Things You Didn’t Know About Log Cabin Maintenance

Log home manufacturers often anticipate that homes will settle and shrink after a period of use. As such, they use measures like scribing drywall around the logs to help further increase the lifespan of such structures. Once you buy the log home, the responsibility of maintenance comes upon you, and unfortunately there is not enough information on how to do it. More often than not, the information offered is not the right route to take if you want to keep a log home for decades. Let’s find out some ways you can use to manage your home.

what you need to know

wood treatment

You may think that the initial wood treatment applied to your home is adequate to protect it from the elements. However, that’s not true. Most treatment films used on wood are so hard that when a log is moved, the film cracks, thus exposing the wood to weather elements such as rain. Over time, fungus and mold incubate in these spaces, leading to wood rot that could cost you a home. The most sensible thing to do is to get rid of the film instead of waiting for it to go away.

quality matters

Always research the manufacturer from whom you source your log homes. Some people like to take shortcuts in order to maximize their profits and build with standing dead trees. Once a tree dies, internal rot sets in, and over time, it starts to show, long after you’ve bought the house. To make matters worse, some of these manufacturers will finish the log home with a film treatment, thereby blocking rot and speeding up the decay process. You can save yourself a lot of trouble if you get a high-quality log house from a trusted manufacturer from the start.

Food to go

Trees have enemies they can defend against when they are alive. However, once a tree is felled, it is up to humanity to protect it from the weather elements to ensure that it can offer service for a long time. Look for a manufacturer that uses borates in their treatments, as well as any other non-toxic substances that are colorless and odorless. CCA is also useful in wood preservation.

Let’s move on to maintenance now that you know what to avoid when buying a log home.

maintenance practices

Frequency

Maintaining your home regularly will protect it from damage caused by weather and pests. You should perform maintenance practices in your home at least twice a year, preferably during the fall and spring. Spring is best for checking your home for frozen water damage, and it also gives you adequate time to prepare for the hot months ahead.

Fall weather allows you to check for heat damage such as discoloration and any pest infestations while preparing for the colder months. It is imperative that you perform maintenance during these seasons. Over time, you’ll find that a fixed schedule is more effective and costs less compared to irregular maintenance practices. It also takes less time.

inspect the house

Before beginning maintenance, inspect your home to determine what needs repair. Start at one point in your house and work your way around the interior before examining the exterior. You should look for things like damaged pipes, cracks, mold, and other damage that may affect your home. Be sure to inspect your roof for leaky gutters, chimney cracks, and any other factors that affect the stability of your home.

Clean

When cleaning your cabin, you will notice much more than during the inspection. Not only is it an excellent way to be thorough in your control, but it also gives you the opportunity to get rid of dirt such as animal feces, dust, cobwebs and other similar deposits in your home. A soft-bristled brush, warm water, and a mild detergent are enough to clean the booth without interfering with aesthetics. Start by wetting the surfaces before using soap on them in a circular motion so the logs don’t get scratched. Wash the booth down with a hose and let it dry for about three to four days before moving on to other steps.

staining

Your booth may or may not require staining, and this is up to you once you inspect the results of your cleaning. Staining once every three years is enough if you use a high-quality stain. However, this will vary depending on the booth’s exposure to sunlight. The side that gets the most sunlight will often require a new coat before the three years are up. You know it’s time to get dirty if your cabin looks dull.

sealant application

Chinking seals the joints between the logs and thus protects your home from the elements. Done right, the jingle should serve you for two decades. However, this will depend on the types of temperatures your log cabin is exposed to. Fortunately, there is an elastomeric on the market that works much better than the cement based chinking that was used previously. The elastomeric requires less maintenance and therefore reduces maintenance costs.

pest control

Do this annually for the best results. Wood cannot defend itself against insect infestations, and if these pests are not controlled, you will incur many costs to maintain your cabin. As such, make it a habit to clean, dust, and fumigate your cabin as often as possible to make it difficult for pests to infest.

Annual maintenance

Frequent cleaning of your gutters and control of runoff is essential because splashing affects the appearance of your home. Effects include darkening of some parts of the cabin and decay and infestation. These problems are costly in the long run.

If you haven’t maintained your cabin in a long time, it’s best to start the restoration process. It involves surface preparation, preservation techniques, staining, and sealing. However, it is always better to protect yourself from having to incur restoration costs by properly maintaining your home on an annual basis.