Preserving
With the introduction of borates to the log home industry, preservation has become
affordable, much safer for humans and other mammals, while being highly effective
in protecting your home from decay and insect infestations. Wood, if left unprotected,
will eventually decompose from fungal & insect attacks, UV degradation, and all
the other forces of nature. We strongly recommend that if you have stripped off
old stains and are now down to bare wood that you take the opportunity to apply
a borate preservative to your logs.
PeneTreat was the first borate powder,
jobsite applicable product introduced to the log home market. It forms a protective
"shell" coating defending your home from dry, wet, and brown rot as well as termites,
house borers, powder post beetles and carpenter ants.
After you've completely removed existing stains, and the logs and other wood surfaces
have been treated to kill any mold or mildew (CPR
treatment), you're ready to apply PeneTreat.
Mix one quart of PeneTreat to one gallon
of water for a 10% solution. Apply the first coat and then a second coat 4-24 hours
later. This solution strength at 2 applications gives the necessary boric acid equivalent;
the actual level of "protective power" needed to provide effectiveness against rot
and wood ingesting insects.
After the second PeneTreat application,
let the surface thoroughly dry, brush away any crystals that may have developed,
and stain with either High Sierra Log Stain
or the Capture Log Stain/Cascade
stain system.
Impel Rods are solid, highly concentrated
borate rods. They can be used on structures that are already stained because they
are installed into the wood, not surface applied like
PeneTreat, a liquid borate treatment.
Impel Rods can be installed into wood
in areas that have existing decay, as long as the structural integrity of the building
has not been compromised. Impel Rods
stop rot from progressing so this is the most cost-effective measure for decay prevention.
It is a lot less stressful and expensive than log replacement!
Installation is easy:
1. Drill the appropriate sized and placed holes to accommodate the rods.
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2. Insert the correct size and number of rods into the holes.
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3. Insert a piece of backer rod into the holes deep enough to allow between 3/8"
to 1/2" of caulking to seal the holes.
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4. Seal the holes with a flexible caulking product such as Log Builder.
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Refer to the Impel Rod Log & Timber
Structures Use and Applications Guide for complete rod size selection, placement
and installation instructions.