5 Things to Know About Log Cabin Maintenance

Posted by dynamohi on November 13th, 2015

If you have a log cabin, it is very important to take maintenance seriously. Lack of maintenance can be seen from a mile away. The finish can wear out completely and need to be replaced. Some costly replacements can all be avoided when proper maintenance is performed on the log cabin.

The cost of maintenance shouldn’t be used as an excuse by anyone. Sometimes maintenance costs can be lower than a few thousands of dollars annually. So long as the finish was done correctly and a proper sealant was applied, you shouldn’t spend a lot on maintaining your log cabin.

What does log cabin maintenance involve?

There are a number of things to be done when maintaining a log cabin. The cabin has to be protected from UV radiation, water damage, rodent and insect attack among other contaminants. Maintenance is done to ensure that the log cabin looks as good as it did the first time it was constructed.

Washing the log cabin

Washing the cabin really helps to maintain the sealants and stains that were applied to protect the cabin. As well as prevent damage caused by dust, insect remains and pollen. By washing the cabin, you are able to identify areas that need repairs before they worsen. It’s easy to assess the condition of the cabin when it’s clean and dry.

How long does restoration take?

Log home restoration can take 3 to 6 weeks depending on the size of your home as well as what kind of finishing you want done and how many coats of stain are going to be applied. You have to wait for the first coats of stain to dry up before applying the next coat. There’s also curing time that you have to account for and that’s why it takes a little bit longer than expected.

The process of washing a log home can take up to 4 days depending on the size of the home. The weather conditions may also affect the time it takes for the restoration to be complete. In dry weather, the logs will quickly dry and hence reduce the restoration period. Skipping any of the important steps just to finish the restoration process early can compromise the value of your cabin.

Removing an existing finish

There are cases where you may want the existing finish to be removed in order to pave way for a new one. If you have any rotten logs, they will also need to be removed during the restoration process. This can be done to ensure that staining is done on healthy logs and your cabin is not compromised in any way.