The Resination of Logs

 Are your logs bleeding? Many plants secrete an oozing pitch, also known as resin. This hydrocarbon component is not necessarily the same compound as 'sap,' which refers to the lifeblood fluid of a plant that transports water and nutrients. Resins do not carry nutrients like sap does, but they can provide other benefits to the plant to aid in its defense. Log home owners, especially of homes built from coniferous trees, may experience the frustration of pitch oozing from their logs creating some unsightly gobs on the wood.

Dripping resins often occur on warm days when the heat of the sun warms the pitch in the wood and they flow out of the wood in an increasingly liquid state. Pitch drippings are no destructive to log homes; in contrast, the presence of resins in the wood are actually beneficial to their preservation. Homeowners may find the dripping pitch to be an eyesore, however, and seek ways to remove it.

Clean-up of pitch drips is fairly simple: large, congealed gobs can be scraped off with a putty knife or similar tool. Residual traces of the pitch can be cleaned off with denatured alcohol, also known as methylated spirits. Many people have sought a product that can be applied over knots and cracks to lock the bleeding in, but periodic cleaning is the most effective treatment.

Other than the recurring drips of fluid pitch coming from logs, there are also great benefits of beauty in tree resins. Resins have historically been an important ingredient in creating varnishes and many log home finishes, and resins like frankincense and myrrh have historic, therapeutic value as essential oils. Petrified, hardened pieces of resin are known as amber and used in jewelry. The ancient insects found captured in amber is a good reminder that resin is valuable in defending wood against its predators. So while scraping off those gobs of coniferous pitch, remember that it does have a purpose; even if it gives a few side-effect headaches along the way.
by John E. Schroeder

More information on plant resins:
 "Plant Resins: Chemistry, evolution, ecology, and ethnobotany", by Jean Langenheim, Timber Press, Portland, OR. 2003

Happy Saint Urho's Day!

The holiday of St. Patrick's Day is well known and well celebrated across America every March 17th. Lesser known is the holiday preceding Patty on March 16th. St. Urho's Day. Maybe it's recognized here in Minnesota than in Finland, but it celebrates St. Urho's feat of leading the Grasshoppers out of Finland (more info on this site).

We celebrate St. Urho's Day at Schroeder Log Home Supply for several reasons. First, we have a staff member Keeley, who has strong Finnish heritage. Second, there are many others in northern Minnesota with Finnish descent. Finally, the development of log home building owes much to Finnish craftsman who along with other Northern Europeans, refined the techniques and brought them to the Americas.

So put on something purple, and have a Happy Saint Urho's Day!

Iconic Logs: Staten Island Chuck's Log Cabin

On this, the second of February, Punxsutawney Phil makes his annual prediction about the coming of spring by coming out of his burrow in Pennsylvania. If he sees his shadow, there will be six additional weeks of winter; if not, then spring is on its way. In essence, according to the groundhog, shadows are bad!

In a log home, we have a different view. Shadows on your logs, to a certain extent, are good! Shadows mean protection for your logs from the sun and rain via long overhang of the eaves. Shadows are also good when applying a log home finish, because application of stain in direct sunlight can lead to flash-drying and improper penetration of the stain into the wood. So shadows might be bad for the groundhog, but when you're in a log home, shade is good!

Incidentally, while Punxsutawney Phil is the groundhog of fame, he has a colleague to the north in New York. Staten Island Chuck is another rodent in the shadow watching business; but rather than a hole in the ground, Chuck lives in style. That's right, folks. Staten Island Chuck lives in a log cabin. That's a groundhog I can admire, and that's another way log cabins and log homes are interwoven with American history and culture!

Photo retrieved February 2, 2012 from Staten Island Advance at http://photos.silive.com/advance/2011/02/groundhog_day_2011_10.html

Iconic Logs: Booker T Washington's Birthplace

There are notable U.S. Presidents who had humble beginnings in small log cabins, but they aren't the only leaders of this great nation who have started their life in a log home. In honor of Black History Month, we look at Booker T Washington.

Born in 1856, he was an orator, educator, author and political leader. He began life humbly as a slave in a cabin with a dirt floor; but determination and passion drove him through tiers of education, political leadership, and other notable landmarks. A powerful speaker, he became a driving force in the early events that led to the Civil Rights Movement, such as the Atlanta Compromise. Washington is a prime example on how historic log homes are dovetailed with the lives of crucial leaders in our country.

Washington was instrumental in starting schools, seeking support from philanthropists, educating others, and building a network of influential contacts. He professed the path to social equality for the African American community was through "industry, thrift, intelligence and property."

There is more information on Booker T Washington, an influential American leader who started life in a log cabin, on Wikipedia.

Sourced from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Booker_T._Washington

Log Home of Lamb?

Fiberglass, foam and oakum are all typical ways to insulate between courses of a log home; But did you know many naturally inclined builders use wool as an insulator? Ewe better believe it; log home of lamb is a great way to build naturally with a minimal carbon footprint. Wool insulation is a cozy sweater for your log home.

Wool has proven to be a viable insulation in the laterals and notches of log homes and for ceiling and studwall insulation. It's an environmentally friendly alternative to other products available on the market, most notably, pink fiberglass insulation. Wool fibers trap millions of microscopic pockets of air allowing for its insulating abilities. It also wicks moisture instead of absorbing it. Some wool insulation offered for log homes have been infused with borates for increased log rot resistance while being safe for humans and animals. Wool insulation typically comes in two different styles: wool ropes and wool batts.

The U.S. Department of Energy lists Sheep's Wool Batting with an R Value of about 3.5 per inch.

So, if you are looking to build with natural products that leave a minimal carbon footprint, you might think about letting the sheep help you insulate your home!

Stoke 'um with Oakum

Have you ever heard of oakum? Do you have any idea what it is? If you are restoring an old log home, listen up!

Oakum or "jute", has been used in log building for more than a hundred years and works well as a filler because it is pliable, a good insulator, resists decay, and repels insects and rodents. 

Oakum is made from fibers derived from hemp or jute plants. Besides its function as insulation in log buildings, oakum has also been used historically for packing the joints between timbers in ship building. Many museums and historic sites use oakum today in order to keep as historically accurate as possible when choosing materials to restore antiquated buildings. If you don't have an old log house of your own, but would like to seek a vacation in one, the cabins at Itasca State Park are one option in Minnesota!


When using Oakum with products such as Log Jam, and Log Builder be sure to apply a bond breaker between the Oakum and the caulking or chinking product. Mylar tape or "packing tape" works well as a bond breaker. The bond breaker breaks the bond of the caulk or chinking material so that it will not stick to the Oakum and allows it to expand and contract without cracking.

True story: We had a local log builder come in and jokingly try to style the oakum strands as a new, Rastafarian coiffure. Although they looked pretty convincingly like dreadlocks, we would not recommend this application.

Iconic Logs: Chippewa National Forest HQ

If ever you find yourself in Cass Lake, MN, take a moment to hop off the main drag through town and visit the Chippewa National Forest Supervisor's Office. Like many of the historic log government buildings throughout the state and country, this impressive structure traces its history back to the Great Depression and work done by the CCC and WPA. The three-story log structure still serves its original purpose as office space for the forest supervisor and a visitor center for tourists.

As part of the New Deal to put Americans back to work, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC)'s Company 705, Pike Bay Camp, completed the building in 1935. From hand-hammered ironwork on the doors, to hand-scribed and notched 100-year-old pine logs, to unique steps and railing, to an impressive granite fireplace, the entire building is a piece of craftsmanship to behold.

The massive 50-foot tall fireplace/chimney in the center of the structure is made from 265 tons of local granite. The base footprint of the fireplace is 14'x14' and the building itself is composed of over 16,000 lineal feet of logs.

About 12 years ago, some log replacement and other restoration work was done on the historic landmark. Now it is coated with WeatherSeal Historic Brown, a popular stain color for many1920-1940 era buildings.

You can read a full account of the building at the Chippewa National Forest's website, or see more photos on our Facebook page.