If you are a log home owner or planning to own a log home at some point in your life, you most likely already know that there can be more maintenance required on a log home, than on a traditional home. However, this is nothing that you need to let scare you. It is just something to be aware of and stay on top of. Of course we want to keep our log homes in the best shape possible throughout the years. Here is a simple list of a few things you want to keep in mind regarding the maintenance on your log home.
- Spring and Fall Cleaning: Every Spring and Fall is a great time to check your home for any damage that needs to be repaired. You will want to look for things like insect damage, moisture damage such as log rot, holes, cracked seals. Before you go into the harsh Winter months you want to make sure your home is stable and in good shape. Spring cleaning is also very important to stay on top of. Spring cleaning might include tasks such as cleaning out the gutters, checking stability of decks and railings, cleaning the wood, cleaning and sanitizing windows, dust off all air vents and change dirty filters, weeding and clearing out dead vegetation outdoors.
- Log Cabin Staining: Staining is a part of regular maintenance on a log home. It can vary how often you might need to reapply a new stain, but the general rule is about every three to five years or so. This will vary for reasons such as climate and how much harsh Winter or Summer weather your cabin endures. The type of stain that is used is also another factor, as some stains will last longer than others, and of course how well the job is done is also something important that will impact the longevity of the stain. There is a simple test to detect if it might be time to reapply stain to your log home or not. using a garden hose, simply spray your exterior wood surfaces – wood decking, cedar siding or log walls – in several places. If the water beads up, your stain and preservative is still working. If dark, wet patches appear on the wood, the water is soaking in, so it’s probably time for a fresh coat of stain. If you own a log home and it has exposed log ends, be sure to do the water test on those, because log ends can absorb water up to 10 times the rate of horizontal log surfaces.
- Chinking Repair: Chinking is the glue that holds the walls of a log cabin together. Chinking seals, protects and keeps the home strong. It keeps things like insects, moisture from coming into the log home, and traps the heat into the home as well. Chinking will typically last for a very long time on log home, as long as it is properly cared for and not exposed to harsh elements. Inspect the chinking in your home and look for chinking breakdown. These breakdown indicators include cracks, chips, gaps, holes, and separation from the logs. You will need to start by removing all the old chinking in the areas that need repaired and cleaning and sanding the area well before applying the new chinking.
As with all maintenance, log home or traditional home, if you are worried about tackling a project on your own, consider calling a professional. It is better to have the job done correctly the first time than risking more damage to your home.
