How Often Should You Seal or Stain a Log Home?

As a current or prospective log home owner, you are probably aware that rocking all-natural, bare wood isn’t an option if you want your house to last more than a few years. But don’t fret. That’s why you’re here, and we can help!

One of the first mistakes homeowners make is thinking that sealing and staining a log home is the same thing. While the processes for sealing and staining are similar, they serve different purposes. Staining is mostly aesthetic, with some UV protection for that daily sun exposure tossed in the mix, but sealing is how you lock out moisture and prepare your home for all kinds of weather conditions. It also protects the stain better, which, in turn, makes it last longer.

General Log Home Maintenance

Log homes are known for requiring a lifestyle that allows for some maintenance. Wood isn’t the same as other sidings. It needs special attention. Before we discuss sealing and staining, let’s look at a few requirements of cabin care.

Bi-Annual Inspection

In the spring and fall, you need to do a personal inspection. You’re looking for chinks, catches, rot, pest infestations (termites, wasps, carpenter bees, etc), gaps between logs, and wear. You’re looking for weather damage or simply spots where the UV radiation has worn away the current stain application. Lastly, look for water stains, which show up as dark streaks. These are big red flags.

Think of this walk around as a health checkup for your home. The goal is to catch any issues while they’re small, rather than wait until they become emergencies.

Washing

You may think that your stain color has faded, but it could very well be layers of dust and pollen. Maybe, all you need to get your house looking shiny and new is a mild soap solution (Dawn works), a soft-bristle brush, and some elbow grease. Most homeowners find that washing their log homes once a year keeps the siding looking great and gives them a better understanding of what other maintenance is needed.

Let us give you two pro tips. One: Avoid high-pressure washers. They can actually damage the logs and force water inside the wood. If you do need to use a pressure washer for rinsing soap, stand at least 10 feet away and keep the pressure as low as you can. Two: If you find mildew or mold, you need to get a biodegradable wood cleaner, some bleach, and warm water. Be gentle when scrubbing, and always rinse thoroughly before restaining.

Pest Control

Keeping pests out of your wood doesn’t always mean using harsh chemicals. You can use borate treatments, which are made from naturally occurring minerals and are known to be very effective at keeping pests out. During your bi-annual inspection, seal any cracks or gaps that you find. If you keep plants a minimum of 18 inches from the wall, you’re much less likely to have infestations. Firewood is another big factor: keep it at least 2 feet from your siding and porches, and make sure it’s off the ground to reduce exposure.

Termites, carpenter bees, ants, wasps, and roaches are all concerned with wood siding. Wood is, after all, their favorite place to be. If you’re aware of them and you take all the right steps, you should be able to keep them away for the most part.

How Often to Restain Your Log Home

Restaining is less complex than resealing, so we’ll start here.

To keep your home looking as fresh as the day you got it, you should restain your log home every 3-5 years. This is, of course, all dependent on your environment. Some homeowners live in areas prone to harsher weather conditions, and they may prefer to restain every couple of years.

The next big question is whether you need to strip down to raw wood before staining. The answer is: it depends.

You need to remove the old stain when…

• There is UV damage to your wood. If your old stain is worn away by the sun and you see grey spots, that means you need to sand or blast off what is now dead wood so that your stain can actually permeate the wood.
• Your old stain is peeling or flaking. It’s important that you understand that a new stain won’t stick to an unstable surface. If the old stain is peeling, it will take the new stain with it.
• You’re choosing a new, lighter color. When changing to a lighter color, you definitely need to remove the old stain for the best results. A dark color underneath will affect how your lighter color comes out, and you might not like what you see.

You can leave the old stain when it’s in good condition and…

• You’re using the same brand and color of stain. If you’re switching, you could run into compatibility problems, but if you’re sticking with what you know, you can stack it.
• You’re choosing a darker stain. The color rule doesn’t work both ways. If you’re going darker, it’s okay to leave a lighter stain underneath.

A Few Log Cabin Staining Tips

Taking care of a log home can be hard work. It’s easiest if you have all the information at your fingertips, so we’ve created a short list of important steps to keep in mind when restaining your siding.

• Clean your siding before staining. Dirt and debris can prevent the seal from sticking.
• Work the length of a log at a time (to prevent overlapping lines from double coats).
• Apply stain only in an environment where the air temperature is between 55° and 100° Fahrenheit (basically, don’t do it in the dead of winter).
• Do the entire project with consistency. Go at the same speed and in the same direction. The amount of stain you apply will affect the final color of your siding.
• Don’t stain in direct sunlight, or it will dry too quickly and flake.
• Use either an oversized stain brush or an airless paint sprayer for easier access to those tricky spots. If you do use a sprayer, you’ll want to go back over the stain with a brush for texture and even coverage (this is called back brushing).

How Often to Reseal Your Log Cabin

Resealing is, in actuality, the final step of restaining, but it can be done on its own. You have to seal every time you stain, but you don’t have to stain every time you seal. Does that make sense?

In its simplest form, resealing is applying a clear topcoat of environmentally friendly sealant to your siding. The process is very similar to what you’ve already read. If you need to restain, do the steps listed above. If you don’t need to restain and your house is free of cracks or other damage, give it a good wash, then apply the top coat. It’s that simple!

Unfortunately, simple doesn’t always mean easy. If you find rot, cracks, or gaps, you’ll need to correct those first with caulk and a backer rod. Once that’s done, homeowners usually choose to conceal and color-match their exterior so that it doesn’t look like a patchwork quilt. If it’s bad enough, you might just end up restaining anyway.

As with staining, you’ll want to reseal with a professional clear coat every 3-5 years or so. If you time it right, you can do the staining and the sealing at the same time and save yourself some hassle!

Traditional vs Modern Log Cabin

If that seems like a lot of work to you, know that you’re not alone. Log homes are understood to be a lifestyle more than an aesthetic. However, thanks to modern innovation, you can have the aesthetic of a log cabin without all of the yearly maintenance.

Concrete log siding is all the rustic warmth of real wood without the constant maintenance battle. It doesn’t rot, warp, invite pests, fade, or crack. The UV rays can’t touch it, and the rain doesn’t scare it. Many homeowners who choose concrete log siding outlive the need to restain or reseal it. Imagine that!

It is possible that, if you live in a severe-weather environment, you may need to recoat this siding after 15 or 20 years, but that’s unlikely.

If this sounds more like your speed, why not give us a call? We would be happy to answer any of your questions.