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Question: How many times have you said, “I should really get this project done around the house” and then put it off another year? 

We won’t require you to answer (because then we’d have to admit the same thing ourselves…eek!)

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So, you did a stellar job of sealing cracks and checks in your log home. Hooray! Now, a couple of years later, you’re noticing that some of the caulk has cracked. After all that hard work? Ugh. So, what do you need to do to fix cracked caulk? Keep reading for all the details.

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Applying some type of wood preservative to your log home is like taking out an inexpensive insurance policy on it. These preservative products are mostly borate-based and designed to protect your wood from rot and wood-ingesting insects. Adding this affordable step at the beginning can save you headaches down the road, including the time and money it costs to replace damaged wood.

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Prep Time

So now it’s time to prepare your wood for staining. Substrate preparation is the most critical step in achieving stain longevity. As Kurt Denman of Benjamin Moore® stated in the February 2007 edition of Coatings World magazine, “I cannot emphasize enough how critical proper preparation is to realize a successful staining project. It’s the ultimate determinant on how long the beauty of a job lasts.” Properly preparing the wood from the get-go will save you both time and money down the road.

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What is secondary prep? After you’ve gotten down to clean sound wood it’s time to clean up all that media blasting another methods left behind. When properly done, most blasting methods are going to create at least some “felting” — wood fuzz — that should be removed prior to applying any finishing products. All of that wood fuzz will eventually fall off. If there’s stain that is applied to that wood fuzz, it will simply fall off with the fuzz, leaving a mottled look and leaving those areas exposed to the elements. In addition, sometimes blasting can raise the grain a bit too much and make the wood more coarse than most like it. While the coarse texture is good for stain adhesion, it makes for a rougher look and darker stain, neither of which is aesthetically pleasing.

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After media blasting, secondary prep is necessary to remove any “felting” or wood fuzz.  Removing it will ensure that the stain adheres to sound wood.

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We’re proud to introduce you to Mark Nelson, founder of Nelson Log Restoration in Cody, Wyoming. Mark has been working in the construction industry since he was six years old.  Mark has a love and affinity for anything involving a chainsaw — especially log structures. (Can you relate?) Mark shares stories of trial and error and a few painful lessons learned. After decades of industry experience, you’re sure to gain a nugget or two from Mark’s experience.

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Logs Aint Wood - Facebook 01

Every log has its own unique grain pattern, knots, and history. Chances are, you know and love each one of them like the back of your hand. Logs are special, they’re not the same as 2x4s. They need special care. Why? Three reasons:

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In this month’s “Here to help! ”, we’re peeking inside your log home (don’t worry, no need to clean up on our account). This month, we’ll help you understand the ins and outs of proper interior log care and maintenance.

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In this month’s “Here to help!”, we’re breaking down borates to help you deal with unwanted creepy-crawlies and other “rot ‘en” dilemmas.

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