Posts Tagged ‘preserving log building’

Borate treatment on log buildings is important

Borate treatment being applied

Applying PeneTreat boron-based treatment

Question:  I am refinishing my log home this spring. I have stripped the logs down to bare wood again and I have heard about using borates on the bare wood before staining. Is this is a necessary part of the refinishing process?

Carpenter ants infesting log home

This is what you want to avoid, carpenter ants feeding on your decaying logs.

Answer:  Yes……. borates are a good assurance against rot. They have been around for years and should always be part of the process of finishing when the logs are raw. Borates work by penetrating into the surface of the wood and treating the log against insects but more importantly – against decay.  Borates actually raises the pH level of the moisture latent in the wood to the point that the rot organism and consequently, insects are both impeded.  By doing this treatment, the logs are better protected against future rot and decay.

Related links:

About the process we use: http://restorelogs.com/borate-treatment.htm

Why do logs rot?  http://www.restorelogs.com/blog/log-home-dry-rot-is-a-bit-of-a-misnomer

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Posted in Common Problems, Insects and Log Homes/Cabins, Questions and Answers |
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Log home chinking – then and now

By Blaise Sopiwnik

Chinking is what makes a primitive log structure into a place anyone would call home.  Early in human history, dwellings of all shapes and sizes had some sort of material stuffed in between logs, rocks, or framing.  The process of chinking (sealing) in warmth and sealing out cold, mice, bats and other vermin can be done in many ways.

mortar chinking

An example of using mortar chinking

Early log homes in America could have had anything from horsehair to moss from the forest floor. It usually consisted of any material that was inexpensive and easily attained, most often a dry fiber that had some insulation value.

chinking logs

Making sure that the bottom logs are carefully chinked.

On the chinking project we are working on this week near Duluth, MN the log lodge had oakum jammed in between the logs, which was very common for a turn-of-the-century structure. Oakum is usually long hemp fibers soaked in oil or a pine tar-like substance. When you look at the pictures, you will notice that the logs are already close together and some are scribed to each other leaving very little space for air in between the logs.

chinking log home

We have custom-made tools to do the job right.

When woodworkers took extra time and care in building the log walls, very little material was needed to seal the joint between the logs. I always appreciate their craftsmanship and imagine how patient and detail-oriented the person must have been.

Today, when chinking log buildings using latex-based chink, we use specific tools to speed up the application while making every effort to deliver the craftsmanship that has been shown as an example before us. After years of seeing different styles and methods of applying chink, I appreciate what practice can do to create a quality finished look.

log home that is chinked

A log home where the chinking is stained so that it blends in with the logs.

If you look at these pictures and have any questions on how we approached different aspects of this building, please post on our “Ask an Expert” link to the right.

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Posted in Chinking, Log Home Maintenance |
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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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Posted in Common Problems, General, Log Home Repair, Log Home Restoration |
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Log Home Construction Finnish-style by Blaise Sopiwnik

Here in Wisconsin and Minnesota, Finnish settlers have set the bar high for hewn log construction.  Finns are the ones who created the log cabin that we all envision. In this post I will discuss Finnish log homes, as well as how and why they were constructed. I will also give some examples of projects done on these original-style log homes illustrating some aspects of maintenance and repair of these structures. First I want to give you a description of what a hewn Finnish-style log home is.

Finnish dovetail hewn log structures are some of the most solid log buildings ever constructed. These buildings were all built with hand tools such as cross cut saws, broad-axes, mallets and different types of chisels. These were structures of necessity. Settlers needed shelter, often quickly, and they possessed the knowledge and the tools to build it. Logs were plentiful.

Finnish-style log home

The first consideration of any builder is its actual location and what species of mature trees could be harvested near by. The quality of mature trees was a main deciding factor in where to build. Trees were harvested on site in most cases. The desired species of trees included White Pine, Hemlock, Eastern White Cedar, and Oak.

After felling and limbing the trees, the builder would immediately set out to hew (flatten the log) and shape the logs to start drying out the timber. This included cross cutting the logs to a certain depth and then broad axing the extra material away from the log creating a top flat and a bottom flat with rounded edges on the sides. This process would expose heartwood, which is the hardest, most rot-resistant part of the tree. This also opened up the log to air dry the center, thus reducing the possibility for extreme shrinkage later in the building’s life.  Next it was time to lay out the corner dovetail joints. (more…)

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Posted in Common Problems, Log Home Restoration, Refinishing Log Homes |
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Introducing Spring 2012 Log Blog Article Series

Written by Matt Edmunds and Blaise Sopiwnik

I have spent many days, from childhood until now, in the dark, less-than- pristine underbellies of the old log buildings we restore. During these hours, I have often wondered what might have caused the builders of long ago to construct this particular log building. Who were the builders? Why this style? Why this place?

Whole log home

An example of a whole log home with scribed corners

In restoring and repairing log homes, I am interested in understanding what might have influenced people to build a certain structure, with a particular technique, in that particular spot. Sometimes this holds the key to figuring out how we will fix a given problem within a building. Sometimes we just find interest in pondering the building and the family folklore it holds.

In an upcoming series of blog postings, we will explore the different types of log homes and the histories they each hold here in the Midwest. We hope that the reader will come away not only with an understanding of the nuts and bolts of how these log homes were constructed, but begin to wonder why they were built. I have always wanted to describe the different types of log homes as a way to help log homeowners better understand and maintain their cabins and homes.

So here we go. Over the next two or three months, we will post a series of blog articles exploring different types of log home construction. We hope you find this informative and interesting.

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Posted in Common Problems, Log Home Maintenance |
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Log Home Maintenance – Proper uses for different types of Borates

Log home maintenance often includes the use of borates are a preservative for the logs. There are basically three forms of borates: liquids like PeneTreat, Bora-Care or Tim-bor; pure borate rods like Impel Rods; or mixed borate rods like Cobra Rods.

PeneTreat is a powered borate. The powder is mixed with water and applied to bare wood. It treats the wood in general for rot and also prevents infestations of wood boring insects.  Bora-Care is a highly concentrated borate where the borate is mixed with glycol to promote penetration into the wood.

We use and recommend PeneTreat where we want general protection for the wood.  It comes in the form of a powder and is typically mixed at one pound per gallon.  Bora-Care is a gel, which is also mixed with water, usually 1:1. This mixture is then applied to low, up-facing checks, lower logs that are getting wet all the time, window sills that need extra protection and crown or log ends. These borates offer good protection from rot when used in conjunction with a quality log home stain.

Borate rods or Crystalline Solid Borate Rods are either pure borates in rod form or borates mixed with copper hydroxide.

• Impel Rods are a pure borate rod in a solid form
• Cobra Rods are a mixture of borate and copper hydroxide (more…)

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Posted in Insects and Log Homes/Cabins, Log Home Maintenance, Log Home Repair |
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Log Cabin Restoration – Water management is very important

Log cabin restoration is our specialty. While in the process of working on a log home near Hayward, WI this spring, we saw a number of things that are important for log home owners to remember when looking at the up keep of their log cabins.

rot from water splashing back onto logsTwo issues related to water management came up on this job. First off -gutters are needed on many log homes. If the logs get significant splash back from water dripping off the roof edge, then one needs to consider getting gutters.

If you find yourself in this situation, we recommend that you check into seamless gutters (see link below) as we find  that they offer the best functionality and overall cost effectiveness.

Another issue that came up on this job was the fact that the land up hill from the lake pitched groundwater back on the house. This allowed water to go up against the logs and was part of the reason why there was rot. Instead of needing routine maintenance, this homeowner’s log cabin was in need of restoration.

Keeping water issues at bay is paramount to preventing rot. Click here to see this project we are referring to near Hayward, WI.

A number of our customers near Hayward, Spooner, and Minong have used Northland Seamless Gutters and we have found that they do good work. Check them out at:  www.northlandseamless.com

Log cabin restoration services are all we do. Contact us or call 877-378-4403

Related links:

Common problems
Borate treatment
 Where we work

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Posted in Log Home Maintenance, Log Home Restoration, Log Homes and Rot |
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Holes in knots in logs

Question: There are holes just in the knots of our log home. Are these from a wood boring insect or are these commonplace in the knots with aging?

Telltale signs of wood boring insects.Answer: It’s hard to say for sure if the holes in your logs are from boring insects but it sounds like they are. Small (or big) holes in your logs are a sign that something is wrong. I would suggest that you tap around the logs near these holes and see if the they sound hollow. If they do, then I would suggest that you have your logs inspected for rot.

At the very least – I recommend injecting these holes with a mixture of borates. The one we recommend for homeowners is called Bora-Care and it is available at Do It Yourself Pest Control.  I hope this helps.

Other helpful links to our site:

We have a brief video showing the application of the borate treatment.

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Log Home Maintenance

The Advantages of Treating with Borates
by Matt Edmunds
Edmunds & Company Log Home Restorations,  LLC

Boron-based treatments are now an established part of log home maintenance. In the past,  the chemical Penta was used as a wood preservative from the 1950′s up until the 1980′s. Penta (pentachlorphenal and creosote) was outlawed in the 1980′s for public use because of its toxicity.  Many log homes here in the Midwest have had this chemical applied to the exterior over the years.  Now, many of these same log homes are turning black and the preservative effect of the chemical is wearing out.  Penta wood treatment tended to preserve the outer 1/2″ of the wood and if it did develop rot, the rot would take hold deeper into the log where the Penta had not penetrated.

Here is an example of a building that had Penta applied to it. Notice all the black discoloration on many of the logs.

Before blasting

Unfortunately, on most log homes, Penta is no longer an effective preservative because it leaves the logs vulnerable to the elements.  Modern exterior stains act in a different way to control rot than Penta did.  While the chemical reactions in the Penta prevented the rot from taking hold, today’s modern stains actually control moisture, which ultimately prevents decay.

Surface preparation is very important in order to control the surface moisture on the logs. On log homes that have been treated with a Penta preservative, it is necessary to remove the old preservative first. This prepares the outer surface of the logs to “accept” a new application of stain, which will better protect the logs from the elements.  In cases like these, we recommend sand, glass or cob blasting to remove the old finish.  This process takes off a layer of the wood and cleans up the logs, making them ready for staining. Click here for more information on blasting.

To learn more about why logs rot, click here.

After the building is protected with borates and stain

After blasting and before staining, we apply a preservative that contains borates – a natural preservative as opposed to Penta. The borate treatment raises the PH level in the logs to the point where they need a few higher percentage points of moisture before rot can get started.  The final step in the process is the application of a high quality exterior stain.  There are many options to choose from but protection, UV inhibitors, and breathability are all important factors to look for when selecting a stain.

Visit us at www.restorelogs.com for more info on our services
or email us and we will contact you : info@restorelogs.com.

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Posted in Blasting Log Homes, General, Log Home Maintenance, Refinishing Log Homes |
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