Borate Wood Treatments Some log home producers also protect the wood from insects and fungi by dipping logs in tanks filled with a borate-based solution or infusing them with a borate preservative through pressure treating. Borate is an eco-friendly and economical way to protect your logs.
Why do you need to preservative logs?
The most important role of a preservative is to repel your logs' primary enemy: water. Water promotes mold and mildew and attracts fungi and insects—all of which can break down the wood. Normally, preservatives are applied to your logs every three to five years.
What is the best wood preserver for a log cabin?
Cuprinol Wood Preserver Clear The clear wood preserver from Cuprinol provides a very good base coat and is widely available from most stores online. This water-based preserver can be used as an initial coat on both the interior and exterior of a log cabin for long-lasting and deep penetrating protection.
How do you protect logs from insects?
Some log home producers also protect the wood from insects and fungi by dipping logs in tanks filled with a borate-based solution or infusing them with a borate preservative through pressure treating. Borate is an eco-friendly and economical way to protect your logs.
How do you treat a log cabin with wood treatment?
For log cabins that have been previously treated, the current treatment must have weathered enough for the new treatment to be able to soak into the wood. Once we are ready to apply the treatment, use masking tape to cover up around the windows and doors.
How do you treat log home logs?
Brush solution on logs within 1 day of peeling, especially in warm weather. Preservative protection is especially de- sirable for the lowest two or three logs of a cabin. Logs can be treated when they are freshly peeled or after they have been air dried for some months.
What is the best wood preservative for log cabin?
Best Wood Preserver for Log Cabins: Top 10Osmo Natural Oil Wood-stain. ... Barrettine Log Cabin Treatment. ... Cuprinol Ultimate Garden Wood Preserver. ... Ronseal Total Wood Preservative. ... Sadolin Wood Preserver. ... Cuprinol Exterior Wood Preserver. ... Protek Wood Preserver Plus. ... Cuprinol Wood Preserver Clear.More items...•
How do you preserve a log home?
When building your log cabin, ensure proper construction using design elements like roof overhangs, rain guttering, and air ventilation. Clean and regularly maintain your log home by removing mildew, pollen and dust. Use the best stain and use good chinking internally and externally.
What do you treat the outside of a log cabin with?
We recommend using Sashco CPR Log Cleaner and Brightener to remove these pollutants and keep your home's exterior in good condition. Mix the CPR powder with water and spray it on the house with a garden sprayer.
What are log cabins coated with?
Log cabins in exposed environments and that are subjected to extreme weathering can be first treated with Cuprinol 5 Star Complete Wood Treatment (WB) then coated with Sikkens Cetol HLS Plus followed by Sikkens Cetol Filter 7 Plus.
How often do log homes need to be treated?
every 3 to 7 yearsAs a general rule, you will need to stain your log home every 3 to 7 years, depending on the elements. Elemental factors include exposure to rain, sunlight, hail, wind, climate, and more.
What do you treat log homes with?
Wood Treatment Options For Log HomesAir- and Kiln-Drying the Logs. ... Borate Wood Treatments. ... Cleaning the Logs. ... Applying a Wood Preservative. ... Biocides. ... Pigmented Stains to Combat Damage from UV Rays. ... Topcoats and Finish Coatings.
How do you weatherproof logs?
1:579:00Sealing the Ends of Logs and Lumber - Ask Matt 20 - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnything that's gonna provide a really good sealant to whatever you apply to now. I have used latexMoreAnything that's gonna provide a really good sealant to whatever you apply to now. I have used latex paint in the past. And in my experience.
How do I stop my log cabin dry rotting?
Tips To Prevent Log Home Dry RotMaintain a “good quality” finish on the exterior logs in your log home. ... Stopping water from coming in contact with the logs is the best way to keep water from entering the logs and prevent dry rot in your log home. ... Gutters are yet another great help in reducing unnecessary water contact.More items...•
How do you put a borate on a log home?
Some borates come in a powdered form, you simply mix the powder with water and apply it to the wood. It can be very effective if applied to wood that is not being hit by water or too exposed to the elements. Water can wash the borate out of the wood.
What is the best wood preserver for a log cabin?
The clear wood preserver from Cuprinol provides a very good base coat and is widely available from most stores online. This water-based preserver can be used as an initial coat on both the interior and exterior of a log cabin for long-lasting and deep penetrating protection. The formulation actively protects against rot, decay and blue-staining fungi. Being clear, it can be slightly difficult to see where it has been applied, but the good value 5L tub allows for a generous coating throughout the cabin.
How long does it take to treat a log cabin?
At a maximum, we wouldn’t be concerned waiting up to two months. Treating a log cabin is a time-consuming process and can take several days to complete.
What happens if it rains on a log cabin?
If it has been raining before, the log cabin will have likely absorbed moisture and applying a treatment now may cause the moisture to get trapped inside the wood.
Why does wood rot when it rains?
Firstly, timber is porous and will absorb moisture. You can notice this when it rains and the wood turns a darker colour. Absorbed moisture causes the wood to expand, which over time can cause movement, particularly around the joints. Furthermore, a cabin soaking in water for a long period of time may also start to rot.
What is natural oil stain?
The full range also includes paints and flooring oil. Natural oil wood stain is designed for exterior wood to provide excellent protection from UV rays, for cabins that spend most of their lives in direct sunlight.
What is oil stain?
The full range also includes paints and flooring oil. Natural oil wood stain is designed for exterior wood to provide excellent protection from UV rays, for cabins that spend most of their lives in direct sunlight. The solvent-based solution penetrates into the wood to provide durability and weather resistance.
What is wood treatment?
Finally, wood treatment protects against creatures and natural decay. Many high-quality products provide protection against wood-boring insects which may try to make their way inside your new log cabin. Further protection is provided against rot and decay which is important with the British weather.
What is chinking in log homes?
Chinking. One of the most recognizable log home attributes, chinking is a thick material used to seal the gaps between log courses (as shown above). Traditional chinking is mortar-based, but modern synthetic chinking is far more elastic and durable. Also, today’s chinking is available in a variety of colors, though most homeowners prefer a white ...
What is caulk used for?
Caulk. A sealant used to fill joints and spaces between logs. Often, it’s clear or a color that matches the tone of the wood, making the caulk virtually invisible. Caulk comes in tubes or pails and is applied with a gun in a narrow bead.
5 Log Exterior Maintenance Essentials
While Gingrich Builders has primarily earned our reputation for building beautiful custom log homes, we do more than that. Our teams of log home experts are prepared to perform all of the necessary maintenance to keep your home protected from the elements and looking fantastic.
Sashco: High Performance Log Home Stain and Products
At Gingrich Builders, we choose to use and sell Sashco products because of their reliability. We’ve been building and maintaining log homes for more than 45 years and we trust Sashco.
Why do you clean logs?
It is a wise idea to clean the logs to remove as much of the residue mentioned above. Clean logs breath better, therefore they dry out more readily. Cleaning them can help remove spores that can cause mold or mildew to develop. Most importantly, it is necessary to clean them in preparation for applying another coat of finish to them in order ...
What is the best way to clean logs?
We recommend cleaning logs with a combination of water and a wood-friendly detergent, i.e. TSP (Trisodium Phosphate Cleaner).
Is it good to clean logs?
Log homes – cleaning the exterior logs is a good thing. Log homes have so many features that make them a desirable place to spend time in. Aesthetically, they evoke so many emotions such as quiet, peace, and relaxation. If you own a log home yourself, you know that they also demand a certain amount of attention on a regular basis ...
5 Best Log Cabin Treatments & Wood Preservers
Best Log Cabin Treatment Tips & Questions
- To achieve the best result, we need to prepare the log cabin in advance and ensure the conditions are suited for applying the treatment. Preparing in advance will ensure everything goes smoothly and result in a perfectly painted garden building. When is the best time to treat a log cabin? Finding the best time to paint a log cabin is not always possible, and sometimes we just have to …
We Followed A Three-Step Process
- When painting our garden building, we followed a 3 step process that provided a solid layer of protection and still to this day creates the appearance of a freshly painted building. It’s been several years since we painted the exterior and I can’t see us performing maintenance any time soon. Using three different products was not our original idea. We originally decided to just use …
Verdict
- Treating a new log cabin is crucial to provide long-lasting protection. It’s not just damp proofing which a high-quality treatment provides. Protection against UV rays and wood-boring insects is just as important to keep your cabin looking as good as it does on the first day you get it. If you’re not able to treat your new building straight away, i...