Log Home Restoration

In the construction service industry, customers typically are concerned about getting three main things from their coating contractors: quality, speed & low price. While coating companies would love to be able to offer all three of them at the same time, it is impossible to do so.

Unfortunately, you only get to choose two of those three for your project. Want a quality job (high-quality craftsmanship, high-quality materials, high-quality level of service, high-quality character people) and you want it done quickly (a crew of workers that can accomplish a lot of work in a short amount of time), then it’s going to cost you more to hire a coating company that can provide those things for you. Want a quality job, and you don’t want to spend a lot of money, then it’s going to take longer to get the job done. This coating guy is a one man show that doesn’t have employees and the costs that come with them. That installer is typically a great craftsman and can produce excellent work. Unfortunately, you will have to endure a longer timeframe to get the work completed since you will only have one person working on your project. Want your coating project completed quickly and you don’t want to pay a lot, then you will end up with a lower quality job. The lower quality is a result of less time spent properly preparing the surfaces, less time spent applying the coating properly and precisely and the use lower quality materials that don’t cost as much. If you are not concerned about the quality and you want it done quickly, you will probably save some money. Roe Painting proudly offers quality work, completed quickly, with great service, by quality people using high-quality coatings. If this is what you are looking for, and understand the costs that come with it, we would love to help you get your coating project completed. Just fill out the form below to receive a quote and we will contact you to set up an appointment.

Maintaining a log home is a fraction of the cost of refinishing or restoring a log home.  Having said that, size of log home, exposure to elements, whether gutters are installed or not, and annual maintenance checks all play a role in the cost of maintaining a log home.  If an annual soft wash to remove contaminates and maintenance checks are completed each year, and any areas of concern are addressed promptly, the cost is not much different than maintaining a traditional stick built home.  If you neglect maintenance and do not complete maintenance items as they arise, you will have considerable repairs to deal with, which comes with increased costs.  Depending on the size and location of the log home, you could keep up on the maintenance for less than $2,000 to $3,000 a year

They can be, especially if roofs are not insulated properly, and logs joints are poorly scribed resulting in a drafty house.  With advancement in modern HVAC systems, thermal glass, and a south or southwest exposure they can be almost as efficient at a modern stick built home.  If roof insulation is poorly installed and if log joints and window and door penetrations are not chinked properly, you will lose a lot of heat.  If you are using a wood stove as the primary heat source, and you don’t have your log home properly sealed, you’re going to be going through A LOT of firewood.

Log homes should receive an annual softwash followed by an inspection to look for the beginning of stain or chinking failures.  If any failures are identified, it’s as simple as buffing out the area presenting failure, reapplying the stain and clear coats, cutting out and repairing chinking failures. 

Absolutely!  Log homes that lack eaves and gutters will eventually cause premature rot if annual maintenance is neglected or deferred.  Improperly flashed roof to wall transitions which allow water to run down the wall will also contribute to premature rot.  Log homes with eaves or large overhangs, gutters and proper roof to wall flashings will last years if not forever with property maintenance.  There are log homes built in the 17th century that are still functional and in good condition to this day.

Mold can grow on log homes.  So can algae, moss, mildew, lichens, and mushrooms.  What is commonly called mold is actually black surface fungus or algae, which typically presents on the northern exposure of homes. These forms of growth are easily removed during the annual softwash.  If you are seeing mushrooms or mold beneath your coatings, there are bigger problems such as water intrusion and rot, both results of neglect and deferred maintenance.

A properly chinked log home, one that has backer rod installed and a chink joint applied at the correct thickness and height for proper adhesion, can last years. 20 years if not neglected, up to 40 years if properly maintained and not exposed to weather extremes.  The cost to chink your log home yourself is between $3 and $7 per lineal foot.

If regular maintenance is not deferred, you should not need to refinish your log home.  Refinishing, in this case, means you have to media blast off the existing coating and start over.  You will however need to reapply stains and or clears every 3 to 7 years depending on exposure.  Sooner when using oil protects, later when using waterborne log stain systems such as Sashco Capture / Cascade.  These log stain systems are elastomeric, semi-transparent stains and clears that move with the logs as the logs experience solar gain.  Oil stain products cannot move to the extent waterborne logs stains systems can and typically experience failure earlier than Sashco and Perma Chink systems

Media blast the log home with fine glass media.  Quickly sand or buff the areas which were blasted (secondary prep is key).  Apply a log stain system such as a Sashco Colorfast, Capture or Cascade system per the manufacturer’s recommendations and spread rates. If chinking is required, properly install the chinking per the manufacturer’s best application standards

Depending on the extent of weathering and species of wood, one option is to chemically wash the weathered wood with Sodium Hydroxide or Oxalic Acid.  These options introduce a lot of water to the wood which is not ideal.  Industry standard is to media blast the wood substrates and then secondary sand or buff using Buffy Pads or Osborne brushes.  The wood substrate is now ready for coating.

Media blast the log home with fine glass media.  Quickly sand or buff the areas which were blasted (secondary prep is key).  Apply a log stain system such as a Sashco Colorfast, Capture or Cascade system per the manufacturer’s recommendations and spread rates. If chinking is required, properly install the chinking per the manufacturer’s best application standards.

You can remove the logs entirely and replace them with new logs.  Or you can leave the existing log in place (assuming the rot is local to the exterior only) and cut out the rotten wood.  You can then replace the cut out wood with a log face installed with timber lags and hidden with chinking.

We do not recommend using chemical stripping compounds on log homes.  The better practice, and industry standard, is to media blast the logs to remove failing finishes, UV damaged and unsound wood using 40/70 recycled glass.  The cost to media blast is between $3 and $6 a square foot.

Depending on exposure to extreme weather and the type of coating protecting the home, every 3-7 years.

Interior logs are typically coated with 2 coats of a clear coat, or pigmented clear coat if a darker color is desired, during the construction process after the home is “dried in”.  The logs are sanded to clean them up and remove any blemishes or marks from the construction process prior to application of coatings.

Yes, but it is time consuming and expensive.  Logs are typically replaced due to extensive rot.  It is best to maintain the home and make sure it has eaves and gutters to move the water away from the logs.  An annual inspection and maintenance will prevent rotten logs.

Yes, but it is not the most efficient way to remove failed finishes, UV damaged and unsound wood.  It is very time consuming when compared to media blasting.  The sanding discs and sanders will typically cost more than a media blast and take up to 15 times longer than media blasting.

If the old stain is sound and in good condition you can stain over the old stain with the same product after a proper soft wash and surface preparation.  Staining with a different stain can result in compatibility issues between the different coatings and result in premature or immediate failures.  It is always a good idea to know and understand the current coatings applied to your log home before applying a new coat of stain.

The best finish for interior log walls is Sashco Symphony, which works in harmony with the unique character of your logs and wood to reflect the warm characteristics of your logs while creating a scuff-resistant and durable surface that’s easy to dust.

Symphony Interior Clear Coat is a crystal clear interior finish that not only protects wood from yellowing over time but also helps shed dust and protects logs from damage by household cleaning chemicals. It is easy to apply to your log home and can be used over bare or stained wood.

NEVER PAINT YOUR LOG HOME!  NEVER PAINT YOUR LOG HOME!  NEVER PAINT YOUR LOG HOME!  Paint does not allow logs to breathe and will rot logs extremely fast.  Always utilize breathable logs stains such as Sashco Capture / Cascade.

Absolutely, every year, but do not use the pressure or force of the water, use the volume of the water to clean and remove contaminants such as mold, mildew, algae, pollen, etc.  Appropriate mild house cleaners, a soft bristle brush, and a soft wash utilizing the volume of water rather than the force of the water is the best way to pressure wash and clean logs.  This should be done annually.

Absolutely, log homes need to be treated and maintained.  Sashco products are some of the best log products on the market and work well to protect your home.  They perform better than traditional oil based stains and clear coats.