Check out this video showing how to properly pressure clean your log home!
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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.
There are as many different styles of log homes today, as there are different sizes and profiles of logs! People take pride in their beautiful and unique log homes! This is evident through the effort many people put into protecting and caring for the exterior of their homes, keeping them looking like new!
One thing that is often unknown regarding the exterior of a log home, and one that many new log home owners don’t realize can happen, is hail damage. When springtime rolls around, this often means thunderstorms. Depending on the circumstances, that can often mean unsightly hail damage to a log home.
When you have a severe storm which resulted in hail, make sure to inspect the exterior of your log home for any hail damage after the storm has passed. The amount of damage that hail causes to your log home depends greatly on the severity of the storm and the size of the hail. Look for slight or significant indentations into your logs. If you find areas on your home that have damage, not only can it be an eye sore, but unfortunately, it can also cause failure of the stain on your logs. If the seal of the stain has been broken and is allowing moisture to penetrate the logs, the stain will fail.
Depending on the depth of the indentations, you possibly have two choices to fix your home properly:
Figure 2: Media Blasting a home to fix hail damage.
Figure 2: Media Blasting a home to fix hail damage.
Here at TPC, we are experienced in handling hail damage, and can offer a consultation and estimate, so that we can get your log home back to pristine condition!
If you do ever have hail damage, always check with you homeowners’ insurance. They will possibly cover the expense of having your home repaired. In fact, it would probably be wise to contact your homeowners’ insurance company to make sure that you are covered, if such a situation should ever occur.
ZAR Platinum PRO takes the guesswork out of the equation as log or timber homeowners and professional contractors choose the fresh, vibrant look they want to achieve inside and out while blending in the best available durability characteristics, protection, and resistance to harsh weather. Jeff Brooks and the UGL team have seen some products reach heights of popularity among professionals and do-it-yourself homeowners and then just fade away through the years.
Take these tips to heart. UGL offers sound advice for choosing a stain for those building new homes or seeking the best outcome for improvements.
Choose wisely:
Practical experience counts, and ZAR Platinum PRO delivers. The product provides excellent adhesion on new construction as well as over existing coatings that are in acceptable condition…clean, dull, and dry. Remember, the topcoat will be only as effective as what’s underneath.
Platinum PRO is a surface stain with strong inhibitors of the sun’s harmful UV rays along with excellent fade resistance. Platinum PRO incorporates all inorganic pigments in its finish for outstanding color retention; it’s not simply a stain, but a finish as well, a protective finish that is more impervious to mold or mildew growth than penetrating stains, allowing the finish to maintain its natural beauty over a longer period of time.
Platinum PRO is a fast-drying finish with a low odor that provides the professionals who use it with larger windows of opportunity to complete jobs. This is a real enhancement considering the importance of available work time during periods of frequent wet weather conditions. Oils need a much longer block of dry weather in order to cure properly.
The finish provides a natural look on the interior as well as exterior surfaces, and Platinum PRO is available in 10 ready-mixed colors and two sheen levels (low-lustre and rich- lustre), eliminating the need for tinting to maintain color uniformity.
“Conquering the ‘sag factor’ has been a great achievement,” Brooks advised. “It won’t run down the surface like other spray or brush products with lower viscosity. So, it provides more margin for error than thinner products that you have to build up with more coats.
With Platinum PRO, you don’t have to do that. This product is the consistency of honey, and one of the first bits of feedback we received simply said that Platinum PRO was smooth, not messy when rolling out a ceiling, and it won’t run off your brush. That’s one of the things people love about the product.”
With a single coat spray application, a gallon of Platinum PRO covers a generous amount of surface, drying in 15 to 30 minutes. It’s ideal for use with various surfaces, including wood, faux wood, engineered wood/composites, fiber cement, vinyl, fiberglass, metal, hardboard, veneer, and plastic/PVC. The product is recommended for vertical surfaces rather than horizontals that are subject to foot traffic and abrasion, such as flooring or decking.
Value and Versatility
Professionals choose Platinum PRO time after time. Since its introduction, the product has proven itself through ease of application, the right balance of viscosity and color retention, indoor and outdoor usage, and the best return on investment among finishes in the industry.
UGL, along with its tradition of excellence, its dedicated research and development process through testing and affirmation, and then in long-lasting service, stands behind Platinum PRO with a robust warranty. Experience the best value in high- quality finish in today’s marketplace.
Choose with confidence. Choose ZAR Platinum PRO.
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.
