Do it Yourself: Log Home Repair

Maintain the integrity and beauty of your log home.

Yearly inspection of your log home is essential to maintain its beauty and structural integrity. Regular maintenance will avoid costly repairs later on. A reputable log home dealer can supply you with the necessary products to ensure a successful restoration of the surface. Repairing problem areas on the exterior of your log home and doing it correctly will provide you years of trouble-free enjoyment.

Things You'll Need

• Latex gloves
• Log epoxy repair kit
• Paintbrushes
• Putty knife
• Wood planer
• Base color coat and sealer
• Power washer
• Sander and sandpaper
• Foam backer rod
• Caulking gun
• Tube of log home chinking

Instructions

1. Inspect the entire home. Make a list of all the maintenance issues. Take photos of damaged areas if possible. Look for reasons why damage is taking place and correct the problems. Look for areas where excessive moisture comes in contact with log surfaces.

2. Determine the areas of decayed wood to be repaired. Contact your log home supplier and purchase a log epoxy kit used for small, localized areas of rot. Drill several ¼ inch holes in the area of the decay about 1 inch apart. Put on a pair of latex gloves and mix the epoxy resin and hardener together. Pour the mixture into the applicator bottle supplied with the kit. Apply the product liberally into the holes with the applicator bottle and use a paintbrush to cover the remaining surface. Allow the product to dry overnight and reapply until the area becomes hard to the touch.

3. Determine areas with missing sections of logs. Mix the epoxy-based wood putty and apply in the cavity using a putty knife. Use this product to restore sections of window seals and door casings. Allow it to cure overnight. Shape the area with normal woodworking tools, such as sanders or planers. Refinish the area with a base color coat and sealer to match the exterior of the home.

4. Locate areas with mold and mildew. Sand, power-wash or chemically strip these areas. Power washers must have a rating of 4000 psi to be able to remove these stains. Refinish with the base color and sealer.

5. Determine areas of chinking repair. Use backer rod to fill the cavities. Backer rod is available in several diameters. Use a large enough piece to hold itself inside the space. Use a caulking gun with a tube of log home chinking to cover the backer rod and overlap onto the log about 3/8 of an inch. Allow it to cure before applying color finish.

References

• Permachink: Log Home Restoration