Choosing a stain for your log home or weekend cabin can be difficult. Opinions are as many and varied as there are people! In this webinar, Sashco partnered with Log Home Living Magazine to help folks sort through the pros and cons of different stains types (oil-based, water-based, and everything in between).
What kind of prep is necessary? What will maintenance look like? What’s better for the deck vs. the log walls? You’ll get a good foundation upon which to base decisions.
Ready to stain? Don’t guess! Sample. Testing stain colors on your actual logs before committing ensures that you get the exact look you want and helps prevent “oops” moments later. Snag your free samples here.
Ready to get your log home looking great and protected the right way? We’ve got everything you need to know to get started.
WATCH TO SEE!
Ready to stain? Don’t guess! Sample. Testing stain colors on your actual logs before committing ensures that you get the exact look you want and helps prevent “oops” moments later. Snag your free samples here.
Caught Part One? Check out Part Two of the Caulking Series.
WATCH TO SEE!
Watch as we walk through how to properly repair, seal, and caulk checks and cracks in a log home to help keep out water, air, insects, and the elements. Learn the techniques that protect your logs and extend the life of your home.
Ready to stain? Don’t guess! Sample. Testing stain colors on your actual logs before committing ensures that you get the exact look you want and helps prevent “oops” moments later. Snag your free samples here.
Ready to get your log home looking great and protected the right way? We’ve got everything you need to know to get started.
WATCH TO SEE!
Stain is more than color. In Step 3, learn how to choose and apply the right stain to keep your log home protected, beautiful, and performing its best for years to come.
Ready to stain? Don’t guess! Sample. Testing stain colors on your actual logs before committing ensures that you get the exact look you want and helps prevent “oops” moments later. Snag your free samples here.
A weathered log home gets a full structural and aesthetic revival using Sashco’s CPRCleaner, Capture in Mahogany, Cascade Semi-Gloss, and Conceal in Redwood.
Mr. Murasawa in front of the home
Occasionally, a restoration project comes along that reminds you why wood homes captivate us in the first place: their character, their grain, and the sense that they’re part of a story much bigger than just lumber and nails. That was certainly the case here.
This wasn’t a small facelift or touch-up. This was a total restoration of a weathered log home in Japan. And like so many projects that begin with visible wear and hidden damage, it became a powerful reminder that restoration is possible when you’re willing to do the work the right way.
The project was undertaken by Mr. Murasawa, a contractor who works withNikken-Sogyo, Ltd., a distributor of Sashco’s products in Japan. What started as a mission to improve aesthetics quickly became a full-blown revival of both structure and testing the soul.
Days of Weather, Wear, and Water
By the time the restoration team arrived, years of exposure had taken their toll. Old coatings had failed. Log connections and notched joints were letting in rainwater. Sealants had deteriorated. Some log sections were so compromised that they needed replacement outright.
This is the moment many owners wonder if a home is simply too far gone. But time and again, we see the same truth play out: with effort and the right techniques, rarely are they beyond hope.
The original caulking had failed, which lead to interior water staining. The exterior stain was faded and there was significant mold growth on the surface. This home needed some SERIOUS TLC.
Deep Surface Prep
The first major task was preparing the wood itself (and this was serious work).
To start, existing coatings were stripped off using a #120 nylon brush with wheel sanders and grinders. But this wasn’t just about removal. By sanding perpendicular to the grain, the team enhanced the natural log texture, removing softer earlywood and revealing the denser latewood beneath. The result? A beautiful uzukuri (means wire-brushed, also, a super cool word) texture that made the grain stand out in a way that typical sanding by hand never could.
Aside from aesthetics, this uzukuri surface also improved the mechanical adhesion of the Capture and Cascade, which is a crucial foundation for any lasting restoration. When the surface is right, everything that follows works better.
Over One of the biggest challenges uncovered during the restoration was rainwater intrusion at critical joints, openings, and connections. Instead of patching the symptoms, the team went after the cause (because we’re not into Band-Aids).
All old sealants were carefully removed, and deteriorated logs were replaced where needed. At the log end grain sections, new wooden backing was installed and wrapped in copper sheeting designed to echo the look of tree bark (off-the-charts cool factor). Not only was that an aesthetic dream, but it was also a solution that improved waterproofing while staying visually true to the surrounding logs.
For the inevitable checks and cracks in the logs, Sashco Concealin Redwood was used to fill and seal to leave a natural, seamless finish that blended into the wood.
This kind of work isn’t flashy, but it’s exactly what makes long-term success possible. Fix what’s wrong, respect the structure, and move forward knowing restoration really is possible.
The Look and Protection Combo
Now for the part people really notice. The color!
The team chose Sashco’s Capturein Mahogany. The color is a rich, deep tone that highlights the wood’s natural grain while offering excellent UV and weather protection. The color brought warmth and depth back to logs that had seen years of hard exposure.
Once the stain was applied and dried, Cascade Clear Coat in Semi-Gloss was added as the clear topcoat. This final layer enhances color clarity and sheen while providing long-term resistance to moisture and weather, helping ensure this restoration lasts for years to come.
What Happens Next?
True restoration doesn’t end when the last coat dries.
A future-focused maintenance plan was put in place with annual inspections, prioritizing areas previously affected by decay and those most exposed to wind and rain. By watching these areas closely over time, small issues can be addressed early, keeping the home protected and the envy of all the neighbors, year after year.
This project was never just about products. It was about commitment. Commitment to doing the work thoroughly, respecting the original structure, and choosing systems designed to work together over time.
With careful surface preparation, thoughtful structural repairs, and the combined use of Conceal (Redwood), Capture Log Stain in Mahogany, Cascade in Semi-Gloss, and CPR Cleaner, this home didn’t just get a second chance. It became one more real-world example that with the right approach, the right products, and the right people, restoration truly is possible.
Home during restoration processFinished home. Standing from left to right is Nori from Nikken, Tomoji from Nikken, Mr. Nishiuchi the Homeowner, and Nozomu from Nikken
Ready to stain? Don’t guess! Sample. Testing stain colors on your actual logs before committing ensures that you get the exact look you want and helps prevent “oops” moments later. Snag your free samples here.
When it comes to protecting and beautifying your log home, Sashco isn’t just another stain on the market — it’s the high-performancechoice for serious log lovers. With industry-leading products like Capture, Cascade, and Transformation, Sashco combines cutting-edge technology and rugged durability to keep your logs looking stunning and standing strong year after year. Whether you’re chasing that perfect finish or just want to avoid the heartbreak of costly repairs, Sashco’s got your back. Because your log home deserves more than “good enough,” it deserves Sashco. Made for logs. Made to last. Made to make your neighbors jealous.
Don’t compromise at the end of a long and arduous journey by using an inferior stain not designed for logs. Capture and Cascade deliver performance worthy of the journey that got you here.
Moves with your logs and timbers
Won't hide the wood grain
Easy clear coat maintenance with Cascade(R) exterior clear coat
Backer Materials that Seal Things Right the First Time Backer Rod, Grip Strip, and Log Gap Cap all help you create the ideal joint desing for a long-lasting, durable seal
Logs are in constant dynamic motion. That's why there's Log Builder®, the sealant made for log structures. Stretches up to 500% of original size, while still maintaining tenacious adhesion to the wood.
When other chinking pulls away, Log Jam holds its seal With Log Jam chinking, you can keep the cozy feel and rustic look of a log home without compromising comfort and performance.
Easy to Use - Hard to See Keep out weather, bugs, and moisture without seeing it. Conceal disappears into the woodwork so you don't know the wood starts and the caulk begins.
It's Music to the Eyes Symphony works in harmony with the unique character of your logs and wood to reflect an atmosphere or cozy warmth and elegance while creating and scuff-resistant and durable surface that's easy to dust.
Right Color. Right Quantity. Right Now. Never run out of stain at the jobsite again. Stock exactly what you need in your truck or trailer at the jobsite.
Easy to mix
The same color, durability, and application you've come to expect from Capture Log Stain and Transformation Log & Timber
Maintenance Made Easy Now that Capture® Log Stain is applied, it’s time for Cascade® Clear Topcoat to bring out the depth and character of your unique woodgrain while protecting it against moisture, mildew, and algae. Predictable and affordable routine maintenance with Cascade throughout the years means your home stays protected and beautiful. Easy!
Keep the Color the Color Colorfast delivers the ideal canvas for stain application and leaves behind the strong foundation necessary for long-lasting color. It’s color confidence for your log home.
Rot, weather, insects, fungi all pose a serious threat to your logs. Protect your investment—treat your logs first to make them last. Tim-bor® helps protect your home from the costly damage caused by rot and insect infestation.
Bugs don't stand a chance
Easy to mix and apply
Prevents decay fungi
Costs 5 times less than glycol-based borate products
Remove Wood Felting and Raised Grain Remove wood fuzz (called felting) after power washing or media blasting, and knock down excessive raised grain with Sashco's finish sanding tools
Clean and brighten bare logs and wood, remove surface dirt, pollen, and kill mold for maintenance, and keep your logs looking fresh with CPR Log Cleaner and Brightener
