While all homes need upkeep, log home maintenance goes beyond what you might encounter with stick frame homes. What are a log home’s greatest enemies? Extreme temperatures, moisture, mold, and Insects/pests.
Below are a few inexpensive tips to keep your log home maintained and avoid costly repairs in the future.
A visual inspection at least once a year. Look for signs of:
- Faded, discolored, or damaged finish to your logs
- Stains or darker spots that could indicate mold or a fungus
- Green moss or algae
- Damaged wood from hanging outdoor fixtures, such as a hook for a garden hose
- “Mud tubes” from termites
- Sawdust, pinholes, or frass from carpenter ants
- Gaps between the logs that allow water, air, bugs, mice, or bats to infiltrate
- Upward-facing cracks, called checks in your logs
Clean Exterior
All you need is a garden hose, a sprayer and a bottle of gentle detergent, like Dawn dishwashing liquid or Simple Green. Do this on an annual or semi-annual basis, and you can prevent a lot of problems from happening, like layers of dirt from mowing the lawn or pollen buildup. Left unchecked, the sun can essentially bake the debris into the stain or top coat. If more than a simple cleaning is needed, a light sanding can be done. This will require you to reapply a top coat after to seal and protect your logs. After sanding, be sure you thoroughly wipe down and let the logs dry before applying sealant. It can most definitely be a DIY project with a little education.
Mold and Mildew Removal.
A periodic walk around the perimeter of your home will clue you in. Pay close attention to the logs closest to ground level and near the eaves/overhangs, especially on the north side of your home, which won’t get as much direct sun. Depending on the kind of mold it is, it can be almost black, white or bluish-green and can be patchy or textured. If you see it, deal with it immediately. You don’t want it to get underneath the stain/top-coat.
To test, dampen a swab in household bleach and apply it to the site of the discoloration. If the bleach takes it off immediately, the mold is on the surface and can be removed with a simple cleaning. If it comes off, but takes 30 to 60 seconds to do so, the mold likely has penetrated the stain, which requires more work, and you will likely need assistance from a log home restoration professional. For a simple cleaning you can buy cleaning solution, PermaChink Log Wash for example or make your own. This is mixture from the NAHB:
- 1 cup trisodium phosphate or detergent without ammonia
- 1 quart of household bleach
- 3 quarts of warm water
Wearing goggles and rubber gloves, apply the solution to the affected area with a hand-pump garden sprayer. Allow it to set for five to 10 minutes, then rinse thoroughly with clean water. Chlorine left on wood will damage any coatings applied over it, the NAHB warns.
Landscape and Drainage
We’ve discussed water issues at length in prior blog posts. Moisture is probably the most destructive natural hazard to wood. While coating the wood provides protection, you’ll also want to prevent any pockets of moisture through clogged drains and downspouts, as well as overgrown landscaping. Keep plants and shrubs at least 18 inches away from log walls to ensure good air circulation. Make sure water is being directed away from your home. Graded, gravel paths away from the home are strongly suggested.
Pest control
Annual to semi-annual log checks is a priority to catch pests early and prevent excessive log damage and decay. Long-horned beetles, carpenter bees, and termites love log homes, but bed bugs, flies, borers, spiders, squirrels, chipmunks, and even woodpeckers can also leave their mark. Be sure to pest treat your log home, use borate wood preservative, seal and fix cracks and openings to keep pests at bay. Clean all garbage bins regularly to remove any food scents that can attract bugs or small animals. Keep debris away from your home.
Log home ownership takes a little more diligence when it comes to maintenance, but the beauty, warmth and comfort of calling one home makes it all ok. If you have maintenance questions or concerns, contact the professionals at 888 Log Guys!
