From the category archives:

Log Home Repair

Resource for Boric Acid

by Bearfort · 15 comments

in Log Home Maintenance, Log Home Repair, Log Home Restoration

In many previous posts I discuss the use of boric acid during the process of replacing chinking, repairing logs and have identified several other uses where borates should be used as well as methods of application.

Boric acid works well as a wood preservative — it kills mold, mildew as well insects and is very useful to have around any home – not just log homes.

I have received numerous emails and questions as to where to find boric acid or borate-based products. [click to continue…]

15 comments

Log Home Chinking: White Interior Chinking and Recipe

by Bearfort · 9 comments

in Log Home Chinking, Log Home Repair, Log Home Restoration

Log Home Interior Chinking 1 While the snow is falling outside I’m working on repairing chinking inside the lodge.

Most of the chinking throughout the lodge is in great shape however there are a few spots here and there that are in need of attention. Some areas are simply cosmetic repairs and other areas are in need of being completely re-chinked. As you can see in the photos there has been damage to the chinking along the fireplace and chimney.

[click to continue…]

9 comments

Log Home Repair & Restoration: Replacing a Rotted Log – Part III

In the last installment of Replacing a Rotted Log I left off where the log had been fitted and wrestled into position.
My next step was to fine tune the position and spike the log to the adjoining standing logs. I used galvanized spikes and drove them through the new log at an angle near [...]

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Log Home Maintenance: Preparation for Winter – Inspect Your Chinking Before the Cold Weather Arrives

Here we are nearing the end of August. Autumn is approaching quickly and winter is not far behind sothis is the time in which log cabin owners should begin the late season inspection of logs and chinking.
Let’s focus on the chinking for now.
Late summer is a great time to do a final inspection of your [...]

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Log Home Repair & Restoration: Replacing a Rotted Log – Part II

In the last post on Replacing a Rotted Log – I had removed a log that was rotted and weakened by wood boring insects.
Now that the old log has been removed I have to focus on prepping the new log that will be inserted and spiked in its place.
Using a large blunt masonry chisel I [...]

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Log Home Repair & Restoration: Replacing a Rotted Log

Replacing a rotten log on a log home is no easy task. However it is an unfortunate task that sometimes may have to be tackled. Luckily there have been only a couple of logs that have needed to be replaced on this 100+ year old structure.
Here at the lodge a base log was in [...]

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Log Home Repair & Restoration: Protecting Logs Part II – Removing Paint from Logs Video

Removing paint from logs is no easy task. The video here demonstrates one method.
Painted logs present a problem as described in an earlier post – removing that paint present another problem – how to do it. You can use chemical strippers but this would be extremely costly, take a tremendous amount of time and [...]

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Log Home Repair & Restoration: Protecting Logs Part I – The Problem with Painted Logs

There are a few ways to protect your logs from the elements but I cannot stress enough that painting is not one of them. If you are looking to refinish your log home and some hack of a restoration guy comes along and suggests painting it will help improve its looks and protect it – [...]

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Log Home Chinking: Chinking & Insulating Logs

A subscriber/reader asks “The fiberglass strips of insulation that you suggest be placed between the logs… I assume those are about 5″ wide (cut from 15″ rolls) is it only one strip between the logs that we would need to use or two (i.e., back to back with the paper sides glued together)?
Thanks for the [...]

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Log Home Repair & Restoration: Replacing Chinking and Fixing Logs Part VI – Home Brew Wood and Log Preservative

I make my own wood preservative. I could run out and purchase a similar preservative for about $95 a gallon or I can spend about $10 and make my own. I make a concentrate that I can store and when desired mix with equal parts of water use in a garden sprayer on my [...]

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