What is Necessary Maintenance?

Necessary maintenance for log homes includes annual cleaning as well as visual inspections for signs of water damage, pest infestations, rips and tears or blisters in chinking, and flaking or peeling of wood preservatives or stain. Log homes require regular maintenance to protect the wood from decay and ensure your home's structural integrity. Taking action on routine maintenance can save you from major repairs down the road and you can enjoy your beautiful home for many more years to come.

Maintained log cabin in Alaska with shining logs and sufficient roof overhang and gutters

Visual Home Inspection: Areas for Attention

Frost buildup on the roofline beneath the soffit of a log cabin in the winter

Frost Buildup

Frost buildup during the winter months is an indicator of heat loss and lack of a vapor seal. Look along the roofline, around ridgepoles, and corners to see if frost is building. This will lead to repeated water damage, deterioration of the finish, mold and rot.

Water Damage

Objects such as fuel tanks, wood piles or anything that directs rain water towards the logs will cause deteriorated finish and eventual mold and rot. Move objects away from the walls.

Corner of a log home that shows gaps between logs, water damage from the lack of seal, and insulation poking through

Gaps Between Logs

The only way to get a true vapor seal between logs as the home ages is to fill and seal all gaps with a permanent chinking compound. This prevents interior warm air from flowing out and creating frost. This seal also saves a lot on your heat bill!

log home with sufficient roof overhang, well maintained gutters, roof with snow stops, and a healthy green fern.

Overhangs & Gutters

Ideally, a log home is designed and built in a way that the logs are up off the ground and have sufficient roof overhangs protecting against rain and weather. Remember to install gutters and direct that rain water away from your logs and foundation.

log home that the finish or seal is flaking off and peeling

Flaking & Peeling

Log finishes need regular maintenance coats. Rinse your logs on a yearly basis to remove dust, pollen and dirt, and re-coat on a maintenance schedule recommended by the manufacturer. Otherwise eventually it peels up and wood darkens. There’s no saving your finish at this point. Start over. And keep those gutters in working order to keep the bottom logs from rotting out.

removal of the rotten lower log, rotten scraps, tools, and a mess to clean up

Lower Logs

Cutting out and replacing bottom logs is the eventual consequence of neglected moisture mitigation. Check the bottom logs around your deck. Are they darkening due to repeated splash back and rain?