New Log Home Maintenance
An article by the owner of TPC Restoration regarding the significance of maintenance on a new log home.
Maintenance Inspection / Contract
We offer maintenance contracts to log home owners who don't want to worry about the upkeep of their home. Regular maintenance will keep your home looking nice and help the value to appreciate through the years. If you decide to sell your log home, the contract can be transferred to the new homeowner.
We recommend doing a maintenance inspection on your log home twice a year. Inspect your log home from top to bottom. We can provide this NACHI-certified service or as a do-it-yourself home owner, you can make a simple check list. This will also help to take care of situations before they become a major problem.
Chinking
Most log homes today have just a simple chink groove in the logs for chinking. This is more for cosmetic purposes, for the home owners who want that rustic log home appearance. We offer a wide range of products and colors that may be used for chinking.
Media Blasting
Media blasting is needed for some log homes. This application is needed most when there is heavy build up of a failing stain or possibly paint on the logs that needs to be removed to restore and protect the logs. This is done by using fine ground glass or corn cob media to remove the coating.
Staining
We recommend high quality stain that is designed specifically for log homes. When you look at the cost of a stain, also look at the quality and the durability of the stain. Consider how often you will need to restain your log home. Finally you will want to consider how the stain is applied, spraying versus brushing. We hand brush all our log homes.
Pressure Cleaning
Most log homes can be restored by a simple pressure cleaning with the right chemicals. Unfortunately a common industry mistake when pressure cleaning is to damage the logs by relying on pressure rather than proper chemicals to do the cleaning. At TPC we focus on cleaning the proper way. When done correctly, no damage occurs and the home is well prepared for stain application.
Caulking
We offer interior and exterior caulking for your log home. The main reason we recommend caulking is to create a barrier for water, wind, and insects. We highly recommend caulking both the interior and the exterior of your log home. However, begin with your main line of defense, the exterior. Caulking the exterior will help keep the elements and the insects out of your home and prevent them from getting between your logs.
Interior Finish / Clear Coat
Interior finishing of the logs can vary depending on what the customer wants. The options can range from a simple clear coat to a sanding of the logs along with multiple coats of stain for a beautiful finish. The interior finishing of your log home is usually a one time process. We recommend finishing your logs, not only for cosmetic purposes but also added protection.
Log Replacement
Log replacement can vary as to how much or how little work needs to be done to replace your damaged logs. We cut our logs to fit to replace the old log that has been removed. Most log homes can be spared this kind of work with proper and routine maintenance inspections.