What To Do When Your Log Home Wasn't Backbrushed

When you buy a log home, you want it to last well into the future. If it wasn't back-brushed before you bought it, you might need to back-brush it yourself or hire a professional. Back-brushing refers to the process of applying a stain or sealant to your log home's exterior while ensuring that the material sinks into every crack, gap, or imperfection in the wood. This coat protects the logs from rot, moisture damage, UV damage, and other issues.

Wash Your Log Home

No matter how old your log home is, you don't want to start back-brushing with a dirty surface. According to Cabin Living Magazine, every back-brushing project should start with power-washing. Use at least 3,000 psi, or pounds per square inch, of water pressure to make sure that you remove the mill glaze from the logs. You'll want to reduce your home's exterior to bare wood so that it will accept the stain quickly and evenly.

Although power-washing takes time, you'll thank yourself for taking this extra step. Work in small sections all around the home so that you don't miss any areas. If necessary, go back over it again. Remember to get under the eaves and around the windows, doors, and foundation. If your log home is stained but not back-brushed, consider using a wood stain remover first. You'll always want to start with a clean surface.

Assemble Your Tools

After you've power-washed your home, gather the rest of your materials. You'll need a wide, high-quality brush, a stain sprayer, and stain or sealant. You can apply stain first, then sealant later, or you can use sealant by itself. You can also find two-in-one products, so consult an expert to learn about the best products for your log home.

You can back-brush a log home without a sprayer, but the job takes longer and requires more endurance. A sprayer allows you to spread the stain or sealant quickly and over larger areas. Additionally, it can help you get a more even coat.

Spray and Brush

You'll want to work in small sections, such as 4-foot by 4-foot areas. You don't want the stain or sealant to dry before you can get to it with a brush. This project works best as a two-person job, but you can do it yourself as long as you keep both your sprayer and your brush handy as you work. Spray the first coat, then go back over it with your brush. Focus on working the stain or sealant into the cracks, crevices, and imperfections of the wood. You want complete coverage so that your log home doesn't look uneven and so that you protect every inch of the wood. Continue in this fashion around the entire home.

Back-brushing a log home takes time, but it's worth the effort when you see the final results. Additionally, you get a more secure log home that will resist sun, wind, moisture, and insect damage. Best of all, you expose the wood's natural beauty.

Image via Flickr by Wilson Hui