After your structure is completed, there is a four step
process that you should follow that will ensure
that the beauty of your log structure lasts for
decades:
Clean your logs: Surface preparation is the first
and most critical step for proper application of
finishing products. The log surfaces must be clean.
Since we are providing you with logs that have recently
been milled, all you have to do is remove any dirt
or markings that resulted from construction. Water
and/or sandpaper work great for this first step.
Preserve your logs: Once log and wood surfaces are clean,
preserve them to protect against fungal decay and
insect damage. Borate-based products are effective
and inexpensive.
Stain your log structure: You are now ready to apply
stain. Long before you get to this stage, you should
have already done brush outs of the stain so that
you have a color target for your painter. Be certain
to use the same application on the sample as is
going to be used when applying the stain to your
log structure. Color can deepen or lighten in tone,
depending on application, so make sure you keep
the form of application in mind when choosing a
stain. The best application guidelines are going
to be those supplied by the stain manufacturer.
Therefore, acquire application instructions from
them and follow them. Remember these 4 rules for
best application: clean wood, sound wood, warm wood,
dry wood. To avoid lap marks, it is always good
practice to work horizontally until you reach a
natural break in the wall surface.
Also, realize that if you want the logs natural color to show,
there are products that provide protection without color. At Merrimac
Log Homes we suggest that you use an elastic coating that
stretches with log movement. This flexibility permits the bridging
of small cracks in the surface of the wood and provides an elastic
shield for underlying wood.
Seal your log structure: (Note: This step only applies
if you use log profiles that require the extra protection.
Our standard 4x6 and 4x8 log camp cabins do not
need this additional step ) Your logs are now 'primed'
and ready for chinking and caulking. There are 3
basic principals to follow when applying chinking
or caulking.
- A clean surface already treated with a preservative and stain that is compatible with the chink and caulk.
- Proper joint design with a bond breaker installed in the center of the joint
- Tooling the chinking or caulking to ensure good adhesion to the logs.
Preservation products that we sell range from interior
and exterior stains as well as products used to clean
your logs. We also carry caulking and chinking that
is used as a construction component as well as a preservation/finish
product.
Since we deal with
several vendors, prices vary. Contact us by phone
or email for details of prices and products.
Our primary log home suppliers are WeatherAll
and Continental
Products. For more details, visit their web sites.
Merrimac Log Homes
1104 Old Concord Road
Henniker, NH 03242
Toll Free: 1-866-637-7462
Telephone: 603-428-3097
Fax: 1-603-428-7908
Email: logs@mlhnh.com
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