Weatherall Log Home Maintenance Guide

To maintain a log home after the original applications of protective finish and chinking or caulking, the homeowner should complete a yearly inspection for signs of decay, fungus, mildew and water damage.

1. Use a water spray bottle to wet the log surfaces in the most weathered areas. If the water beads up and runs off, the finish is still intact. If the water absorbs into the logs, a clear maintenance coat is required.
2. Look for upward facing checks that may allow air, moisture and insect infiltration.
3. Inspect caulking around doors and windows.
4. If the home is of chink style construction, make sure the chinking has been unaffected by settling or log movement and that there are no pull away areas or cracks.
5. Inspect all sides of the structure for any slight fading or dry appearance of the finish.
6. If any of these problems exist, appropriate action should be taken immediately.
7. Decay, Fungus, Mildew:  Moisture is the main cause of these problems. Wood that is frequently exposed to wetting in the form of rain, snow, sprinklers, gutter splash, etc. will quickly develop surface mold and mildew which will ultimately cause decay that can penetrate deeply into the wood members. The best way to prevent fungal growth is to keep wood dry by routing water away from your logs.At the first signs of mildew or fungus, clean the wood surfaces with any commercial, non-acid cleaner making sure to follow all manufacturers’ instructions for application and safety. Rinse thoroughly with clean water. Test the wood surfaces with Litmus paper to verify pH neutral surface. The range should be slightly acidic to neutral, and in the natural pH range of the wood species (for example, pine is 6-8). Allow the wood to dry for several days, depending upon humidity and temperature. (Moisture content of wood should be 18% or less.) Sand badly weathered wood down to fresh wood. If there are no other repairs, proceed with reapplication of UV Guard or UV Guard II Exterior Wood Finish. (An enhanced mildewcide additive, such as Stay Clean I/E™, may be added in vulnerable areas.) Several repeat coats of Clear UV Guard or UV Guard II will be beneficial in exposed areas such as log ends, tops of posts, etc.
8. Checks:  Upward facing checks can collect rain and snow and channel moisture deep into the log and even into your home. Any check that spirals through from the outside can act as a conduit for moisture, air and insects.  If checks are large, first fill the split with a piece of backer-rod, trimmed to fit as needed, and inserted to lie about 1/4” below the surface of the check. Caulk with an appropriate color of UV Guard Premium Caulking, troweling the caulk tightly to the edges of the check. Be sure and caulk the entire area of the split on the butt ends of the logs. For smaller checks, less than about 1/8” in width, omit the backer-rod and seal the top 1/4” of the check with UV Guard Premium Caulking.
9. Door and Window Seals:  Use appropriate color UV Guard Premium Caulking to repair seals around door and window openings. If necessary, remove trim to reach all areas.
10. Repairs to Chinking or Caulking:  If chinking or caulking has torn due to excessive log movement too thick or too thin application, simply cut out old chinking or caulking or apply new chinking or caulking over the old, troweling or brushing to blend the texture. In areas where the chinking or caulking has debonded from the log surface, it may be advisable to clean the log surface and rough it slightly before resealing with new chinking or caulking.
11. Wood Finish Maintenance:  If after inspection, the logs appear to have no problems, simply use a hose and softly spray wash, or use a power washer on low pressure to remove dust from the surfaces. Allow wood to dry completely and then apply a maintenance coat of UV Guard or UV Guard II Exterior Wood Finish. Reapply topcoats of UV Guard every three to five years thereafter.
    

NOTE: Use of oil-based finish products or any finish containing pigments will discolor the chinking and continue to darken the wood. It is best to protect the original finish with clear UV Guard or clear UV Guard II.