Things You Didn’t Know About Log Cabin Maintenance
Real EstateLog house manufacturers often anticipate that the houses will settle and shrink after a period of use. As such, they use measures like laying out drywall around logs to help further increase the lifespan of such structures. Once you buy the log house, the responsibility of maintenance comes to you and unfortunately there is not enough information on how to do it. Most of the time, the information offered is not the right route to take if you want to maintain a log home for decades. Let’s discover 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 house 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 sensible thing to do is to get rid of the film rather than wait for it to wear off.
quality matters
Always research the manufacturer you get your log homes from. Some people like to cut corners in order to maximize their profits and build with standing dead trees. Once a tree dies, internal rot begins and eventually begins 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 decomposition process. You can save yourself a lot of trouble if you get a high-quality log house from a trusted manufacturer right from the start.
Food to go
Trees have enemies that they can defend against when they are alive. However, once a tree is cut down, it is up to humanity to protect it from the weather elements to ensure it can provide 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 preserving wood.
Let’s move on to maintenance now that you know what to avoid when buying a log home.
maintenance practices
Frequency
By doing regular maintenance on your home, you will protect it from weather damage and pests. You should perform maintenance practices on your home at least twice a year, preferably during the fall and spring. Spring is best for checking your home for damage from freezing water, 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 infestation, as you prepare for the cold months. It is imperative that you perform maintenance during these seasons. Over time, you will 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 you begin maintenance, inspect your home to determine what needs repair. Start at one point in your home and move 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 the roof for leaking gutters, chimney cracks, and any other factors that will impair the stability of your home.
clean up
When cleaning your cabin, you will notice much more than during the inspection. Not only is it an excellent means of being thorough in its 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 house. A soft bristle brush, warm water and a mild detergent are enough to clean the cabin without interfering with the aesthetics. Start by wetting the surfaces before using soap on them in circular motions 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 will be 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 receives 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 harsh weather. If 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 elastomeric on the market that works much better than the previously used cement-based chinking. Elastomeric requires less maintenance and therefore reduces maintenance costs.
pest control
Do this yearly for best results. Wood cannot defend itself against insect infestations, and if these pests go unchecked, you will incur a lot of costs to maintain your cabin. As such, get in the habit of cleaning, dusting and fumigating your cabin as often as possible to make pest infestation more difficult.
Annual maintenance
It is essential that you regularly clean your gutters and control runoff because splashes affect the appearance of your home. Effects include darkening of some parts of the cabin and deterioration and infestation. These problems are costly in the long run.
If you haven’t maintained your cabin in a while, it’s best to start the restoration process. It involves surface preparation, preservation techniques, staining, and sealing. However, it’s always best to protect yourself from incurring restoration costs by properly maintaining your home on a yearly basis.