In this video, we are beginning the process of taking down and moving this antique log cabin/tobacco barn to restore and use for an AirBnB!
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We have seen much debate over the years on whether to pressure clean or media blast a log home. Today we hope to settle this question for the homeowner, and help you make an informed decision on the proper care of your log home. So, whether you are staining your new log home for the first time, or needing a facelift for your older log home, here are a few things to consider.
When staining a newly constructed log home, we are asked frequently why it’s important to pressure clean the home when the logs are new? There are 2 reasons pressure cleaning is important for your new log home: mill glaze and mildew. Mill glaze happens when the logs are being shaped at the mill. The mill blades are turning at such high rpms that it creates mill glaze, which closes up the pores of the logs and will not allow stain to adhere and penetrate the wood properly.
The second reason pressure cleaning is important is the mold and mildew. Keep in mind that just because you can’t see it, doesn’t mean it’s not there. Mold and mildew spores can be in the wood, even when you cannot physically see it. If the logs are not cleaned properly, with the stain manufacturer’s recommended cleaning procedures, the mold and mildew can continue to grow, even after the stain has been applied. This can lead to stain failure, which can lead to having to strip or blast the logs and start from scratch again.
With an existing log home that has been previously stained, most manufacturers recommend doing a light pressure cleaning to your logs, at least once a year, to keep the mold and mildew at bay and keep your stain looking fresh. When it’s time to put a maintenance coat on your log home, always read and follow the stain manufacturer’s recommended cleaning procedures. Make sure to inspect your log home, and the condition of the stain, before you decide which of the 2 options to choose – whether to pressure clean or media blast.
If the stain on your home has begun to fail, then you will most likely need to turn to media blasting. If you try to apply stain on top of logs with stain that has already begun to fail, then the new stain will come off as what’s underneath begins to come off the logs. Any stain manufacturer will tell you their product is only as good as what’s underneath it.
After inspecting the condition of the stain on your home, if the existing stain appears to be in good condition, then a simple, light pressure cleaning will be all you need to do before putting a fresh coat of stain on your home. Make sure you use the proper cleaning chemicals and methods recommended by the stain manufacturer, before using the stain product.
My love affair with cabins began when I was a little girl. I remember reading Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House in the Big Woods and thinking how warm and cozy cabin life must have been. There was something about the evenings by the fireplace, Pa’s fiddle playing, a rocking chair, and living the woods that just spoke to me.
By the time I was old enough to attend summer camps, the adventure was more about the cabin life than the camp activities. Then in high school, I travelled with one of my friends and her family to vacation in a log cabin on a lake in Canada. I still remember the smell of the wood and the peaceful, quiet ambiance of the cabin on the lake and knew that one day, I would have that log cabin in the mountains.
So how do you make a dream come true? I think it varies, but for me it started with subscriptions to every log cabin magazine that was being published: The Country’s Best Cabins, Cabin Life, Log Home Living, and others. And with each issue my vision of what I wanted became more defined. I cut out pictures of rooms I loved and of designs that caught my eye and from these photos I began creating my log home dream binder. Then I started visiting model log homes. Wherever I traveled, I looked for a model to visit. I started collecting literature, spoke to company representatives, examined each company’s particular approach to log structures, and poured over log home designs and floor plans.
John and I interviewed several builders and looked at the homes they had built, but then we met neighbors in the development who had recently built their log home. One visit to their beautiful home and we knew we wanted to have their builder build our home. On a lovely summer afternoon, I met Paul Walls and talked to him about my log home dream. We stood on our land as I described my vision of our project. Paul had been building log homes for almost 40 years and I think we were kindred spirits when it came to the love of logs. We shook hands and sealed the deal.
From that point on, the log cabin I had dreamed of began to become a reality. It may have been the easiest build in history. Paul and the excavator, David Boinnotte (a genius with heavy equipment), stood on the property and decided what orientation offered the best views and now we literally have a gorgeous view framed from every window in the home. Paul and his stepson, Doug Goad, basically did all of the construction. Doug even built all our cabinetry. Paul and I talked frequently, and I made as many trips to Virginia as possible to see the progress. It was such an exciting time and to tell the truth, I could do it all again.
I was prepared for the building process, but learned so much more throughout the build. What did I learn from the experience?
Most of today’s “packaged” Log Homes are making a play on the All American “classic” hand-hewn Log Cabin. The log home industry today wants to try and supply that rustic look and feel, while giving you the luxury of modern amenities such as large living space square footage, all-encompassing kitchens, and indoor and outdoor fireplaces.
While the original antique log cabins were more like the size of a great room of one of these new log homes, it still holds its own on character, coziness, and durability.
The structures you see that are truly Antique Log Cabins / Homes, were built in the 1700 – 1900s. These were the structures our ancestors built. The materials for some of these cabins were felled in the very spot the cabin was built. So, the species of trees that were used varied from one location to another. The craftsman understood the durability features of one species over another. It’s not uncommon to find a pine log structure with the side logs being white oak, to help resist rot.
The reason the antique log cabins or original hand-hewn log homes are so durable is because they were cut from “old growth” wood, or virgin forest trees. The trees felled were mostly of the same size of trees we have today – slightly larger- 18” to 36” in diameter. The difference is the forest above these trees were once huge trees that today is hard to comprehend.
Some of the white oaks could reach a diameter of 5 to 7 feet. These giants robbed the forest floor of full sunlight, so the smaller trees underneath grew very slow and dense, making them a superior hard product. While an 18” oak today could reach that size easily in 30-70 years, the 18” old growth tree could have 250 -300 years to get that size!
These antique log cabins were small in comparison to today’s home building standards. The most common size was 16’ x 20’ and would vary from story and half or two story. The upper floor was always reserved for sleeping, even if that meant an attic area. There does seem to be a sort of “common” size that were built: 16’x 16’ or 20’ and 22 x18’ or 22’, and of course many other sizes in between. Some large logs were hewn to be 50 foot long!
Because of this slower old growth and the proper wood handling, our ancestors were able to produce a very durable and long-lasting structure. Most people in the eastern U.S. would be surprised how many log home structures are still standing, even in the town where you live. Most were covered with lap or board and batten sidings or were added on to years later with sawn-wood additions.
We run across a lot of structures that people think are rotted, when in fact they only need some cleaning and small repairs. With most of the structures we restore, we are putting back 90 % of the logs exactly in the position they came from!
Here are some pictures of a structure we found in PA and moved to VA. The structure was put back up from the exact location they were taken down. The only thing we did was cut the windows in the back of the house to match the ones on the front and add a bathroom addition with another log structure.
We thought we would start off our blog with a post about prepping and staining a new log home under construction!
When the logs are delivered to the build site of your new custom log home, the first thing to remember is that it is very important to keep the logs covered and protected from the weather as much as possible until the construction on your new custom log home begins.
Unprotected logs can develop a number of issues including mildew or greying from the sun.
So, whether you are building it yourself or with the help of a contractor, keeping the logs protected until you start stacking them, will help keep you from having additional, unnecessary work down the road. Then when you are ready to clean and stain your home, the logs will look nice and new.
