Do you have your dream cabin in western North Carolina? Log cabin homes are very popular in this region and for good reason. They are the perfect choice for a mountain home. Nevertheless, log homes do require maintenance. WNC Blast/Wash & Staining is your go-to source for maintaining and restoring the beauty to your home. Today we are going to answer the question, how do you maintain the outside of a log home?
Maintaining the beauty of your log home comes down to four steps:
- Prep Work-Cleaning
- Preserving
- Staining
- Sealing-Caulking/Chinking
Preparation Work
To begin the process of routine maintenance of the exterior of your log home you must prepare the logs via cleaning them. It may appear tempting to just use a normal pressure washer to clean the exterior of your logs, but we do not recommend it. Wood naturally soaks up and retains moisture and you also run the risk of water finding its way into the interior of your home. The more moisture there is the more likely mold will form. Another factor to consider is that if the logs have already soaked up water, they will not be able to soak up as much stain.
Instead, WNC Blast/Wash & Staining suggests media blasting. Media blasting is a dry non-silica-based form of blasting that removes the old stain, fungus, sunburn and more from your logs. Media blasting also has no drying time and you can move onto the next step of maintaining your home right away.
Preserving
Following the needed prep-work of the surface of your logs, a wood preservative needs to be added. Wood preservatives stop any areas of rot in their tracks along with preventing rot in any other places. Wood preservatives also discourage any pests such as termites and boring bees from damaging the exterior of your home.
Staining
After your wood preservative has time to be thoroughly absorbed the next step is to give your logs a facelift via staining. A proper stain is not only important for the aesthetic quality and property value of your home, but it also serves to extend its lifespan.
Staining your logs brings back their natural luster while at the same time providing needed protection against the elements. A properly stained home does need breathability, so it is always best to hire a professional to stain your home, so mold and mildew cannot build underneath the stain. Commercial grade stains offer protection from UV Rays which can fade your finish, water absorption, and organic growth. WNC Blast/Wash & Staining proudly use Sikkens products to stain and maintain your home.
Sealing
The final step in maintaining the exterior of your home is to seal it. A professional grade sealant via chinking or caulking gives your home 100% protection from the elements. Chinking and caulking areas of your logs ensure that nothing can get in the smaller spaces and create areas of rot. We always advise our clients to conduct regular inspections of their homes to check for areas that may need to be chinked or caulked. Maintaining these areas regularly instead of waiting until you re-finish the entire exterior is important. We use professional grade Sikkens sealers which provide a smooth furniture-like finish that will blend in seamlessly with your logs.
As a log home owner, you have invested a lot into your property. It would be a shame to let it fall into disrepair and WNC Blast/Wash & Staining wants to help you enjoy your home for many years to come. We understand that if any of the above steps are skipped that your logs become vulnerable to infiltration of dust, water, air, pests, and more. We are experts in our industry and can assist you in keeping your home protected while at the same time beautiful. Contact us today for a free quote or any questions you may have.