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Article Category: Staining

To Pressure Clean or Media Blast?

Article Category: Staining

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.
New Construction Log Homes
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.

Previously Stained Log Homes
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.

Due to the degree of stain failure, this log home will need a media blast.
Media Blasting
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.

The stain on this log home is in very good condition, and only requires a light pressure clean to apply the maintenance coat.
January 19, 2026
Choosing the Right Stain for Your Custom Log Home

Article Category: Staining

When Gerald B. Payne founded United Gilsonite Laboratories (UGL) in 1932, his big ideas were just that – big ideas. Soon enough, though, ideas became a reality. Hard work and commitment to the finest quality products available made the difference, and today, nearly 90 years later, these principles continue to guide UGL every day

The original UGL Building in the 1930s
While the competitive landscape in home improvement products has continually evolved, UGL has continued to invest in research and development, the best in raw materials and production practices, and most of all, in listening to its customers.
ZAR Platinum PRO Translucent Urethane Finish is just the most recent example of the UGL commitment to innovation, top quality, and responsiveness to a loyal and ever-expanding customer base. It’s much more than a finish, bringing better components and processes to life. ZAR Platinum PRO offers durability and ease of application and maintains its vibrant color and good looks through years of sunshine and rain, heat and cold.
The premium product for those who want the best in interior or exterior finishes, an investment in ZAR Platinum PRO provides confidence, particularly when a variety of options in structural stains and finishes crowd store shelves. Choosing the right product for the job at hand is often a complicated task, and UGL is there to guide the customer through the process, saving time and money while offering consultation and helpful hints that lead to successful project completion.
The introduction of ZAR Platinum PRO began with a simple conversation, and this unique product was developed from the bottom up in a very organic way. “A customer that manufactures utility buildings came to us several years ago and asked UGL to develop a product that would satisfy a need based on a specific request,” explained Jeff Brooks, UGL sales and quality specialist for the last 15 years. “This product would help them increase productivity in the arena of finishes that they utilized. At the time, there was no translucent urethane finish that could be sprayed on a nonporous primed substrate in one coat, drying in 30 minutes.”
“This innovative product allowed our customer to not only save in material costs, going from a two- or three-coat system, but also increased productivity by decreasing the amount of time needed in the drying process before the trim is ready to be tacked on the buildings and sent out the door,” Brooks continued. “Platinum PRO is a versatile finish that can be used in the interior as well as the exterior. The key to this product is that, unlike simple stains, it leaves a finish.
Therefore, Platinum Pro can be applied in the care for custom log homes to ceilings, walls, doors, horse stalls, and more! Inside the home, the polyurethane component helps give the look as if someone applied one coat of interior stain and two coats of polyurethane to the interior of a log or timber home. It provides a high-end, elegant look in either a rich or low lustre sheen option.”
Accepting a challenge, rising to the occasion, and exceeding expectations – all part of Gerald Payne’s legacy and instilled in the core values of UGL – have shone through with the development of ZAR Platinum PRO. For generations, people and purpose have made the difference. The UGL team decided to explore other possibilities with ZAR Platinum PRO and made incredible discoveries.
“Although its inception is rooted in spray applications for nonporous, pre-primed surfaces found in the utility building industry, we continued attempting to find the boundaries of this unique and unconventional product’s application,” Brooks commented. “So, we began testing the effectiveness of ZAR Platinum PRO on wood, applying the Platinum on rough sawn wood, as well as d-log siding, and exposing them, positioned horizontally for moisture to gather and for direct sunlight to test the durability of the finish.”
Then, kicking it up a notch, they even applied a well-known and often used oil base log and siding stain on a piece of d-log, let it dry for three days and brushed the Platinum PRO directly over it. Of course, it was possible that this would create adhesion and failure issues on multiple fronts. “It has been two years with the Platinum PRO applied directly over an oil base stain, and the surface looks like it did the day it was initially applied,” Brooks noted.
From there, UGL’s laboratory and other independent laboratories conducted tests that supported these results.
Professionals choose Platinum PRO time after time for the care of our clients and their custom log homes. 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.
January 19, 2026
Prepping and Staining a New Log Home Under Construction

Article Category: Staining

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.
Prepping a New Custom Log Home for Staining
When you get ready to clean your logs, the most important thing to remember is to always follow the stain manufacturer’s recommended cleaning procedures. In addition to following proper cleaning procedures, there are two specific issues to watch for when cleaning: mildew and mill glaze.
Mildew
With mildew, even if you can’t see it, that doesn’t mean it’s not there. You want to make sure that you kill any possible mildew before you proceed with the staining.
Mill Glaze & Staining
The next culprit we run into frequently is mill glaze. Mill glaze is created when the logs are being run through the mill to be shaped, which causes the pores of the wood to be closed. Then, when the stain is applied to the logs, it will not be able to penetrate or bond with the wood. Instead, the stain lays on top of the wood, which can cause premature failure. Both of these issues, mildew and mill glaze, should be addressed before staining.
Once you have cleaned your home properly, then your logs will need to dry for several days to get the moisture content down before staining. Most stain manufacturers recommend a moisture content of 18 percent or less before applying the stain. You can monitor the moisture with a moisture meter which you can buy at most home box stores. Once your moisture content is at the right level, then you can proceed with the staining. This will insure a successful stain for your new custom log home. Once again, before you begin to stain, make sure you read the manufacturer’s recommendations and follow their instructions. Stains can be very different from one another. Different stains require different cure times, and also different temperatures that the stain can be applied at. When you begin to apply the stain, start from the bottom logs, and work your way up. This will help ensure an even stain being applied to your new custom log home. Once you have cleaned your home properly, then your logs will need to dry for several days to get the moisture content down before staining. Most stain manufacturers recommend a moisture content of 18 percent or less before applying the stain. You can monitor the moisture with a moisture meter which you can buy at most home box stores. Once your moisture content is at the right level, then you can proceed with the staining. This will insure a successful stain for your new custom log home. Once again, before you begin to stain, make sure you read the manufacturer’s recommendations and follow their instructions. Stains can be very different from one another. Different stains require different cure times, and also different temperatures that the stain can be applied at. When you begin to apply the stain, start from the bottom logs, and work your way up. This will help ensure an even stain being applied to your new custom log home.
Staining a New Log Home
You want to make sure you keep a wet edge and stain the log from one end to the other end, before starting the next log, to prevent lap marks. If you have a two or three coat stain system, make sure you know ahead of time, the cure time that is needed before you apply the next coats of stain.
2 This is an example of lap marks, caused by improper stain application.
We hope this will help to get you started on the right track with prepping and staining your log home! Sign Up today for our mailing list and stay in touch.We will have many more articles with additional information coming in the future!
January 19, 2026