The time comes when you decide you need a cabin restoration to upgrade a tired, worn-out log home to its original beauty. You may have neglected the regular maintenance overtime or maybe you've got a great deal on a used log home that needs work. This page covers some tips to guide you with your cabin restoration and log home repairs.
If the damage to your logs is extensive, you may be facing a bigger log repair job, involving log restoration or replacement. Check out Restoring a Heritage Log Cabin for Victoria Gazeley's account of her family's restoration of an old cabin in British Columbia.
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Inspection of Your Log Home
The first step in log home restoration is to inspect your log cabin. Take a long, slow walk around the cabin and look closely at the wood. For an in-depth inspection checklist, see our page on cabin inspections.
Here’s a quick rundown of what you want to watch out for:
Large Cracks or Checks – Checking is normal as wood ages and dries. But large cracks can accumulate dirt and allow rain to settle in the logs. Checks should be caulked with a good-quality, flexible caulk. Caulks are available in colors to match most log stains and allow movement as your logs expand and contract.
- Easy to fit - soft and pliable so it fits into the joint easily
- Water resistant - unlike open cell backer rod, it repels water to help protect the joint from damage
- Fills the joint so you use less caulk
- Fully compatible with all substrates and sealants
If the checks are large (over about 1/4”) they should be filled with a backer rod before applying the caulk. Backer rod is just soft round foam strips that you can buy in different diameters. The backer rod fills the hole and provides flexibility so that the caulk doesn’t lose its adhesion.
Discoloration – Mold and mildew can grow where the log finish has failed and these need to be cleaned off with a soft scrub brush and a bleach/water/TSP mixture. Hose this off well and let the logs dry before proceeding with further log repairs.
Stains or Dark Spots – Water dripping or splashing back onto the logs will prematurely wear the finish and soon soak into the wood. Left untreated this will lead to mold and eventually rotten wood and a complete cabin restoration.
You must be sure to address the cause of the water by changing your log home landscaping so rain doesn’t splash back onto the logs, by adding gutters, or by re-directing water run-off away from the logs.
Termites – Termites can cause damage over time if the logs are close to the ground or a termite shield was never installed under the sill plate. Check for small holes in logs with droppings nearby, mud tunnels or tubes, soft spots in the wood, or even visible termites. Treat with a termiticide like Termidor or call an exterminator.
Damage – Obvious rot or damage may need to be replaced. Sometimes you can perform log repairs by cutting out the bad area and replacing it with a “dutchman”, using chisels or a router to remove the patch. Other times you may be able to strengthen a soft area if it’s not too extensive by saturating it with Liquid Wood epoxy or building it up with WoodEpox.
- Repair Damaged Wood: Penetrates and restores the strength of spongy wood. Repair damaged windows, doors, trim, columns, posts, and other wood elements. Permanently restores damage cause by weather, poor design, and much more.
- Great Primer for Filler: The ideal surface primer for WoodEpox epoxy wood replacement compound; used to fill and rebuild missing wood. Use LiquidWood and WoodEpox together, for a permanent, strong, structural, shrink-free repair.
- 30 Minute Work Time: LiquidWood has a working time (pot life) of 30-45 minutes. Treated wood will harden a few hours after application. Affected area may require several coats in order to sufficiently saturate the porous wood.
- Mimics Wood: Once the epoxy hardens, it is easy to sand, saw, route, drill, nail, and paint.
- Safe to Use: This product is Greenguard certified, meaning that it has been found to contain virtually no VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and is safe for interior as well as exterior use. Contains no solvents or water. Very low odor.
- Rotted Wood Restoration
- Fills and Rebuilds Missing Sections of Wood
- 100% Solids and Shrink-Free
- Easy to Sand and Paint
Log home repairs or cabin restoration that involves replacing an entire log is not an easy task and is best left to the pros. This may involve cutting the log away while supporting the remainder of the area and safely transferring loads.
Cleaning the Logs
The next step is to clean your logs. Many people recommend using a pressure washer to clean the logs and strip away dirt, cobwebs and bugs so you can see your logs clearly, assess any log repairs, and re-stain as necessary with a penetrating stain.
- Premium Residential Performance: Easy-to-assemble and easy-to-start with its Honda GC190 Premium residential engine, the MegaShot power washer is great for cleaning decks, patios, outdoor furniture, house siding, and prepping home exteriors for painting.Unit Dimensions: L: 21” x W:24” x H: 34”
- Power and Durability: A powerful, reliable, maintenance-free OEM Technologies axial cam pump delivers 3200 PSI at 2.5 GPM and includes thermal relief to prevent overheating; Welded steel frame construction with a powder-coated finish adds durability
- Lightweight and Portable: The compact design is lightweight and small enough to be easily transported by one person; 10-inch premium pneumatic tires offer ease of maneuverability across various terrain and uneven ground
- Includes Quality Simpson Accessories: MorFlex ¼-inch x 25-feet high-pressure hose is non-marring, flexible and abrasion-resistant; 5 Quick connect nozzle tips: 0°, 15°, 25°, 40° and Soap for any cleaning tasks; Ergonomic spray gun and 16-inch steel wand/lance
- Important Notes: 49-state compliant; Does not ship to California; Keep max fuel level 1/2 Inch below bottom of filler neck to avoid spillage; All pressure washers are 100% functionally tested in factory and may contain minimum residual fuel/oil or fuel odor
While a pressure washer is quick and easy, you should be very careful about getting the nozzle too close or using too much pressure. You can permanently damage the wood, force water into the interior of the cabin, and trigger further cabin repairs.
Ensure that you use a pressure setting not greater than 500 psi and use a pressure washer tip of 15° - 20°. If you can’t dial things down this low you must step back and keep the nozzle further away. Otherwise, you risk cutting away the softer areas of the wood and leaving a rough, jagged surface that’s unattractive and difficult to re-finish and keep clean.
Alternatively, you can clean the logs with light scrubbing and a gentle rinse from the hose. This works especially well for a light cabin restoration. If necessary, add an oxygenated bleach like Defy Wood Cleaner. This removes the gray from weathered wood and removes mill scale.
Stripping Finish from Logs
- Powerful vac system
- Heavy duty steel body
- Top open to load abrasive
- Lighted on/off switch
For serious stripping and cabin restoration, the best approach is to blast the wood clean. Many things have been tried (like CO2 blasting and chemical strippers) but cob-blasting is the most widely used. Ground-up corn cobs provide cheap media, they are non-toxic and environmentally friendly and they won’t damage the wood.
Many times you can rent a machine locally and do it yourself but be aware that this is a big job probably best left to the experts. Simply gaining access to all areas of your log cabin will require long ladders, scaffolding, and many hours working high in the air. Cob-blasting is a messy business and even if you use tarps and ground cloths you won’t be able to capture all the material.
CO2 blasting actually uses dry ice pellets at a temperature of -110° F. As the dry ice hits the surface it causes thermal shock, making the finish brittle and stripping it away. The best thing is that the CO2 simply evaporates and leaves no messy residue. This method is particularly useful when stripping finish inside a log cabin.
Oxalic acid is commonly used as a wood “brightener”, restoring the original color and brightness of new wood to old wood. It’s used after chemical strippers but you must use caution as these chemicals can be very dangerous.
Prepare the Surface of the Logs
- SMOOTH FINISH: pad dampening system designed to eliminate swirl marks on both flat and contoured surfaces
- EASY DISC ATTACHMENT: through Bosch's signature Hook and Loop disc attachment system, sanding pads stick to the hand sander, acting like a Velcro-adhesion material
- VARIABLE SPEED CONTROL: powerful 2.5 AMP motor allows speed to work-piece and task matching with ease; no-load OPM: 7,500-12,000
- DUST COLLECTION: features a micro filter system for fine dust and trapping particles as small as a 1/2-micron in diameter. Durable and compact, the dust canister shows dust level and easily detaches for mess-free tasks
- KIT CONTENTS: Includes sanding pad, sanding disc, dampening ring, dust canister, vacuum adapter and carrying bag
Even with careful cob-blasting, the wood grain is raised, leaving a rough surface. This must be smoothed before applying a finish and the only way is by sanding. Random orbit sanders don’t leave marks in the wood since these sanders are constantly vibrating and rotating. Use 60-80 grit sandpaper to knock down the high, rough areas and leave the wood smooth and ready for re-staining.
Problem Areas in Log Cabins
There are several critical areas in a log cabin where any water leakage problems are likely to turn up and that is more susceptible to damage:
Corners and Notches – Log homes often have corner logs that stick past the wall. If these are not underneath a long cabin roof overhang they are vulnerable to rain and sun damage. Be sure these get well sealed when re-staining.
Joints – The crack where the logs rest together can open up slightly as the wood dries and contracts. Normally this is not a problem but you may have had a particularly wet log or one that is prone to twisting as it settles and this can open up gaps. Fill these gaps with a flexible log home caulking sealant and check for softwood with an ice pick or screwdriver.
Soft or “punky” wood can indicate rot and should be filled with penetrating Liquid Wood epoxy, which soaks into the soft area and encapsulates the wood fibers with epoxy.
Exposed Rafters and Purlins – Exposed purlins and rafters may hold water and encourage mildew and insects. Either cut them back, protect them with long overhangs, or seal them well and implant borate rods for protection.
- Stretches up to 250% of original joint size without tearing – moves with your logs when they move
- Textured to simulate old-time mortar
- Easy to tool and cleans up with water
- Superior early water resistance
- Won’t melt Styrofoam bead board – no more bumpy, unsightly chink lines
Chinking – Some log home styles incorporate chinking to seal the gap between logs. Older log homes may have used an inflexible type of chinking that will need to be removed and replaced once it begins to pull away from the logs. Newer chinking is elastomeric and remains flexible over time, providing good adhesion to the logs.
This chinking process is not the arduous task it used to be. The new chinking can be applied with a tube from a caulking gun, or by hand from 5-gallon buckets.
Doors and Windows – The penetrations through the log shell are always more vulnerable to water infiltration and possible log damage. Look carefully at both the outside and the inside log wall areas near the door and window bucks.
If you see water stains or darkened areas of the wood this indicates that water has gotten through the envelope. Not only will the water do damage to the wood, but this also tells you that air is getting inside and you are losing your log home’s energy efficiency.
- Must be used with GREAT STUFF PRO Series Dispensing Gun, sold separately.Comes in a can that’s reusable for up to 30 days, minimizing waste (cans of straw-applied gaps & cracks can be used one time only)
- Recognized as a fireblock; inhibits the spread of smoke & flames through concealed spaces
- Minimal expanding for general purpose building envelope air sealing
- Fills gaps up to 3" and expands to take the shape of cracks and voids
- Forms permanent, airtight and water-resistant bond to vinyl, wood and metal surfaces
Seal the gaps or cracks (you may have to remove trim around the windows and doors) with caulk or expanding foam. I recommend foam for any crack wider than 1/4” as caulk can break down over time and doesn’t span gaps well.
Be sure to use foam designed for windows and doors that doesn’t over-expand and stays soft. Otherwise, you risk distorting the window and door frames as the foam expands.
- The product is easy to use
- The product is highly durable and handle
- The product is manufactured in China
The best idea for sealing cracks is to use a foam gun. These guns screw onto the cans of foam and give you pinpoint control over placement of the foam, unlike the disposable cans that squirt all over and don’t seem to stop when you want them to stop.
The foam guns have a valve to turn off the foam when you’re done and you can leave the can be attached and re-use it later during your cabin restoration.
Completing the Cabin Restoration
Once you get involved with serious cabin restoration you realize the importance of proper log cabin design at the beginning and with ensuring that regular maintenance is performed over time. Read more about the causes of log home deterioration in our introduction to cabin repair and see definitions and explanations of terms used in cabin rehab in our cabin restoration glossary.
A log home is a legacy to be handed down to another generation and represents a significant investment of money and commitment. The satisfaction of a cabin restoration goes far beyond the monetary gain realized.
More Cabin Restoration Pages:
How to Renovate a Heritage Log Cabin Interior - DIY Style See how one family learned how to renovate a heritage log cabin interior - DIY style in British Columbia.
Restoring a Heritage Log Cabin Read this account of restoring a heritage log cabin as a labor of love in British Columbia.
Log Repair, Log Restoration, and Replacement There are many unique log repair techniques for your cabin restoration.
Cabin Repair - An Introduction to the Causes of Log Home Deterioration Cabin repair can be a major task if regular log home maintenance has been neglected.
Cabin Restoration Glossary – A Lexicon of Log Home Repair This cabin restoration glossary provides a lexicon of terms used in log home repair, cabin rehab, and log home preservation to help you understand the concepts of cabin restoration.
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