A log home is like a small place or an area that is cozy enough for you to relax yourself or to have a good time with your family and friends. Overtime, your log home will start to deteriorate due to direct sunlight and other weather elements where you will see that the log home’s wood has started to split, curl and loosen up. When this thing happens, you need to repair the cracks in your log home. By renovating the log home, you will create a fresh look to the exterior section of your log home.
If you own a log home, you are required to do regular maintenance so that you would be able to preserve the log home’s strength, attraction as well as its original condition. Therefore, it is important for you to know how to insulate the log home accordingly and able to restore it in order to keep the house always in good condition, plus also comfortable no matter what season that you encounter.
To insulate and restore log homes, you need:
- Caulking/Chinking
- Caulking gun
- Backer rod
- Spatula
- 2 buckets
- Silicone spray
- Cloth
- Wire brush
- Stiff wire brush
- Chlorine bleach
- Oil-based log home stain
- Paint brush
Insulating and restoring log homes
How to Insulate and Restore Log Homes
- First thing that you need to do is to fill any air spaces in order to insulate your log home from the exterior side.
- Check whether there are any spaces in between logs because the space can let in air, debris, insects, plus also fluctuate the temperatures.
- Make sure that you clean the debris and dirt that you found on the logs by using a damp cloth or wire brush.
- Before you start to insert the backer rod, the logs has to be in a clean condition.
- Check whether there are any spaces in between logs because the space can let in air, debris, insects, plus also fluctuate the temperatures.
- The usage of backer rod helps you fill up the air spaces between the logs.
- Before you use the backer rod, you need to measure the length of the area that you need to fill in between the logs.
- Backer rod is normally used for filling up space in between logs and also performs as a backup for the caulking or chinking method.
- You have to cut the backer rod according to the appropriate length and push it into the air space between the logs by using a flat tool.
- Before you use the backer rod, you need to measure the length of the area that you need to fill in between the logs.
There are several types of Backer rod that you can choose from with variety of shapes that include round, trapezoid and triangular. Make sure that you choose the most suitable shape in order to fit in between the logs.
- The next step is for you to prepare the caulking gun where you need to apply the silicone spray inside the gun.
- It will then help the caulk activator rod to slide in easily thus helping to push out the chinking that is a sealant made of moss and clay in order to join in between the logs.
- It will then help the caulk activator rod to slide in easily thus helping to push out the chinking that is a sealant made of moss and clay in order to join in between the logs.
- Any chinking that comes out at the end of the caulking gun can be scooped up by using a spatula
- Then you have to remove the front nozzle tip of the gun
- Ensure to dip the nozzle into a bucket that you have filled up with water frequently. By doing this step, you help keep the chinking from sticking.
- Then you have to remove the front nozzle tip of the gun
- Another step to do is to caulk bead between the logs throughout your log wall.
- Use the caulking gun and place it near a log space and start filling the area continuously with ¼” to ½” of thick bead just near the backer rod.
- The chinking is used to stick only to your logs and not onto the backer rod.
- You can also use a misting bottle filled up with water in order to keep the tools in moist and clean condition.
Make sure that you clean up any spills of loose chinking before it started to dries. Always stand by a bucket of water nearby your work area for fast cleanups, dipping of sponges as well as wipe up cloths.
- Use the caulking gun and place it near a log space and start filling the area continuously with ¼” to ½” of thick bead just near the backer rod.
- To proceed with the restoration of the log home, you need to mix one quarter of chlorine bleach along with a gallon of warm water into a bucket.
- Ensure to use a stiff wire brush enabling you to clean off any dirt and debris that you found on the surface of the logs.
- Leave the log to dry thoroughly before you start to apply stain. You would be able to restore the log’s condition by staining the logs regularly so that the logs will not be damaged by the sunlight as well as other weather elements.
- Ensure to use a stiff wire brush enabling you to clean off any dirt and debris that you found on the surface of the logs.
- The oil-based stain that you used need to be stir thoroughly.
- Once done, apply it onto the logs by using a paint brush.
- Practice long and even strokes in order for you to achieve a uniform like color.
- Leave the first coat to dry thoroughly before you can proceed in applying the second coating. For those of you who prefer dark color, you can apply subsequent coats.
- Once done, apply it onto the logs by using a paint brush.
- Once you finish, you have to clean up all the stain dips by using sponge applicators before they starts to dry.
- Always keep a clean and damp cloths within your reach in order to clean up any spills as soon as it happen and also for cleaning your hands when you are applying the stain.
Always remember that when you want to preserve and maintain log homes
- The most important thing is to always apply insulating and restoring the log home’s exterior.
- In order to insulate the floor, you have to place a water repellent material in between floor joists and below your floor boards. For example, you can use Polystyrene for preventing any outdoor air or temperatures from entering the house.
- The most important thing is to always apply insulating and restoring the log home’s exterior.
