Preserve & Protect
by Donna L. Gagnon
Don't listen to people who tell you that maintaining a log home is lots of
hard work. Log home maintenance isn't harder than maintaining a conventional
home, it's just different. The wood used in building a conventional home is
covered inside and out. A log home's wood is completely exposed. So, to keep
that wonderful look of wood, logs must be protected against their natural enemies insects, water, sun and rot.
Forearmed is forewarned. Many things can be done long before you even begin
living in your log home. Begin with an excellent log home design (foundation
which raises the logs up off the ground, large overhangs, extended eaves, proper placement of the structure on your site) and you have already laid
the groundwork for a low-maintenance home.
Before shipping, many manufacturers treat their logs with a fungicide to prevent mold and mildew growth. They may also use a treatment of borate
which acts as an insecticide. The soil around the site can also be treated
for termites. During final grading, slope the soil away from the house. This
ensures good drainage.
Stains & Finishes
Once the log home is built, the logs must be properly and regularly protected. There are many choices of good stains and sealants but all of
them eventually break down. To provide continued wood protection, the exterior finish must be renewed. How often depends on the weather
conditions in your area and your home's surroundings. A good rule of thumb is to
refinish the stain when you see evidence that some of the wood is beginning
to be exposed. A quick check is to spray water on the surface of a log. If
it beads, the stain is still providing protection. If it soaks into the log,
it's time to reseal. Be aware that walls with a southern exposure take more
of a beating from the sun than other walls.
When choosing a finish, remember that just applying a clear coat helps protect against moisture and mildew but this affords no protection from the
sunšs harmful UV rays. A sealer containing a high level of pigment (which
means more colour) resists the sun much longer. And if you choose to allow
your logs to naturally grey, the wood will slowly decay.
. . to be continued
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