How to Replace Rotted Logs on a Cabin
Log homes, although beautiful and highly traditional, require a great deal of maintenance over the years. One of the greatest challenges in repairing or restoring a log cabin is replacing a log that has rotted beyond rescue. Although replacing a log is a great deal of work and should be attempted only by someone familiar with log cabin maintenance, doing it well will save the integrity of the cabin and preserve its original look for many years. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Log of the same wood as your cabin
- Chain saw
- Hack saw
- Reciprocating saw with a metal cutting blade and long wood blade
- Large blunt masonry chisel
- Rubber mallet
- Chinking compound
- Chinking nails
- Hammer
- Epoxy wood seal
- Wood stain (optional)
- Metal spikes
- Pliers
Instructions
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Remove the rotting log from the cabin wall. First draw out any nails, screws or spikes holding the log in place with pliers, or cut them away with your hack saw or the metal cutting blade of your reciprocating saw. Next, use the rubber mallet and masonry chisel to hack away any significantly deteriorated parts of the log. Finally, use a chainsaw or reciprocating saw to cut the remainder of the rotted log into sections. By cutting the log into sections, you will make it easier and safer to remove. Clean away any dust or material left from the rotting log. Apply epoxy wood seal to the logs that had contact with the rotted log.
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Cut the replacement log to fit into the space where the rotted log fit. This includes trimming it to the appropriate length and beveling the ends to fit into the existing logs.
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Prepare your replacement log by stripping away the bark using the masonry chisel and rubber mallet. Be careful not to gouge the wood of the log. If necessary, stain the replacement log to match the existing logs in your cabin. Apply an epoxy wood seal to prevent rot of the replacement log.
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Place the log into the cabin wall. Use a hoist or additional help if needed, particularly if the log is high in the wall. Drive metal spikes through the adjacent logs and into the ends of the replacement log. Drive additional spikes across the length of the replacement log into the logs above and below it.
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Driving chinking nails along the edge of replacement log and its neighbors. Chink the gaps between the new log and the old logs using a commercial-grade chinking material or, if you have one, a homemade recipe. Let the chink dry overnight.
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If needed, apply any additional treatment to the replacement log, like paint or varnish, to make it match the rest of the cabin.
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Tips & Warnings
Ensure that the entire replacement log has been treated with an epoxy seal. This will ensure that the new log does not rot.
Cut the rotted log into easy manageable sections before you try to remove it. Be sure that the sections are small enough that you and/or your available help can lift them out of the cabin wall. Rotted logs can fall apart easily, so keep that in mind when cutting the rotted log. Although most experts recommend using a chainsaw for cutting the log into sections, use a reciprocating saw instead if you are uncomfortable using a chainsaw. Always wear safety goggles and gloves when sawing wood and metal. Wear steel-toed boots to protect your feet from sections of the log that may fall during removal.
References
- NPS.gov: "The Preservation and Repair of Historic Log Buildings"
- WesternLogHomesSupply.com: "Replacing Rotting Logs"
- BearFortLodge.com: "Log Home Repair and Restoration: Replacing a Rotted Log - Part I"
- BearFortLodge.com: "Log Home Repair and Restoration: Replacing a Rotted Log - Part II"
- BearFortLodge.com: "Log Home Repair and Restoration: Replacing a Rotted Log - Part III"
Resources
- Photo Credit log cabin image by Ray Kasprzak from Fotolia.com
