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Log Home Maintenance
There are very few residential homes built today that use wood siding as the protective siding of choice. Vinyl siding has practically eliminated wood siding as well as most other types of siding. A North American wood sided home built in the 21st Century is a rarity indeed. Because of the decline of wood siding as a building material in North America, the log home is an exclusive type of housing that truly separates itself from the mainstream. A log home also presents itself as one of the most natural, environmentally friendly type of housing in America.
Wood is the most versatile building material on the planet. Because it is derived from trees, it is also a renewable resource. As a plant material, wood is vulnerable to nature's elements of sun, moisture, temperature extremes, insects and microorganisms. When these elements are present under the right conditions and combinations and over an adequate length of time, wood deterioration can occur. Unlike the siding on a house, a log home's structural integrity is dependent on sound maintenance practices because the logs themselves are what make up the structural soundness of the building.
The key to log home maintenance is in the understanding of the causes of wood degradation. Of all the factors that contribute to wood destruction (i.e., sunlight, temperature, moisture, and insects), moisture is the most significant because without moisture the other elements are rendered inconsequential. Consider the fact that in the absence of moisture, the destructive force of UV radiation on wood is only about 1/4" per century! But add moisture to the mix and the destructive effect is dramatically increased. Moisture, in combination with sunlight (heat and UV) greatly intensifies and accelerates their damaging and discoloring effects to the wood fiber and will rapidly cause cracks to form on the wood surface. Specific levels of moisture also support wood-destroying rot fungus, mildew, sap stain and are a necessary requirement for most insect infestations.
Although moisture is the principal ingredient that supports wood deterioration, it is also the most controllable (outdoor temperature and sunlight are beyond our ability to regulate). That is why the primary goal in a sound maintenance program is finding ways to control moisture. How should this be accomplished?
Keep The Logs Dry!
In order to keep the logs dry they need to be protected against Mother Nature. If a log surface is left unprotected for a prolonged period of time, the bare wood surface will quickly discolor and start to erode and decay, especially if the species of wood is more decay prone or has not been treated with preservative chemicals. To keep the log adequately protected, some type of water and weather resistant coating is needed to provide a barrier that will help shield the harmful outdoor elements from the wood surface.
Choosing A Wood Coating
There are number of factors that play into choosing a particular wood finish for a log home exterior. Most homeowners have no idea where to begin when choosing a wood finish to protect their logs. Generally the homeowner will first turn to the log home company for advice. It is a good place to start. Many companies are very helpful and have experience with different types of log home coatings. Some log home companies, however, are non-committal or choose not to make a particular wood stain recommendation, in which case the choice is left fully to the new homeowner.
Under such circumstances, the homeowner can turn to a variety of log home maintenance supply companies that offer log home stains. These companies are usually an invaluable source of information on a whole host of log home-related maintenance issues. Most of these companies have web sites or can be found in the classified ad sections in log home magazines.
Another approach is to ask log homeowners in your area what type of stain or natural wood finish they use on their logs. It is a more intrusive approach for information, but often you will find that log homeowners are quite accommodating and love to discuss a variety of topics, including stains, that pertain to their log home. First hand experience is invaluable.
Finally, there are a number of paint companies that offer specialized stains for log homes. Generally you will find information about them through their advertisements in log home magazines or on their own web sites. Contact these companies and request actual liquid samples of their products. Most of these companies are equipped to send samples and it is part of the way they offer their product. Samples are a good way to at least get an idea of color and appearance and other characteristics of the coating. In addition to the paint manufacturers, Log Home Maintenance Supply Companies usually offer liquid samples of the stain products they carry.
But the question remains, which is the best stain? Ask a stain manufacturer that question and guess what the answer is? Ask a homeowner and you will get a variety of answers. Everyone will have an opinion. Generally if you choose a reputable stain company who has a history in the log home industry and you supplement your decision with feedback from sources that are familiar with the particular stain, your decision will be a sound one.
Location & Design
Let's not forget design & location and its relation to maintenance. There is a direct correlation to the cost and frequency of surface maintenance with the design of the house and how and where it is located. Southern climates, higher elevations, waterfront locations are a few examples of locations that will more quickly break down a protective coating on the log surface. Southern and western sides of a log building will always weather at a faster rate than the eastern and northern sides of the building. That is why design and landscape considerations, such as a porch on the southern side of the house or trees that serve as a natural shelter against the direct exposure of the sun and wind, are such an important factor in determining the overall frequency and cost of maintenance.
Periodic Inspections
Periodic outdoor inspections of your logs should be as automatic as changing the oil in your car. Yearly visual inspections of your log home are the best preventive measure you can use to insure the integrity and well-being of your log home. On newer logs that are in the process of losing their internal moisture and drying out, cracks (called checking) in the logs can occur. These types of cracks, caused by the natural drying process, cannot be prevented to any measurable degree by the protective coating that has been applied to your logs. Cracks in your logs serve as a water trap and it is around these checks that erosion of the wood stain first occurs as well as the potential for rot. Water finds its way into the checks and the moisture then begins to weaken the wood and the coating surrounding the crack. Cracks on the upper curvature of the logs are the most serious since they tend to accumulate and hold water more so than cracks on the bottom half of the logs where gravity serves to drain out any moisture that may have entered. Upward facing cracks should be drenched with a wood preservative and then tightly sealed with a quality caulking compound in order to prevent log damage and to extend the life of the coating. Southern and western sides of your home will weather more rapidly because those sides of the home receive more direct sunlight and weather. Consequently, a wood finish will fade and wear more quickly and lose its protective qualities faster than on the less weathered northern and eastern sides. Other types of exposure that tend to accelerate the weathering process are lakeside exposures, high mountainous elevations, treeless locations and sub-tropic/tropic environments. You will know it is time to clean and coat your logs when the wood stain starts to look drab, shows signs of fading and erosion and is obviously not providing a water or weather barrier. Also, be on the look out for any areas of your logs that are discolored due to water stains, fungus, etc. Search for signs of excess moisture (i.e., damp wood, black mold, flaking wood stain) and if found, try to eliminate or minimize the water source. Sources of excess moisture can include; leaky gutters or no gutters at all, poor drainage, inadequate overhangs, leaky plumbing, etc. Constant and excess moisture on your logs will cause maintenance problems.
Insects
Finally, insects can be a concern. Wood boring insects and termites cause the most damage but Carpenter Bees are the cause of most homeowner’s insect complaints. Carpenter Bees are persistent and annoying and can turn a nature-loving pacifist into a raging bee-killing lunatic. However, all is not lost. There are safe chemical treatments on the market today to counteract and control insect problems. For carpenter bees in particular, there are new and quite ingenious devices on the market for attracting, trapping, and killing them and insecticidal dusts that help prevent re-infestation. In addition to insecticidal treatments and insect traps, keeping the log walls properly protected and maintained with a good quality log home stain will provide an additional line of defense against wood-loving insects.
Final Thoughts
The log home dwelling represents a natural alternative to the plastic facades of modern day housing. Dating back to our European ancestors, Log Homes are a symbol of our American heritage and represent our intimate connection to the land. Because of this reason, it should come as no surprise that whenever a log home is seen from the highway or on some back road that most people will slow down and take a brief moment to admire it. It’s all about roots, both ours and the trees.
Michael McArthur, Sales & Marketing Director
The Continental Products Co.
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See more dilutions here.
* Always spot-test for colorfastness in an inconspicuous area first.
Straight or Tapered Pails?
Log Builder, Log Jam, Log-gevity Chinking, Puttylastic, Chinker's Edge, and Conceal come in straight pails. The gun loader that fits the straight pail is T065-6-DLT (screw type) & T065-4-DLT (pump type).
1010 chinking, UV Guard Prem/Text, and eF-Coat Foundation Coating come in tapered pails. The gun loader that fits the tapered pail is T065-PLC-6-DLT (screw type) & T065-PLC-4-DLT (pump type).
See Loaders Here
Charles McRaven’s Pioneer Skills Ravenoak Workshops
Stonework - September 7 - 11
Additional Workshops on Request
www.charlesmcraven.com
Charles McRaven continues to preserve America’s history by conducting workshops in pioneer homesteading skills: Blacksmithing, Hewn Log House Construction, and Stonework. When there is a demand, he also teaches post & beam, shake-splitting, basic carpentry, pole barn and fence-building courses. The scheduled courses are conducted on his property near Charlottesville, Virginia.
Workshops focus on both time-honored practices and the use of hand-tools, such as the broadaxe and the adze, as well as on new technology such as chainsaws and motorized hoists. All instruction is geared to the experience level of each group. Each class affords enough challenges for the more advanced student or professional seeking to hone his/her skills: the National Park restoration crews use these classes as brush-up courses.
Costs and Details: The base cost of each 5-day workshop is $750 (US $). Includes hands-on instruction, review of resources, lunches, snacks and use of the in-ground pool during summer months. (Accommodations, breakfast and evening meals are not included.)
Workshops run Monday through Friday, 9 am to 5 pm at the McRaven premises. Often participants come to Charlottesville the Sunday before and leave Friday night or Saturday.
| Calendar: |
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| Labor Day |
Sept 7th |
Offices Closed |
| Thanksgiving | Nov 26-27 | Offices Closed |
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Bookkeeping: Lauri KulenkampBy Keeley Todd
Lauri has been on the staff of Schroeder Log Home Supply for just over 11 years. In her position as the head bookkeeper for the company, she oversees all aspects of the accounting department including inventory management and also is responsible for accounts payable. She is always willing to help with any questions other staff may have and on a personal note, she has helped this reporter quite often!
When not at work, Lauri loves spending time outside biking, jogging, camping, and a bunch of other northern Minnesota things. She and her 9 year old son, Nicholas enjoy biking, playing softball, and playing with their new puppy, Ruby. Nicholas is about to enter the 4th grade and keeps his mom very busy at home, including getting her to play Guitar Hero! (She hopes to someday be as good as he is.)
Lauri also likes to spend time playing and house boating at the lake with her family and her sisters whenever she can. She is a northern Minnesota gal, that’s for sure!
It’s not all play for Lauri though, as she also works part time as an accountant for her sister and brother in law’s company here in Grand Rapids.
Lauri is very family oriented, which makes her such a good fit with the Schroeder Log Home Supply family. Her positive attitude and ready smile make her a real joy to have on the Schroeder staff.