Log Home Tips
Winterize Your Log Home: 15 Critical Maintenance Tips
Winter has already made its entrance, but there's still time to ensure your log home is fully equipped to face the colder months ahead. At Performance Log Homes, we pride ourselves on our expertise in maintaining, renovating, and building log homes across seven states—from the sunny coasts of Florida to the picturesque mountains of North Carolina. Leveraging the finest materials and most effective techniques, we're dedicated to helping homeowners like you preserve the beauty and integrity of your cherished log homes. Below, we outline fifteen tips to help your home stay safe and snug through the winter and beyond. Inspect and Repair Chinking and Caulking Begin by closely inspecting the chinking and caulking around your home. Look for any signs of wear such as cracks or separation. Addressing these issues promptly can prevent cold air and moisture from penetrating your home, which is...
Questions You Should Ask Before A Log Home Restoration
- Who is the manufacturer of the log package?
- What species of log has been used?
- Have additions been made to the original structure?
- What materials have been used in maintenance applications so far?
- Who constructed the structure and how old is it?
- Are there any known problem areas? Any known coating or sealing failures?
- What should the structure look like when you’re done?
- What is your workable budget to restore my log home?
- Is there a priority list for the work?
- What methods are used to remove the existing finish?
- What is the estimated cost of a log home restoration?
- How long does it take to finish restoration work?
What Methods Are Used To Remove The Existing Finish?
- Ozzying (Sanding) uses an osborne brush or buffing pads at changing speeds of right angle grinder.
- Media Blasting is performed with corn cob granule, glass, walnut shells, or food grade baking soda.
- Chemical Strippers -This step of removing an existing finish from your log home requires the greatest amount of time in the restoration project. It is very important to get this right and strip off any existing finish completely so that you have a clean canvas to work on.
As a log home owner, do due diligence before selecting one of these methods. You will need to work out which method would suit your budget and needs best. When hiring a pro, do check out the contractors past work to get a clear picture of what the end result may look like.
Tips To Extend The Longevity Of Your Log Home
Wood is a robust natural material that despite its durability is subject to ongoing changes from external natural forces. The biggest threats affecting the beauty and endurance of log wood are the potent natural forces of moisture and sunlight. While these two natural elements do not affect the surface of your logs, they do create the right conditions for more destructive forces to be unleashed against your log wood home. Depending on the conditions faced by your log home, it is possible to take certain precautions to prolong the life and beauty of your home. Keep Logs Dry Many people mistakenly believe that using particular species of log wood that have natural decay resistance will help their log home last for decades without the need for any regular maintenance that comes with owning...
Demystifying Common Misconceptions About Log Cabins
Building your own log cabin or purchasing one can be quite a challenge to undertake in itself but with myths about log cabins aplenty, it can seem even more arduous. While buyers should consider the potential pitfalls of their purchase, it would be wise to sift the truth from the lies. These myths usually come from misinformed sources and more often from people who have never owned or a rented a log cabin. This article will try and put to bed a few common myths surrounding log cabins. Log Homes Can Rot Easily As long as log homes are constructed properly from kiln-dried, pre-treated logs to resist both shrinkage and damage from termites, then it is not likely to rot any faster than other homes made with wood. Logs can crack as they dry out and from temperature fluctuations but this is no...