Log home maintenance is something that is a continual project for most log home owners. Typically, it is confined to reapplying log stains and applying a little caulking or chinking material. Log home maintenance does not have to be a headache if you set up a maintenance program. Below you will find some helpful tips for maintaining your log home.

1. Walk around the perimeter of your log home once a year.
2. Look to see if you have any new checks that need to be filled with caulking material.
3. Examine any high moisture areas for possible water damage. If rot is present use a wood restoration product to remedy the situation.
4. Look for any small holes created from wood boring insects. Check with Mountain Home Building Products in regards to fixing this type of problem.
5. Look to see whether your log stain is faded.
6. Lightly clean your wood before applying more stain material. The idea is to remove any dirt, dust or debris from the surface of your wood. The new stain material will only be as good as the surface that it adheres to.
7. It is best to use the same stain that was originally applied to your log home. Switching stains is possible but make sure that the new stain is compatible with the old stain material.
8. Use a quality log home stain. I recommend a product called Transformation from Sashco. The better the stain material, the less maintenance your logs will require.
9. Log home stains should last about 3 years on the southern exposure of your log home and 4-5 years on the other sides of your home. The better surface preparation you do, the longer your log home stain will last.
10. Fill all checks and cracks that are a 1/4” or greater. This will prevent any water or bugs from getting in your home.
11. Look for any tears in your chinking. This material can happen from a poor initial application of chinking or excessive movement in your wood. Fixing the torn chinking can be as easy as re-applying more chinking material to the existing chinking. Most chinking materials adhere to themselves.

In conclusion, the more you stay on top of your log home maintenance, the easier and cost effective it will be. For more information about log home maintenance, chinking or log home stains contact Mountain Home Building Products at 800-490-3695. Mountain Home Building Products is a leading distributor of chinking, log home stains, log caulking, clear wood finishes, log siding, house logs & rustic lighting.

Log stains, chinking and cabin caulking are staples for the preservation of your log home. Eventually, you will find yourself applying at least one of these materials if you own a log home. It is always best to consult with your builder or application contractor before making a purchase. Chinking, caulking and stain are available in a number of colors, consistencies and performance ratings. Below you will find info to help guide you through the maze of log home products.

1. Chinking is designed to stand out from your wood.
2. Caulking is designed to blend in with your logs.
3. Chinking material can be used in joint sizes ranging from 1/4” up to 6”.
4. Chinking can be done by professionals and homeowners.
5. Log home products are typically higher performing products as compared to stick built products.
6. Purchase a stain material from a reliable manufacturer and a reliable source.
7. Not all oil based stains are the same.
8. Not all water based stains are the same.
9. The staining process is typically done first followed by chinking or caulking.
10. All log home stains will need a maintenance coat in 4-5 years.
11. More prep work is critical for the success of water based log home stains as compared to oil based stain products.
12. Oil based stains have a stronger odor than water based stains.
13. Most chinking materials are water based.
14. Installing backer rod behind chinking or caulking will help these materials to expand and contract.
15. Backer rod is available in a number of different profiles such as full round, D shaped or trapezoidal shaped
16. Borate treatments need to be applied before the application of log stain materials.
17. Impel rods work very well in areas of high moisture content.
18. Log checks facing upwards should be filled if they are greater than a 1/4”.
19. Surface preparation is the key to success for applying any stain.
20. It is ok to use a different color stain on the inside of your log home.
21. Applying an interior clear finish to the inside of your log home will make cleaning much easier.
22. Corn cob blasting is effective in the removal of stains, dirt, grease or grime.

In conclusion, there a number of choices on how to preserve your dream home but as a consumer you need to ensure that you are asking the right questions.

For more information about chinking material, application tools or contractor referrals contact Mountain Home Building Products toll free at 800-490-3695.

Log home supplies such as chinking, log home stain and cabin caulking are typically required in order to properly maintain your log structure. Mountain Home Building Product is a leading distributor of Sashco log home supplies such as Log Jam, Log Builder, Conceal, Chinker’s Edge, Transformation stain, Capture stain, High Sierra stain and Symphony interior clear finish.

Chinking is often used in joints that are greater than 1” wide. The most widely used chinking material is Log Jam. It has been manufactured by Sashco for the past 30 years. Log Jam comes in a wide variety of colors and is available in 29oz tubes and 5 gallon buckets. Log Jam chinking is the choice of professionals because it is highly elastic and comes with a standard 10 year warranty with the option for a lifetime warranty.

Selecting the right log home stain can be difficult but is very important when it comes to preserving your dream home. Water based stains can provide good protection from harmful UV rays but they can also be difficult to apply. Oil based stains are typically easier to apply but require solvents for clean up and give off an odor during application. With that said, I recommend an oil based stain product called Transformation. It retails for $295 per 5 gallon bucket but it provides the ultimate in protection. Additionally, it gives your logs a rich, natural appearance.

Log home caulking is often used in joints that are less than 1” wide. The most widely used caulking material is Log Builder. It comes with a standard 15 year warranty. With that said, I would recommend using another caulking material called Conceal. It does not have the same name brand recognition as Log Builder but is much easier to apply and blends quite a bit better with your wood. Finally, it is also manufactured by Sashco log home products.

In conclusion, your wood should be clean, sound and dry before applying your log home stain. It is important to use a stain that is compatible with your chinking or log home caulking. Purchase both materials from the same manufacturer in order to eliminate any problems down the road. Sashco manufacturers a number of log stains, chinking and caulking materials.

For more information about log home supplies contact Mountain Home Building Products toll free at 800-490-3695. Mountain Home Building Products is a leading distributor of chinking, log home stain, cabin caulking, clear wood finishes, log siding, house logs & rustic lighting.

1. Can I apply a clear finish to protect my logs? No, most of the protection from stains comes from the pigments. Clear wood finishes look nice but do not last more than 6 months. Typically, the darker the log stain the more protection and durability they offer.
2. Should I apply a water based stain or an oil based stain to my log home? It really depends on you the consumer. There are good water based stains and there are good oil based stains. Water based stains are nice because they do not have much of an odor and are easy to clean up but they can be difficult to apply. Oil based stains are easier to apply but typically they have a strong odor and require solvents for clean up. Finally, make sure to pick a stain product that has a good track record and have realistic expectations.
3. How often do I need to restain my log home? Plan on doing some type of stain maintenance every 3 years. No stain material is going to last 10 years without some type of maintenance. The more you keep up with the maintenance the easier and more cost effective it becomes to protect your log home.
4. Will my log home require chinking or caulking material? Typically, all log homes require chinking or caulking at some point. Some homes require more but most require some. It is very typical for log homes to require caulking in the corners because these areas experience more movement than other parts of the home.
5. How much chinking material, caulking material or log stain will my log home need? This is a difficult question because it depends on the size of your chinking joint and the size of your home. A standard home requires 10-15 gallons of stain and 25-35 gallons of chinking or 12-20 gallons of log caulking material. These numbers are averages. Check with your log home finishing products supplier for more exact figures.

For more information about chinking material, application tools or contractor referrals contact Mountain Home Building Products toll free at 800-490-3695.

Adhesive Failure: Occurs when a sealant pulls away from the substrate. This type of failure is typically present when there is a compatibility issue between the finish and the sealant.

Back Brush: The act of vigorously brushing the stain into the substrate. This is a critical step that should not be overlooked on the exterior.

Backer Rod: Usually a foam material used to provide 2-point adhesion to the sealant.

Borate: A preservative used to protect wood from insect infestations and rot.

Caulking: A common type of sealant material used on log homes around doors, windows, checks, between logs and small horizontal joints.

Check: A crack-like opening that forms in a log as it shrinks and dries. Checks that are ¼ inch or greater and facing upwards should be sealed.

Chinking: Sealant material used on log homes designed to resemble mortar but remains soft and pliable to keep up with the movement of the logs. Chinking is mainly used in large horizontal joints ranging from 1 to 4 inches and is designed to stand out from the logs.

Chemical Stripping: Chemicals applied prior to pressure washing to help clean or strip a finish from the surface of the wood.

Cohesive Failure: Occurs when a sealant pulls away from itself and often exists when there is excessive movement in the substrate.

Compatibility: Effectiveness of a finish and sealant properly working together.

Corn Cob Blasting: Environmentally friendly process using crushed corn cobs to clean or remove stains from logs. It is similar to but less aggressive than sandblasting.

Felting & Fuzzing: Common side effect associated with pressure washing and is best described as a surface texture that resembles that of a tennis ball.

Micro checking: Small checks that occur when moisture is rapidly pulled from a log. This mainly occurs on the exterior of log homes but can happen on the interior.

Mill glaze: A thin coating of sap, sugars or water that seep to the surface of a log during the milling process.

Moisture content: The amount of water present in wood which is usually expressed as the percentage weight of water relative to the overall dry weight of the wood.

Mold/Mildew: Typically a black discoloration on the surface of wood.

Oil Based Stain: Commonly used stain that is easy to work with and designed to penetrate wood. Clean up performed with solvents. Note: Use of respirator is highly recommended.

Oxalic Acid: Highly toxic cleaner works well in removing redwood tanning stains and rust discoloration. Not effective against mold and mildew.

Oxygenated Bleach (Sodium Percarbonate Cleaner): Bleach that kills mold and mildew but does not harm the wood or the environment. Best cleaner for logs. More expensive than other cleaners.

Pressure Washing: Common log cleaning process utilizes pressurized water applied through a fan nozzle to the substrate. Wood must be allowed to dry to moisture content below 20% before staining.

Settlement: The movement of walls that occurs over time due to the shrinkage of logs as they lose their moisture.

Shrinkage: The decreasing in size of a log as it loses some of its moisture content over time.

Sap Stain: Typically a blue green discoloration on the surface of wood.

Substrate Failure: Occurs when the substrate is pulled from itself.

TSP (Trisodium Phosphate): A product mixed with water and used to clean logs and redwood decks.

Two Point Adhesion: A proper sealant joint. Backer rod needs to be installed behind the sealant in order to get adhesion to the top and bottom of the joint. The sealant should not adhere to the back of the joint those promoting two points of contact with the substrate.

Water & Oil Emulsion Stain: Environmentally friendly stain designed to form a surface bond and penetrate into the substrate. Additionally, it must be elastic and allow the wood to breathe. Note: Clean up is performed with soap and water.

Water Based Stain: Environmentally friendly stain designed to bond to the surface of the substrate. Additionally, it must be highly elastic and allow the wood to breathe. Note: Dries relatively quickly which can lead to lap marks and brush marks if the proper application is not followed. Clean up is performed with soap and water.

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