Log Home Maintenance myths!

10 Common Log Home Maintenance Myths

You’re undoubtedly aware of some people’s worries regarding log home maintenance. Some terrifying tales have been told about how rapidly log homes and log cabins fell into disrepair and how thousands of dollars were spent restoring the homes to their original splendor.

How the houses came to be that way in the first place is the actual tale. Either the homeowners needed to learn how to maintain wood or didn’t care for their logs. But, if you research and prepare ahead of time, you will spend the least time, money, and energy on your log home maintenance schedule.

You should be able to dispel some myths and start down the path to a well-kept log cabin home by asking the following questions:

Myth: Taking care of a log home requires a lot of time.

Fact: Do log cabins require a lot of upkeep? They don’t have to be, the fact is. You may save much labor if you properly design your home and plan. Maintenance problems can be avoided with large overhangs, porches, appropriate landscaping, and towering foundations. If you are upfront and conscious that a log home is not a traditional home and will require unconventional maintenance, you may design and plan for this. 

Myth: Maintaining a log home is difficult.

Truth: Not always. Hence, how DO you maintain a log home? The most crucial thing is to clean: Keep the dust, pollen, and mold off your logs every season and clean and dry the diamond’s surface before and after staining. In addition, your log home’s south and west walls need extra attention because they are more vulnerable to the weather. If this seems too time-consuming, you could use a service that handles home upkeep.

Myth: Mold issues plague log homes.

Fact: Mold issues can occur on any surface. Mold will increase in size when there is more moisture present. Shiny rooflines, shady trees, and backsplash all contribute. Keep an eye on your home’s north side because it receives the least sunlight and, as a result, retains moisture after rain the longest. Your logs can last a lifetime if you keep them dry and off the ground.

Myth: Log homes are prone to insect issues.

Fact: Over the past 20 years, the industry has advanced significantly. Thanks to borate, a natural mineral that deters insects from trying to eat your logs, we no longer have the termite issues of the past. Carpenter bees are currently the main issue, but they can also be avoided. Use the liquid to make existing permethrin, cyfluthrin, and dust-containing boric acid to prevent carpenter bees from harming your wood. After the bees have left, fill any holes with steel wool, caulk, and finish stain.

Myth: Stains on log homes are bad for the environment.

Fact: It is a fact that older stains with highly volatile organic compounds (VOCs) have been modified to include fewer air pollutants. Oil-based stains have received unfair criticism; petrochemical stains diluted in water are just as environmentally friendly as wood stains made with contemporary vegetable oil-based methods. Oil-based stains will continue to have a strong, viable, and eco-friendly presence even if developing compliant ones needs more formulation knowledge and sophistication than their water-based counterparts.

Myth: All log stains are the same.

Fact: Each stain firm has its own procedures and formulas, and they all strive to provide the greatest service for the most time and money. This has led to the development of numerous systems throughout the log home sector. Your best option is to familiarize yourself with all the products on the market, decide which ones will perform effectively for your needs, and ask the log home manufacturer which stains they suggest. The decision-making process is dependent on the kind of wood, the environment, the age of the house, as well as time and cost.

Back To Top