DIY Log Home Restoration Tips That Save You $$$.

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Chris introduces his top chinker for a little insight when it comes to filling cracks and spaces. He makes it look way too easy...

Here we show you our way to prep a log structure for a new coating and chinking. 

This is a small job but gives you an overview of the process.

The Rodeo Cabin Part 2

Cleaning the Structure

Take the first step towards a stunning transformation by giving us a call today. We'll give you the unvarnished truth about the exact steps you need to take. 

By choosing our professional services, you can avoid costly mistakes and potential headaches down the road...but...even if you opt to embark on your project independently, a few tips from our experiences will help you out with some invaluable insights to some of the challenges that may arise.

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Adhesion Failure

A term used when caulking pulls away from the log surface.

Air Dried-logs

The method of allowing logs to dry naturally over an extended period of time.

Backsplash/Splash Back

Condition causing water to “splash back” onto the log surface such as

decks, ground, landscaping, or any objects too close to the log wall.

Bound Water

Moisture existing in the cell walls. The evaporation of bound water causes the logs to shrink.

Caulk Channel

Groove in a log profile which allows for the use of backer rod and caulks to properly seal between log courses.

Cellulose/Hemicellulose/Lignin

The three primary components in wood cells. Lignin acts as the glue that holds wood cells together.

Chinking

Filling used between rows of logs. Traditional chinking is mortar-based. Modern synthetic chinking, manufactured to look like traditional chinking, is similar to caulk but with greater elasticity.

Cohesive Failure 

Occurs when caulking adheres to the log surface but the caulking itself tears apart.

Decay Resistance

The ability of wood to resist the effects of exposure to air, water, and the ultraviolet rays in sunlight. While wood species vary in their resistance, none are completely decay-proof.

Drainage System

A system designed to protect logs by directing the flow of water away from the home such as gutters, sloping grade away from the home and footing drains.

Drip Edge

Log profile design in which water draining off a log surface will drip on lower log keeping moisture away from log joints.

Dry Logs

Typically logs with moisture content at 19% or below.

Equilibrium Moisture Content (EMC)

The equilibrium moisture content (EMC) occurs when the wood has reached a water content equilibrium with its environment and is no longer gaining or losing moisture. The percent of moisture the log will seek to acclimate to the relative humidity in the area.

Equilibrium Moisture Level (EML)

The moisture level of the wood will eventually reach equilibrium with that of the surrounding air This equilibrium moisture level (EML) depends principally on the relative humidity of the air. Air temperature has little effect on the equilibrium moisture level over its normal indoor range.

Exposed Log Ends

A term used when the log ends extend beyond roof overhang and are exposed to the elements.

Exterior Finishes

Log homes must have a finish applied that will allow moisture vapor to pass through the finish while water in liquid form is kept out. Using a waterproof finish will trap moisture inside the logs and can cause logs to decay from the inside.

Fiber Saturation Point

Point in the drying process where cell cavities loose all their free water but bound water remains.

Flashing

Protection added around doors, windows, chimney and wall terminations to protect against water, air and insect infiltration.

Free water

Moisture inside the cell cavity. No shrinkage occurs while logs are losing free water.

Green Logs

Logs with moisture content greater than 19% are called “green” logs. Walls built of green logs can settle up to ¾ inch per foot.

Ground Clearance

The distance between the ground and the first log course. Higher ground clearance protects lower log courses from backsplash.

Kiln Dried logs

The method of drying logs using heated air flow.

Log Profiles

Profiles are the various milled shapes of the logs when looking at a cross-section. For example, a flat/round log is flat on one side and round on the other.

Mill Glaze

The milling process can cause extractives to come to the surface and harden which may adversely affect stain adhesion.

Moisture Content

The amount of water contained within the wood. Water contained within the wood may be ‘free water’ found in cell cavities or ‘bound water’ found in the cell walls. Drying of wood does not result in significant shrinkage until all free water has been removed. The point at which no free water remains and shrinkage begins is known as the fiber saturation point (FSP), which occurs at about 28 percent moisture content.

Moisture Meter

Device used to measure moisture content.

Roof Overhangs

The portion of the roof that extends beyond the log wall. The International Log Builders Association (ILBA) Standards recommends one foot of overhang for every eight feet of log wall height. Longer overhangs help protect lower log courses from the elements.

Settling

The loss of log wall height over time. During the first two years when the majority of wall log settling takes place, a wall may lose ¾ inch per foot of wall height. This means that an 8-foot tall wall may lose up to 6 inches in height before it has finished settling. Causes of Settling include

Substrate Failure – Term used when caulking actually tears the log surface away from the logs.

Wood Compression – Shrinkage of log diameter as the logs dry to a stable condition. This condition is known as Equilibrium Moisture Content (EMC). EMC is reached when the log moisture content acclimates to the average relative humidity of the home site; Wood compression. Over time, the weight of the structure will compress wood fibers, causing the wall logs to settle. Compression causes less settling than shrinkage

Wood Shrinkage – Wood shrinks when it dries and swells when it becomes wet. These dimensional changes vary with the species and the orientation of the wood fibers. When wood dries from its green condition, little or no shrinkage occurs until the moisture content falls below the fiber saturation level. At this level, all free moisture has been released from the cell cavities, leaving only the cell walls saturated. The moisture content at which this condition is reached varies but averages 30% (based on the ratio of the weight of water to the oven-dried weight of wood). As the cell walls continue to release moisture, the wood shrinks almost in direct proportion to its moisture loss. That is, for each percentage drop in moisture content, the wood shrinks by about 1/30 of its total potential shrinkage.

Franklin Industries offers the best, most comprehensive range of timber frame and log home restoration services in the industry. Please Contact Us and we will be happy to answer your questions and arrange a quote.

*Helpful Info.*

Warning: Failure to Understand these Log and Timber Terms Could Cost You a Lot of Time and Money.

Rodeo Cabin Part 3

Chinking and Caulking

Aging a Log and Timber Cabin - Part 2

Aging a Log and Timber Cabin -Part 1

Aging a New Log Home -   "The Finished Product"           Part 3

Aging a Log or Timber Frame Home or Cabin

Check out all three videos to see the progression.