Are you feeling overwhelmed by the state of your log home? You are not alone. Take the time to walk around you house and inspect it yourself. We have put together a list of the top five items that we have seen be the biggest issues in our 22+ years of inspecting log homes.
1. Look at your chinking and caulking both inside and outside you home.
Check for any breaks and cracks in the chinking and caulking which could potentially allow air and water penetration. If you see any of these problems, it is imperative to repair them immediately and with the appropriate materials.
2. Look for new checks
New checks could be potential problems for rainwater collection. Over the winter months wear and tear from weather may have produced new areas of concern or widened existing checks that were once a non issue.
3. Inspect you log finish for fading and weathering
It is up to you to regularly inspect your log finish for fading and weathering, paying close attention to and examining the ends of the log. The ends of logs can absorb water and develop issues way faster than the horizontal surface of the logs. Regularly applying a maintenance coat of stain is important to prevent serious damage and larger problems down the road. At Log Home Rescue, we apply superior wood finishes with care and expert precision. They will provide your log home with a protective coating that will stand up to the weather elements and pests.
4. Look for any mold, mildew, or algae
It is important to take notice of any mold or mildew on the exterior of the logs due to heavy moisture exposure. If you see black or grayish-green buildup you need to remedy the problem and clean the logs. If there appears to be a lot of buildup the stain finish may no longer be doing its job.
5. Cut back vegetation from lower courses of logs
When doing your spring clean up of your landscaping, try to be sure that shrubs and mulch are away from the bottom course of logs. By keeping the vegetation away from the edge of the home you help to avoid debris, bugs, moisture on the walls, which prevents damage in the form of mold and insect issues.
If you see problems in any of these areas, repair them quickly. If you are unsure if your home needs care, and Log Home Rescue applied the initial finish to your log home, then we also left you with a recommendation maintenance time frame. However, it is still important to thoroughly check your home at least twice a year to prevent unexpected and costly large projects down the road.