Log Home Inspections

Stain Condition

How is the condition of the exterior and interior stain? Has it been kept up over the years? Is it discolored, flaking, or not repelling water? Often times a log home was stained once when it was built, maybe a second time years later, and then neglected. This can lead to wood damage in spots where stain has faded away and allowed water or sun damage to occur. Many times we recommend doing a full restoration to bring it down to bare wood and apply a new product that you can maintain easily into the future.

Chinking

Does the log home have any chinking or sealant products applied on interior or exterior? Full scribe homes will need some kind of chinking eventually. Feel for drafts around window and door trim on the inside of the home. Look for any water damage on the interior of the logs where water from cleaning or rain has found it’s way inside. If there is chinking, is it cracked or separated from the wood? Is it old mortar? Has it been applied evenly and cleanly?

Rotten Logs

Tap along all known rot areas on the exterior of the home. Anywhere the logs could get wet tap with a hammer for soft spots. Usually these areas are near gutters, sill logs against decks, log walls where roof lines run into, and all over the weather wall. Pine homes are more likely to have rot in the NW.

Structural

Has the house settled properly? Was it engineered before it was built? Are all permits in place? There are many home-built log homes out there, some good, some not so good. It is important to know before hand whether a log home is structurally sound or not.

Log Railings and Decks

Often times decks are built improperly against log homes that prevents proper drainage and leads to rot. Is the deck built from treated material? Are the railings rotten? Are there any hidden logs behind the deck? Is the deck supported by exposed log columns?

I always recommend at least a phone consultation before purchasing a log home. Do not trust the inspector…often times they are not aware of the special issues log homes can have. We offer in-person evaluations or free phone consultations. Feel free to reach out!