Log-home staining
Log-home staining, wall by wall
Logs are not boards. Every side gets a different amount of sun, snow and wind, so we walk all of them and write a line per wall.
We wash, check the logs and chinking lines, stain in the order the sun dries them and finish the porch and railings last.
A walk of every side before the estimate
Checks, gaps and chinking lines noted and priced
Walls staged by exposure and height
What we check
What the walk-through looks for
Sun side
South and west walls wear first. We tell you what we see on each.
Checks and gaps
Cracks in the logs and gaps at corners and chinking are noted before stain.
Old finish
A sound finish gets washed. A failing one has to come off.
Height
Gable ends and tall walls need a lift or scaffold.
Porch and rails
Decking and railings are a separate line from the walls.
Windows and doors
We mask glass and trim, and we wash the area when we leave.
How a log-home job runs
A week or more, depending on the house
Step 1: Walk and write
Delmar walks every side with you and writes a line per wall.
A cabin porch and the walls around it Step 2: Wash and dry
We wash the logs and give them time to dry. Walls in shade take longer.
Porch and deck boards get their own line Step 3: Stain, wall by wall
We follow the sun, stain the high walls first, and finish with the porch and rails.
Step 4: Final walk
We walk the house with you, touch up what we find and note which walls to watch.
Log-home questions
Homes built before 1978: what changes?
Federal rules, the EPA's Renovation, Repair and Painting rule, cover paid work that disturbs painted surfaces in homes and child-occupied buildings built before 1978. Staining bare or stained wood usually doesn't disturb paint; scraping or sanding painted trim or siding can. We ask the year your home was built at the walk-through and tell you what the rule means for your job. Our firm's EPA number is in the footer and on the About page.
What is the difference between transparent, semi-transparent and solid stain?
Transparent shows the most grain and wears away fastest on sun-facing boards. Semi-transparent adds color and keeps some grain. Solid hides the grain, like a thin paint. We brush samples on your own wood so you choose in daylight.
How often does a log home need staining?
It depends on the stain, the sun and the wall. South and west walls wear first. At the walk-through we look at each side and tell you what we see rather than a number of years.
Can you work while we are away?
Yes, and many second-home owners do. We text photos at each step, you approve color by text, and we agree how we get in and out. Nobody needs to be on site.