Archive for the ‘Log Home Repair’ Category

Log home repair – Rotting log ends are a real problem.

rotten log end

A crown extending out too far is susceptible to rotting.

Many times in the course of doing our log home repairs around Minnesota and Wisconsin, we run into logs ends (a.k.a. crowns) that are left too long. By this I mean they are so long that they stick out into the elements more than is necessary. Spring is a good time to think about keeping these logs dry and thus keeping them from rotting.

new crowns

Crowns are replaced and kept within the drip line of the roof.

Here is a link to a featured project we recently finished that shows what happens when logs are left too long:

http://www.restorelogs.com/log-home-replacing-crowns-rhinelander-wisconsin.htm

If you have logs that extend outside the drip line of the roof (getting rain on them when the wind is not blowing) they need to be trimmed off to get them within the drip edge.  This simple step – along with proper treatment – can save thousands of dollars in log home repair down the road.

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Log Home Restoration on the Family Summer Lodge by Blaise Sopiwnik

Starting a new log home restoration project can be an exploration of the past. As an interesting aside to all the hard work, dust and noise associated with the first week of a log project, I am looking for clues. Many times there are clues and evidence on the logs about what has been unfolding for years. How did this log building come to be in the condition where it needs restoration work? Most often I am drawn to the conclusion that diligent maintenance could have solved all the problems we uncover.

rotten base logs

Notice all the debris that has held moisture up against the logs causing them to rot.

While starting our first project of the year this past week, we had to make decisive assessments in order to extract the first rotten logs. While the first hints of spring rain clouds rolled in over the top of the old growth white pines, we needed to make sure the logs that were being extracted were kept out of the mud and rocks. Years of leaves and landscaping debris had filled in and completely engulfed the bottom logs on three sides of this building. Annual cleaning and raking could have prevented this from being an issue, but other factors were involved in this situation as well. (more…)

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Posted in Historic log buildings, Log Home Maintenance, Log Home Repair |
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Log Homes Using Turned or Manufactured Logs

Every season starts with expectations of what style of log home will come first. The first home this year that needed our restoration experience happened to be a 1980’s turned log style resort lodge. The charm was evident, as it was located on Rice Lake in Northern Wisconsin. Every place that Edmunds and Company sets out to restore has a story worth telling but let’s focus on the actual construction of this building and why we were hired.

turned logs

Turned logs are uniform in size.

Turned log style (where every log is exactly the same in diameter) is a style of construction that took off in the United States about 30 years ago. Over the years, different companies have manufactured kits and marketed package deals. Typically there is a raw processing plant that can manufacture uniform logs – one after the other – in an assembly style. These logs can be made into several sizes specific to a customer’s specifications. The notching can vary widely depending on preference and budget. For manufacturers – the style has proven to be a good use of non-uniform wood sources and this has reduced the cost of these log homes as well. (more…)

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Classic Log Buildings – WPA and CCC buildings of the 1930′s

Here in Minnesota and Wisconsin, the discussion of restoration and repair of log structures would not be complete without talking about the log homes and buildings built during the era of the great depression. The WPA (Works Progress Administration) and the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) had many far-reaching effects on our landscape that we can still see today.

Bemidji State Park log building

An example of this style of construction -- a picnic shelter at the Bemidji State Park, MN

Roosevelt’s New Deal is responsible for producing some of the most interesting and well-crafted log structures in this country. Many state parks in Minnesota and Wisconsin had their beginnings because of the public investments of the 1930′s.

When these parks were created, the states hired the unemployed to build mostly log structures with the idea of making buildings that could stand the test of time. The St. Croix State Park  in Hinckley, MN was one of the first state parks and the buildings there were later used as models to build parks in other states.

ely boy scouts log building

Good example of log work with stone foundation.

These log buildings were meant to last, unlike many of the settlers’ cabins or logging camp structures of earlier times. The state hired lead builders (many coming from Scandinavia and Germany), who had skilled crews of laborers to build the log buildings in the new parks. Most were built in what we today call a “round log scribe A/V” style of log construction. Many also incorporated stone quarried locally into the structures, creating some quite impressive stonework that is still around today. (more…)

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Log building with historic significance gets a new lease on life… by Matt Edmunds

log sauna

Oldest Finnish sauna in the U.S.

We worked on an historic Finnish-style log structure back in 2004 located near Cokato, MN. The log “savu”or “smoke” sauna at Temperance Corners is a prime example of the Finnish- style of log construction. Known as the “Savu Sauna”, this is the oldest Finnish sauna in the United States at the ripe old age of 140.  This type of sauna had an open fire that was built right in the sauna building. After heating it up for hours, the fire was put out and then water was poured over the pile of rocks that was in the sauna creating a piping hot steam sauna. Since those days, some things have improved with time when it comes to taking a sauna.

Click here for more on the Cakato Finnish American Historical group.

log sauna

Notice the lack of a foundation.

One thing we have found to be true with these turn-of-the-century log buildings is that in almost every case, they have marginal foundations. It is always important to consider this when assessing the structural integrity of an historic log building. Everything starts with a solid foundation, which keeps logs free of moisture from the ground. The Savu Sauna was a classic example of a building that had everything going for it except one thing – it needed a new foundation. (more…)

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Log bridges for sale

Hot off the press… Edmunds and Company goes into the log bridge building business!

log bridge

Anna and Reed Edmunds at work on the bridge.

Due to the lack of snow this winter, the Edmunds family decided to complete a fun family project during the Christmas break. We built a log bridge on our property.

log bridge

Freshly groomed after 14'" of snow on March 2, 2012

We had so much fun we decided to market them. This one is 30 feet long and six feet wide. The bridge is made with sustainably harvested, rot-resistant Western cedar logs and struts, local Tamarack railings, and a pine deck.

In our business of restoring log homes, the materials to build these bridges is readily available to us. The beauty of the design and construction is that we can build one almost anywhere.

log bridge

Picture this bridge on your property. Would sell for $4,000, installed within 100 miles of Washburn WI.

Look for more in the coming months about options and pricing. If you, or someone you know, wants a walking, Nordic, or an ATV bridge, contact us at 877-378-4403 or email us at info@restorelogs.com.

If you would like to learn more about our company and the work we do, see us on www.restorelogs.com.

Interested in a log bridge? Call us at 877-378-4403 or email us at info@restorelogs.com.

 

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Log home repair – What can you put off until next year?

Now that the warm weather is behind us, we are busy finishing up the jobs we have lined up for the rest of our season. Once the snow flies, we take a break from log work and refinishing until next spring.

We are getting calls from people who are looking critically at their log homes and realizing that they are in need of some log home repair services.  They also realize that it is getting late in the season and they are wondering if it is detrimental for their logs if they wait until next year to have the repairs done.

blasting

Don't do the blasting if you can't get the stain on it soon after.

Here is some general advice: If you are thinking that the finish on your log home needs to be removed, but you are not sure you will be able to get it re-stained before the cold weather sets in, it is better to wait until spring to have the finish blasted off so that the new stain can be applied shortly following the blasting process. Letting logs go through a winter with no stain or protection on them is not advised.

What about logs that you know are rotten? Will they continue to rot over the winter and be even more deteriorated come spring? This is where cold weather is a benefit to logs with rot. The microorganisms that cause rot need to have temperatures in the 60-90 degree range. Once the temp drops below that range, the rotting process is halted temporarily until it warms up. Having said that, it is important to make sure that in the spring, the snow piles are not left to melt up against the logs. Moisture up against the logs is a problem waiting to happen.

cracks

A good example of checks that should be filled before winter.

The one thing that is advisable to do yet this fall is to check for cracks that are wider that ¼” and are on the up-facing side of the logs or in vulnerable places. Filling these checks with a quality caulk will keep the moisture from snow and rain from migrating into the logs and causing problems with rot. Click here for more information about filling checks and cracks in logs.

We are still doing estimates for people who are interested in having log home repair services done yet this year and we are also lining up projects for next spring. Give us a call at 877-378-4403 if you are interested in getting an estimate OR contact us via email.

RELATED LINKS AND TIPS ON LOG HOME REPAIR

Top ten ways to protect your logs and your investment
Frequently asked questions
Common Problems

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Log home dry rot and what can be done to resolve it

dry rotWe frequently get calls from log home owners saying, “My home has some dry rot.” When you look at the logs affected with rot, they DO look dry.

Whether the rot is dry or wet, rot equals decay and that is a serious problem in log buildings. Rot can lead to the need for replacing part or the entire log. There are several factors that can contribute to a log getting rot, but they all have to do with moisture getting into the wood. When wood fibers have a constant moisture level between 14-20%, wood will start to rot.

For more information on how we replace rotten logs, click here.

RELATED LINKS AND TIPS ON PREVENTING LOG HOME DRY ROT

Why do logs rot?
What to look for when buying a log home
Proper way to flash a deck to a log wall

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Log restoration – Replacing crowns

rotten crown

Someone else had previously repaired this corner. Notice there the exposed remaining rot and the lack of a scribed fit.

Log restoration and replacing rotten logs is what we specialize in.

Sometimes we get calls from people who have hired other contractors do work on their log homes. We inspected this home this summer, where another contractor had replaced a crown a few years previously. As you can see, there are a few problems with this installation.

First of all – the log was not properly fit into the space. Sections of rot were not removed and the log chosen for the replacement was not as big as its predecessor.  Also pine was used as the replacement log.

rotten crown

Notice carpenter ants already working on this pine log. A dried cedar log is best used here.

In the short time since the log was installed, the wood boring insects have taken up residence. The rot has begun here and the efforts made to remove and install the new log were in vane.

The work needed to be done right the first time. Replacing rotten crowns is a time consuming process and the right size and species of replacement log needs to be used.

crowns replaced

Here is an example of a stack of crowns we replaced.

We use cedar kiln-dried logs because they will not rot or shrink.  We can also match the stain on our replacement logs to the surrounding logs, unlike this example.

RELATED LINKS AND TIPS FOR LOG RESTORATION SERVICES:

Replacing vertical logs

Replacing crowns

Why do logs rot?

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Log home dry rot is a bit of a misnomer

A log with dry rot.Log home dry rot is not uncommon in log buildings. One of the most common complaints from log homeowners is that their logs have “dry rot”. Whether the rot is dry or wet, rot equals decay and that is a serious problem in log buildings.

Rot can lead to the need for replacing part or all of the log. There are several factors that can contribute to a log getting rot, but they all have to do with moisture getting into the wood. When wood fibers have a constant moisture level between 14-20%, wood will start to rot.

Simply put - rot is caused by moisture, even though it may appear to be dry. There are several factors that contribute to log home dry rot. Learn more about why logs rot.

Related links:

Rot at the bottom of vertical logs
Rot at the bottom of posts
Repairing rot on lodge pole pine cabin

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