Spring Cleaning for Your Log Home's Exterior

If you have a log home, you know that there is maintenance and cleaning you have to do every year. Luckily, there are several simple steps you can take to repair and upgrade to combat log decay. Keeping your home in good condition is important and helps you stay comfortable all year long.

Repair Rotted Sections

As spring comes and the weather warms up, take a walk around your home. Look carefully at each area, and check for signs of rot. Rotting logs is a big deal, and spring is usually the best time to check for these issues. If you find a rotted area, you'll need to replace the logs. You can either do this yourself or contact a professional to do the replacement. To ensure the longevity of your log home, it's best to do a spot check for rot at the turn of every season for best results.

Fix Water Resistance

As you're walking around your home, it's a good idea to take some time to check the overall water resistance of the logs. While chances are you originally had your home waterproofed, keep in mind that over time this proofing can fade. Because of this, you need to check to make sure that your home is still resistant to water. Take a spray bottle with you and check patches to see if water beads properly. If there are areas that are not beading, you'll need to get a new water-resistant coat put on, at least in that section.

Trim Bushes

Make sure that there is enough room around the home to encourage proper air flow and evaporation. If your bushes and trees are getting too close to the home, now is the time to trim them back. It is generally suggested that you have three to five feet of open space around the home for proper airflow. You may even want to consider relocating some of your plants if they are getting too large. Another reason to trim the vegetation around your home is to help improve the fire safety of your land.

Use Log Wash

There are many different types of log wash you can use to make sure that your home is cleaned properly. These will help get off dirt, grime, and other problem materials, without damaging the wood of your house. When you're cleaning, it's best to start at the bottom and move up, to reduce the risk of streaking or discoloration to the logs. Work on small areas at a time when cleaning the exterior of your home so that you don't leave the product on too long, causing damage.

When you have a log home, you're going to have to keep up with regular maintenance to ensure that your home looks great and stays comfortable. When doing maintenance or even a walk around the home, take it in small chunks. Otherwise, you may easily overlook problems, trying to get to everything all at once. Properly cleaning and keeping your home maintained may take a few days each spring, but it's worth the effort.

Featured Image via Flickr by La Citta Vita