If you have not long ago designed or purchased a new log home, then you know the joy and enjoyment of last but not least stepping back in time to the rustic sense and the slower paced life-style that a log home gives. You may well have even said, “this is the life”!
However, if you have had your home for a pair of a long time, you may well have recognized the stain is not on the lookout as very good as it after did. You may well see on the sunny facet of the home premature fading and, or blisters and peeling. You may well see black spots and patches exhibiting as a result of the stain that seem to be to be growing larger. I am normally requested if this stain effectiveness is the ordinary progression and is it to be anticipated. My reply is “yes beneath the conditions.” However, the reply really should be no if the log home is adequately well prepared to get the stain. If any of this appears familiar, there is a very good probability much more is heading on with your logs than you might envision.
When logs are initially milled they are still left with what is identified in the sector as “Mill Glaze” on the surface area of the logs. Brought about from the rapidly spinning sizzling blades in the noticed mill, it draws the sap to the surface area of the wood and dries forming a slender glaze or film on the logs. Also, when initially milled, the logs generally have a substantial degree of humidity both from getting freshly slash logs or getting still left outside in the rain or the two.
When a log home is designed utilizing these “green” and “mill glazed” logs, you can be expecting to have end issues quicker relatively than afterwards. Once the logs are erected and the roof dried in, most of the time the builder will have it stained to keep any much more filth from accumulating from the ongoing development. Good for the builder, undesirable for the home-owner. When this is accomplished, numerous matters are developing.
First, with “green” or wet logs, not only will the stain not soak in adequately, but the stain will trap water inside of the logs, specially if it is a “Movie Forming” stain. The film acts as a barrier to keep humidity out. However, it also retains humidity in. With lousy stain penetration, humidity trapped in the wood and the existence of mill glaze, it can be concluded that any total of stain that may well have seeped into the logs, will not stand considerably of a possibility of getting a long lasting impact or supply considerably defense.
A different issue with getting green and/or mill glazed logs is the genuine probability of the existence of mildew and wood fungus.
Logs are normally saved outdoors. Some companies store them in shelters, some do not. Either way, they entice dust, filth and if in the southeastern US. most possible mildew. They then are shipped to the jobsite in which they sit for at least a handful of weeks to months in advance of getting erected. Continue to attracting filth and mildew. Now after erected, if the stain is applied, it not only does not soak in adequately, but it also seals in any filth, dust, mildew or anything else that may well have floated by.
Now, combine green logs with mill glaze, some filth and mildew and (it is not strange to see a footprint or two tracked on a handful of logs) and you have the best surface area for specific stain and end failure!
There are two strategies to resolve these issues.
Initial, the home-owner will have to make specific that the logs are adequately cleaned after the development and in advance of any stain, sealer or other end is applied. This may well not be as straightforward as it appears. Dealing with time constraints, banking personnel, inspectors and the GC. can pose their have issues. However, if you have the time to keep an eye on the job (which normally moments is not possible) and can strain to all associated that you be expecting this cleaning method to be preformed in advance of any stain is applied, and you stick to your guns, it may well just materialize.
The next way and also the most high-priced as nicely as the least fascinating is the dreaded chemical strip or cob blasting. Relying on the solution used on the logs will dictate the elimination procedure. The old stain will have to arrive off so that the mildew and other contaminants beneath the stain can be eliminated. While the logs may well seem clean after stripping, we normally do a chlorine clean to make absolutely sure any mildew spores still left deep in the wood cells will be ruined. Thanks to the microscopic sizing of the mildew spores, there is no way of realizing by on the lookout to see if the wood is entirely cleaned or not.
Once the stripping procedure is total, the next and most crucial phase is enabling the logs appropriate drying time. This is vital! Let me strain it again. This is Critical! If the logs are not dry, you have not only wasted your time heading as a result of the stripping procedure, but you are appropriate back in which you were being when you started.
Logs and wood in normal really should be as dry as probable. The dryer the wood the much more the stain will be absorbed. (Just like a sponge.) Now the concern becomes,” how do you know when it is dry more than enough?” There is only just one real way…Use a humidity meter.
The humidity meter has two probes that are inserted into the wood and documents the humidity content. Recall, the dryer, the better. Relying on the area, humidity and weather conditions conditions, the best humidity content for implementing a sealer really should be at least eighteen% or reduce. A 12% studying is about as very good as just one can be expecting to get in the southeastern United States. If the sealer is applied within this array, you will get an acceptable absorbsion charge and appropriate adhesion resulting in most defense and effectiveness.
No stain, sealer or any other end will keep up if the logs are filthy, have mill glaze or are green and have substantial humidity content. Good planning is paramount. There is no other way to receive appropriate absorption and adhesion of any sealer in buy to deliver a very long long lasting end without the need of initially getting a clean and dry log.
This is just one log home restoration job that the home-owner could stay clear of if they are conscious of this straightforward nevertheless particularly crucial procedure. In this situation, an ounce of prevention is truly worth much much more than a pound of treatment.