We have restored and repaired hundreds of
log and cedar homes in the Pacific Northwest area.
Take a look at a few of our more drastic restoration, rot repair, and chinking projects over the years. If you don’t see your style of log home, check out the “Our Work” page here.
This process can help determine the services you may need on your log or cedar home. The early steps are the most important to address, but this depends on other factors unique to each log home.
Check all rot-prone areas for rot. Areas to check are around gutters, logs close to the ground, logs that are covered by deck ledgers, exposed purlins or ridgepoles, or any other area that is exposed to rain or sun. Check the deck structure and railings for any rot. Especially check any loft support logs that protrude outside of the house and support a deck. These always rot.
Tap around with a smooth face hammer and listen and feel for hollow sections. Look for discoloration on logs. Look for any mushrooms, fungus, or excessive bug holes as these all may indicate areas of rot.
Determine whether your log home has any stain at all- often log homes are left to weather and may just be darkened or gray.
If there is a stain, is it flaking? Is it discolored on the weather wall? Does the wood underneath the stain appear to be weathered at all?
Watch out for any stains that are restricting breathability as this may lead to rot. Sikkens Cetol log and siding is a good example of a stain that restricts breathability and acts like a paint.
Check the interior and exterior of the home for any chinking. If it is mortar chinking, think about replacing it with a modern product.
If there is no chinking, check for any large gaps between the logs, any poop beneath any large openings, wasp nests behind trim, etc. Check for drafts on the inside of the home around all windows and doors.
If there is chinking, check for any cracking or separation. Was it a clean chinking job? Was it applied thick enough to perform correctly? Was it applied in all areas that are needed?
Walk around the exterior of your log home and check for any bowing or sagging of the decks, walls, overhangs, posts, or anything else on the structure.
Is the deck built using treated materials? Were the settling screws let out correctly during settling phase when home was built?
