Log home design, construction and maintenance.
Hi and welcome to our new Ozark Log Home Supply blog site we are glad your here. Feel free to provide relevant comments and ask questions relating to design, construction and maintenance of log homes. Please post comments to the appropriate category (i.e. Stain questions in the Stain Category, Chinking questions in the Chinking Category and etc.) Thanks..
Sashco has also announced that it will be re-naming the existing High Sierra Log Stain to Transformation Siding and Trim to better market the product to log home owners. The existing colors and formulation will remain the same except for the Natural Spruce color which will be dropped from the line. Look for the new packaging to start showing up soon.
Stay tuned and we will update information as soon as it is available. Check our website at www.OzarkLogHomeSupply.com for new colors and product information.
I don’t know about where you live, but here in South Missouri it’s been a long winter. We are ready for spring and time to get outside, people here are already getting out and tilling the garden, cleaning the yard and doing all those little maintenance chores that usually get done in the spring. The first warm days of spring are a perfect time to take a walk around your log home and make a list of the areas that need to be addressed.
When you are taking your spring walk around your log home start your inspection at the top of the gables and work your way down to the foundation.
1.) Check roof valleys and gutters for build ups of leaves and debris, and damage from ice or snow. Water is your enemy, at least when it comes to damage to your logs and wood trim. If leaves build up in your valleys and gutters it may cause rain water to dam up and overflow the gutters, or bypass the downspouts, this can lead to water damage to your roof decking, fascia, soffits, and even the log walls of your home. Be sure to remove any debris from these areas and check for loose gutters, downspouts and flashing, these are your first line of defense from water damage.
2.) Inspect your logs and log siding for signs of water running down the face of walls, fascia boards, and under soffits. These signs can be in the form of stains where water has been running or a trail of debris that remains stuck to the surface where water has pond-ed and dried out kind of like the line of debris along the shoreline of a lake or river when flood water recedes. This is a tell tale sign that water has been where it shouldn’t be. Also look for areas where your stain or finish is deteriorating, sun, wind and rain all wear at the stain and sealant that are protecting your logs and wood trim. You will be surprised how much longer your finishes can last if you address the maintenance of these areas before they have a chance to spread. At the first sign of discoloration or deterioration take the time to add a new protective coat of sealant or finish or repair the discoloration of your stain. These are the first signs of major coating failure to come and major expense will soon follow. Be sure to pay extra attention to areas where there are projections from the walls, trim around windows and doors, log corbels and beam projections, log corner stacks and corner trim are all areas where the first signs of log stain failure will occur.
3.) Look for new cracks and checks in logs and siding, gaps between log stacks and at corners where movement has occurred over the winter. Don’t for get to check around doors and windows as well. Carry a caulk gun loaded with a premium quality log home caulk and some backer rod and address these problems as you find them. When caulking cracks and checks in logs and log siding remember to seal any cracks where water will run down into the logs (usually on the upper side of the log), but be careful about filling a crack or check on the lower (under side) of logs so that you don’t trap any water which is entering the log from above and thereby providing a place to breed decay within the log. Make note of any locations where you find any soft spots or decay for later repair or replacement if they cannot be addressed with your caulk gun and backer rod. Small soft spots in logs can sometimes be repaired through the use of epoxy fillers by removing all the loose log fiber and filling with a product designed for repair of wood, be sure the product is designed for use in exterior applications. If the rot is extensive and presents a structural issue you may need to consult a professional. Don’t attempt these types of repair problems if you don’t have the expertise or ability to do the job, you can do more damage than good.
4.) Pay extra close attention to areas where water splashes up on your logs, this is probably the single greatest reason for stain failure, the moisture accompanied by the dirt it carries seems to cause the most damage to your finish coatings. If you don’t already have gutters, consider installing some to help prevent the splashing of water running off the roof. If you do have gutters make sure they are free of debris and blockages that make them over run. If you find areas in need of attention, make a note of the location mentally or on paper and apply another coat of sealant or finish the the affected areas as soon as possible.
5. Look for shrubs and vegetation that is crowding or touching your logs or siding, anything that abrades or holds moisture on the surface of your walls will be a detriment to the finish that protects it. Cut back any tree branches or shrubs rubbing off that protective finish. Also look for any signs of insect or other critters trying to eat your log home. A yearly inspection by a pest control company is always a good idea when protecting what is probably your most valuable asset.
In short, a little vigilance coupled with some well deserved preventative maintenance will save you big bucks in the long run and keep your home looking great all year long and for many years to come.
Today we received new Sashco Transformation Log Stain color charts showing the new color ”Redwood” http://www.ozarkloghomesupply.com/trlogst5ga.html which we really like. This new color is richer and is a deeper red then the other Redtones of Transformation and will be available in Mid-April 2011. Here is a color swatch with the new “Redwood Transformation Log Stain” compared to ”Transformation Redwood Dark Log Stain”.
You can check our color comparision with the other Redtone Transformation Colors of Log Stain at our website. Contact us for a sample of this new color or to pre-order yours. Also, all of the colors of Transformation have been reformulated to be VOC compliant in all 50 states, so there is no need to order special formulations to meet VOC regulations in certain states.
