| sealer on it). I could see the typical strap marks on | | | | stripper in the wood then the wood is allowed to dry |
| the logs, footprints where people had walked on | | | | completely to a moisture content of at least 15% or |
| them while still on the ground, and these black spots! | | | | lower. The only way to know the moisture content is |
| That is not unusual on bare wood especially if the | | | | to use a moisture meter to probe the wood. |
| contractor has taken a long time to finish the job due | | | | Anything else is just a guess. At this point the new |
| to weather or other issues that do happen. Well, not | | | | stain/sealer can be applied and should be applied |
| too alarmed, because usually at this point the mold | | | | within at least a two week timeframe. Any later than |
| and mildew is cleaned from the logs and allowed to | | | | this and you risk running into more mold and mildew |
| dry before sealing, (or at least that is what we do). | | | | problems. |
| So as I walk around the house, what do I find? This | | | | If your home has black spots or specks on the |
| guy with an airless sprayer just having a ball! Stain | | | | wood and a chlorine solution will not remove it, there |
| flying everywhere! He was getting the job done! (Or | | | | is a good chance you have mold or mildew under the |
| use your own phrase). I could not believe what I was | | | | stain. It could be a couple of other things, but that is |
| seeing. The wall that was getting sealed was just like | | | | another story. The best advice is to call a |
| the front wall, footprints, strap marks and yes mold! | | | | professional and they can determine whether there is |
| I stopped him to ask if he thought it was alright to | | | | mold or mildew or some other problem causing your |
| stain over an un-prepped surface. His answer did not | | | | stain to not look it's best. Log home restoration is |
| really surprise me. He told me, in a rather unfriendly | | | | more than washing the logs and spraying a fast coat |
| tone, "Unless someone is around to stop me, it gets | | | | of stain on the wood. For the new log home owner, |
| sprayed." I did not know him and there was no | | | | it is best to do your home work before jumping in |
| signage on his truck. The builder was gone and no | | | | what might be a costly adventure. |
| way to contact him. We had a short conversation, | | | | |