Schroeder Log Blog

Iconic Logs: Staten Island Chuck's Log Cabin

2012-02-02T11:00:00.000-06:00

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

2012-02-01T11:52:00.009-06:00

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?

2012-01-25T11:01:00.002-06:00

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

2012-01-20T09:16:00.003-06:00

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

2012-01-18T14:01:00.001-06:00

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.

Iconic Logs: Civil War Shelters

2012-01-13T10:29:00.004-06:00

Many of the historic log cabins scattered around this great nation date back to the decades surrounding the American Civil War. There are plenty of stories and photographs capturing the role log cabins played in the Civil War, and here is one letter that references a log cabin's part in this man's experience. From Jacob Bartmess of the 39th Indiana Volunteer Infantry, 8th Calvary, Co. C, an 1864 letter to his young son:

New Years day. '64.

Well my little boy Elliott.

Pappy thought that he would write his little boy a little letter. I am in a little house made of little logs, this little house has a little fire place in it, and this cold day pappy keeps a big fire. I just got done browning some rye for to make coffee, the men does not give us quite coffee enough to do us here. Pappy gets his own dinner, and supper and breakfast. I cook meat make coffee and good gravy and sometimes bake corn cakes, we pound our coffee in a tin instead of grinding it on a coffee mill.
never mind wait till pappy gets home and we will show mother how to cook and make gravy.
Elliott dont you think the men wanted me to go away off with my mule team through the mud and rain and cold, and there was another man went in my place and let me stay in my little house by the fire, dont you think that he was a good man for going in my place.
there is a great big river here lots wider than clear across grandmothers orchard
pappy washed his shirt and drawers today.
Elliott you must be a good boy. pappy will come home after a while.
from your pappy
J. W Bartmess
to his Elliott.

Log cabins and homes are an important part of our nation's rich history, and should be restored and preserved for future generations to understand our past and bring that understanding forward into the future.

Source: Carmony, Donald F. (June, 1956). "Jacob W. Barmess Civil War Letters." Indiana Magazine of History, Volume 52, Issue 2, pp 157-186. Retrieved from http://www.indiana.edu/~imaghist/online_content/vcsfrmpst/voices_cvlwr/index.html

*The photo is of a cabin in southern Minnesota, and is no way connected to the story, other than the style and era in which it was built.

The Legacy of Logs

2012-01-10T13:43:00.008-06:00

There are many do-it-yourselfers out there taking it upon themselves to learn the craft of log building to create their own home, cabin, garden shed or playhouse. If you are tackling such a project and have a family, don't hesitate to getting them involved! While building with logs together, you will also build character, memories, relationship and a certain legacy that cannot be valued.

Sure, your six-year-old isn't going to be tossing any logs around or working the chainsaw (we hope), but there are plenty of little jobs like brushing off sawdust, picking up wood scraps, or supervising a log scribe, like the dashing young man in the picture above (And yes, the author is biased).

If you are working on plans to build something of log, you might want to join up with the members of the Great Lakes Log Crafters Association to be a part of a network of experienced professionals. Also, check out this blog for stories from a family who has had one of these great cabin-building experiences of their own.

In a modern world of flat screens, video games, text messages and iPods, there is all the greater need for hands-on work experiences outdoors to create a memory that is not simply stored on a microchip. Even if a new house isn't in order, think about building a log playhouse, shed or log furniture and get the family involved. There is no better heirloom than one built together and fully scribed with memories.

Iconic Logs: Jack London's Cabin

2012-01-09T12:45:00.006-06:00

White Fang, The Call of the Wild, To Build a Fire...these are definitive novels of the American and Canadian wilderness that give us all a taste of the wild frontier of yesteryear. Many of Jack London's adventurous texts were written from this very log cabin, built on his mining claim in Dawson City of the Yukon Territory. To preserve the structure and make it more accessible to the public, a team went in and retrieved the cabin in 1969. Since the cabin has interests on both American and Canadian soil, it was broken into two buildings and reconstructed so that each of the twins have half of the original logs. One stands near its original location in Dawson City, Yukon Territory. The other, which is pictured, is in Jack London Square in Oakland, California.

Inscribed inside the back of the cabin was carved "Jack London, Miner, Author, Jan. 27, 1898," until the slab was removed in the 40's by Jack MacKenzie, the last man to deliver mail by dogsled. The building could use some restoration and maintenance, but it is in remarkable condition for sitting in the wilderness for 70+ years and outside in California for 30+ more!

Jack London's Klondike cabin is one of many example of how the log cabin is the home of the adventurous American spirit. From Native American Chief Seattle to author Jack London to President Lincoln to author Laura Ingalls Wilder to Yellowstone's Old Faithful Inn, America's spirit is stacked with logs. Log cabins inspire literature, adventurism, and connection to nature.

“I would rather be ashes than dust! I would rather that my spark should burn out in a brilliant blaze than it should be stifled by dry-rot. I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet. The function of man is to live, not to exist. I shall not waste my days trying to prolong them. I shall use my time.”
-Jack London in The Bulletin, San Francisco, California, December 2, 1916, part 2, p. 1

“Deep in the forest a call was sounding, and as often as he heard this call, mysteriously thrilling and luring, he felt compelled to turn his back upon the fire and the beaten earth around it, and to plunge into the forest, and on and on, he knew not where or why; nor did he wonder where or why, the call sounding imperiously, deep in the forest.”
― Jack London, The Call of the Wild

View the entire story of the Jack London cabin here.

Breathe with Caution...

2012-01-06T10:12:00.008-06:00

There is an increasing trend of people discovering old log cabins and restoring them to give a new purpose as a garden shed, guest house, or a cozy retreat of some other fashion. Restoring an old log cabin is fulfilling and the final results rewarding; but there are some potential hazards of which one should be aware. One of these hazards is downright batty.

Before heralding the terror of bats (there are plenty of people doing that already), it should be noted that far too often bats are unfairly persecuted. In truth, they are a valuable neighbor to have as a benevolent predator of insects. Like any creature of the wild, they should be appreciated from a distance; Yet, they are universally difficult to appreciate when they don't keep their distance. They will find their way into the rafters and crevices of an inhabited home, but abandoned structures are particularly appealing. For this reason, they are likely to be encountered when restoring an antiquated, abandoned log cabin. Bats carry a small risk of rabies, but perhaps the larger hazard isn't the bats themselves. Rather, the hazard is in what they leave behind.

Besides staining and damaging the wood, years of accumulated guano and urine can cause serious health concerns for humans entering abandoned structures. Bat droppings, or guano, can host a variety of microorganisms and some of these, like histoplasmosis, are pathogens. Pathogens from guano and ammonia from urine can both cause serious damage to human lungs, therefore be advised to wear respiratory protection when entering these old buildings. Guano can pile inches and even feet deep, and urine can accumulate to stalactites that are multiple inches long. If the accumulation is significant, it may be best to hire a local professional.

When it comes to keeping bats out of your home, log or stick-built, new or old, exclusion is the best policy. This includes closing major entry points in the eaves and rafters and using a good log home caulking to seal the smallest of entry points. Keep in mind, bats can squeeze through a crack as small as 1/4 inch! Sealing entry points can be done by the homeowner, but hiring an experienced professional has benefits. Send a message here for a localized referral. Find more information on bats through the University of Minnesota Extension.

Disclaimer: These tips are provided for general user information purposes. Exposure to bat infested environments carry certain risks, which Schroeder Log Home Supply assumes no responsibility. Consult a local professional or extension office for further guidance.

Photo from the US Fish & Wildlife Service at http://www.fws.gov/chesapeakebay/Newsletter/Summer05/Bats/Bugzapper.htm

Ax Strokes to Brush Strokes

2012-01-03T12:30:00.017-06:00

I went to the Minneapolis Institute of Art and this painting, The Girl from Älvdalen by Swedish Artist Anders Zorn, jumped out at me. I noticed the little log cabin tucked away in the foliage of the background. Obscured by trees and distance, the home is built with just a few strokes of paint, and yet it is immediately recognizable as a log cabin.

There is definitely an art form to building log homes, and a log home is a masterpiece of its own, created with each stroke of the builder's ax, adze or chainsaw. In addition to the wooden structures being fine art of their own standing, it's great to see all of the places that log cabins and log homes are recreated throughout art history. America's art is full of depictions of pioneer life and country living that feature log cabins as a central subject or a scenic element. Whether painted with detail or distortion, a log home is instantly recognizable in art and it summons a calming nature of being at home.

New Year, Old Logs

2011-12-27T11:37:00.027-06:00

At the risk of sounding sappy, I am going out on a limb to offer without apology another sentimental perspective of log homes.

As the New Year approaches and I look at photos I've taken of historic log buildings, I am touched by the significance log homes have regarding time and encapsulated stories- not only the cabins themselves, but also the individual logs they are made of.

Log cabins, whether newly built or 200 years old, have a nostalgia that brings us back to simpler times. Every log building has its story- be it a new log home that is the realization of a couple's dream or a small log cabin that has watched the passing of decades and centuries. Every log building has its story, but every log within that building also has its tale. The log home might be settling-and-shrinking new, or it might be 200 years old, but whatever the life of the home is, the logs are likely 50-200 years older. Take a moment to look at the logs in your home. Each ring represents a year in that tree's life, each knot is a limb that it had. Each ridge of texture was the stroke of a drawknife, axe or adze, and each notch was carefully scribed, cut and perfected by a skilled craftsman. Even on a milled log home, the surface of the log was at one point passed over by a blade and inspected by a wood professional.

If the home has a stone fireplace or masonry accents, there's a whole new pile of stories. The stones have a history thousands of years older and a story possibly even more impressive than the logs. Those rocks were once molten lava, then broken up by the movement of glaciers, thousands of years later selected and split by a mason, and finally fit precisely into the final, artistic monument.

Next time you are passing some time enjoying your log home, or next time you walk into an historic log cabin, take a moment to ponder the life of the logs and the life of the structure and appreciate all that a log home is. Look at the logs and think about how each started as a seedling. Each grew large and provided food and shelter for countless birds and animals. Each knot on that log was once a limb that may have held an eagle or a porcupine. At some point, someone- a lonely pioneer or a modern logger -came along, selected that tree, and cut it down. The limbs were removed, the bark was peeled, the logs were cut. Each log was cut, measured and scribed to fit in the structure and nestle on top of the log below it. Once sweat and strain erected the building, an individual, a couple, or a family moved in and called it home. A log home is the perfect intersection of natural occurrences and human productivity; the place where the concentric, chronological ripples of trees and people intersect. A log home is not just a building; it is a cozy testimony of time.

From the quaint birthplace of Abraham Lincoln, to the impressive Old Faithful Inn, there are hundreds of log buildings scattered around the country that are rich with stories they've acquired through time. The story of each building is extended even farther into time with the story of each tree and rock that was used to build it; from pioneers erecting a quick log cabin shelter to engineers carefully planning a massive, log tourist destination. Take some time to look at your log home or the log cabins around you. How many years have they seen pass? What is their story?

First photo is the log cabin at Traverse des Sioux historical site in Saint Peter, MN, before its restoration.
Second photo is the fireplace at the Chippewa National Forest Supervisor's Office in Cass Lake, MN.

A Log Cabin Christmas

2011-12-12T15:35:00.032-06:00

Of course I am biased, but I don't think there is any structure that illustrates a traditional, American Christmas better than a seasonally decorated log home. The Christmas tree, cedar boughs, and green garland complement a rustic log structures' unique grains, knots, and natural wood character.

What makes the setting even more idyllic is a flickering fireplace in the picture adorned with stockings and candles. Perhaps it's the logs' nostalgic connection to the heritage of our nation, or maybe it's a reminder of the humble, rustic setting of the First Christmas with the Savior's birth in the stable; maybe it is the certain coziness about log homes fending off winter's chills (provided the cracks and joints are sealed well!). Whatever it is that summons the semantics, Christmas and log homes are practically made for each other.

Indeed, there is even an illustrated book with the title The Log Cabin Christmas and a book of historical pioneer romances called A Log Cabin Christmas. One of the frontier's favorite authors, Laura Ingalls Wilder, even talks about the pioneer Christmas in Little House in the Big Woods. There is a great children's adaptation with illustrations of it called Christmas in the Big Woods. Log homes and a traditional American Christmas both have close ties to the forest. From cutting down one's own Christmas tree and cedar boughs, to choosing a yule log, to traveling "over the river and through the woods to Grandmother's house we go," there is no denying that a traditional Christmas is best presented in a rustic scene.

There is an historic log church in Coleraine, MN, and for years it has been tradition to have an annual Christmas in the Country concert of carols, folk tunes and bluegrass music which would make the window sill candles and audience's hearts dance together with nostalgia. The money raised from each concert goes into the preservation fund to keep the treasure in its grandeur. An Internet search yields many other log churches around the nation that also host special Christmas services, programs and concerts within their sanctified log walls. In Grand Marais, MN, a musical artist hosts a series of Log Cabin Concerts in his own home. Michael Monroe and his Log Cabin Concerts are a great way to experience folk music infused with a rustic log setting, even if you don't live in a log home of your own. Search the regional news and events, and you will see log buildings old and new all over the nation that host holiday events in their country charm.

Whether it's spent in a log home, a log cabin concert, or trip over the river and through the woods, I hope you find a way to connect with the nostalgic and rustic side of this holiday season. Have a very merry log cabin Christmas from us at Schroeder Log Home Supply.

Photo retrieved from http://publicdomainclip-art.blogspot.com/2009/01/log-cabin-in-winter.html

Building on Your Own

2011-10-11T08:32:00.005-05:00

Are you building your own log home or cabin and looking for guidance? Of course, it is always best to leave the craftsmanship to a professional, but there are many do-in-yourselfers who like to take on the project and build your own. In doing so, it is easy to make mistakes and get lost in the steps of construction. Researching books and videos can certainly help, but having access to experienced builders is well worth the time. One way to be part of a brotherhood of builders to share information, techniques, and ideas is to join a log builders' association. Consider joining the Great Lakes Log Crafters Association and be a part of a group of builders who are there as a support system to share centuries of knowledge of the craft of log building.

http://www.gllca.org/contactus.shtml#

Prevention is simple! ...Restoration takes some effort.

2011-05-10T14:48:00.008-05:00

by John Schroeder
Log homes are classic and cozy and any potential problems can be greatly reduced in good planning and design. Keep the bottom log a minimum of two feet above the ground and keep all of the log ends well-protected. Otherwise, situations like in these two photos could happen. The building is sitting at ground level, it has logs jutting out well past the roof line, and there are practically no eaves and no gutters. It's a recipe for rot.

Prevention is simple! Restoration takes some effort. The exposed logs absorb rain and melting snow. The ground-level logs also get ground moisture and splashback from ground proximity and a lack of eaves. The result is quick decay. Building longer eaves with gutters, trimming back the logs to keep them covered, and stacking the logs on a higher foundation would have prevented this issue. Prevention is simple! Restoration takes some effort.

Is it too late for "prevention?" Do you have a situation like this that needs repair? Call 1-800-359-6614 for a referral to a professional restoration contractor in your area or visit this page for DIY tips.

A Log Home Inspection

2011-04-16T11:37:00.009-05:00

Some friends of mine, a young couple, are looking at purchasing a log home in the area. It's a nice home with a very appealing design. Unfortunately, it has a few issues to take care of before closing. Some of the log ends have deteriorated and will need repair. Many of the ends are sticking out far, even past the eaves. It's a perfect example of how gutters, log eaves, well-stained log ends, and caulking on upward-facing checks could have gone a long way to prevent headaches down the road. The existing problems are repairable, but protecting the log ends better would have prevented them altogether.

For the areas where there is enough sound wood that replacement isn't necessary, repair will include flooding the rotted wood with borates like Penetreat to kill rot, filling the void with WoodEpox, and finding ways to keep water out of the log in the future. Preventing future rot includes keeping the logs underneath the overhang (even if that includes trimming them back), caulking upward-facing cracks, and soaking the ends with a log home stain that will keep water out while maintaining the log's ability to breathe. Go here for more tips on log repair.

The Log Home Maintenance Slides

2011-04-15T12:38:00.001-05:00

Log Home Maintenance Slides

View more presentations from John Schroeder

Chinking Log Homes Overview Video

2011-04-15T11:15:00.001-05:00

Tips for Cleaning

2011-04-15T11:09:00.003-05:00

A Suggestion For Applying Cleaners
Mix the materials thoroughly in a pail or sprayer. Wet down the logs with cleaner from the bottom working upward. This is done so that any material running down will be onto a wet surface so that streaking is prevented or minimized. Wet down only the area that you will work in the following hour. If heavily weathered areas exist, scrub in and then rinse. Residues could cause adhesion problems with some cleaners. Many prefer to use a pressure washer to rinse and scrub. If you choose to use one, a 500-1500 psi washer is sufficient in most cases.

Oxalic acids like New Log Prep leave more color in the wood while chlorine bleach can blond the wood. If this happens, you may need to apply a pigmented finish to re-color the wood.

Oxalic acid mixtures will also help remove iron stains. (See New Log Prep) This material leaves more of a golden color to the wood. Use an oxalic acid based cleaner if you will be finishing your logs with a solvent-based or water based finish, make sure the cleaner is thoroughly rinsed off.

Neutralize the bleach with clear water, or the salts in the bleach could remain to feed future fungi.

Use a more diluted mixture on softer, more porous woods like cedar. Example Use a mixture of 1 part bleach to 5 parts water. On heavily weathered wood, you may need to use a 1:3 mixture.

If you choose to use TSP as a cleaner and use it in heavy amounts, it can pull out the reddish undertones in Red Pine (Norway Pine). This red undertone can react with yellow finishes to give stains more of an orange appearance.

How to Power Wash Logs

2011-04-15T10:07:00.007-05:00

Power Wash Only The Exterior
The interior surfaces are not critical, since they see no exposure to extreme weather. To avoid damage to interior areas, power wash the logs in the yard before they are shipped to the job site. If it is not possible to clean the logs in the yard, it should be done early in the construction cycle at the job site.

Use A 1500 PSI Power Washer
Extremely high pressure is not necessary since you run the risk of tearing up the surface and leaving it with a "fuzzy" or "hairy" condition. This will not hurt the performance of the stain, but the appearance can be objectionable and can be buffed off with an Osborn Buffing Brush.

Use A Low-foaming Detergent
The detergent will assist the high pressure water in loosening and lifting all surface residues. Use hot water. Then rinse with cold water to flush any detergent from the surface. A garden hose works well for this.

Use A Fan Spray Nozzle
Apply the water at an angle so it does not spray back into your face (be sure to wear safety goggles). Hold the nozzle at a distance, just far enough away from the surface to avoid "fuzzing" up the outer layer of wood. At this distance, the water and detergent will impact the wood with tremendous force and will remove virtually all residues, as well as creating considerable micro-roughening of the surface for enhanced stain penetration.

Apply The Finishing Touches
If you will be applying PeneTreat, apply it once the logs have become slightly damp after cleaning. Caulking the checks and cracks may be done at any time after the cleaning operation is complete and the logs are dry.

Note: The most effective method for removing mill glaze and roughening the surface is cob or sand blasting. But for many, this approach is too expensive or impractical. If this is the case, power washing or sanding the logs will remove the mill glaze.

Cleaning Logs

2011-04-15T10:01:00.004-05:00

How do I clean my logs?
1. Exterior Cleaning Lightly cob blast, sandblast, sand, or pressure wash (the most often used method) new logs.

Why should you power wash new logs? As is true for most any job, proper preparation is as important as doing the actual job. This is certainly true for properly preparing the exterior surface of logs before applying stain to them. The leftover mill glaze* must be removed, and the surface should be slightly roughened to allow the stain to penetrate as deeply as possible. *Mill glaze is the stain-repelling film leftover from shaping the logs in the processing mill. One way to understand the importance of this step is to realize that it is very rare to ever have any failure of a coating applied to the cut end of a log. The log end is extremely rough in texture, and the coating has ample opportunity to penetrate and establish optimum adhesion. The goal of power washing is to stimulate the texture without dramatically affecting the log’s appearance.

When pressure washing, we suggest you used one of these cleaning agents if you will be applying either a water-based or oil-based finish: CPR, New Log Prep, X-180 Weathered Wood Restorer, or Bleach & Water: A mixture of one part household bleach and five parts water, plus one tablespoon TSP (Tri-sodium phosphate) per gallon (optional). Note: Log Maintenance Wash is best for cleaning logs that already have a finish.

Bleach is a corrosive chemical irritant that can damage surfaces like skin and fabric. Never mix bleach and ammonia for any reason, the results can be fatal. Also, it is not recommended to mix bleach with other household cleaners that may contain ammonia or to mix bleach with vinegar. Vinegar and bleach will create a chlorine gas that is a toxic health risk.

Do not use household bleach as a cleaning agent for deck lumber that was treated with CCA (chromated copper arsenate) or more commonly known as "pressure treated lumber". This type of treated lumber was removed from the market by 2003. If your deck or landscaping timbers were made from this lumber, use an oxygen bleach like KleenStart Wood Cleaner instead of household chlorine bleach. Chlorine bleach when combined with CCA forms highly toxic chromium and arsenic compounds.

Apply cleaning agents from the bottom and work up. This will avoid streaking of the logs. Allow agent to stand 10-15 minutes before power washing. Rinse thoroughly. Allow to dry 3-7 days depending on drying conditions before applying stain.

Be sure to thoroughly rinse the cleaning agent and allow the log surfaces to completely dry before applying a finish.

After cleaning, you will notice a woody pulp on the surface. This can be removed by hand with a 3-M stripping pad or a quicker method is using an Osborn Buffing Brush on an angle grinder or car buffer. Usually two brushes are required for a house. If you did not use a sap-stain control, you may notice sap-stain, a blue, red, or brown coloration deep in the wood. These are permanent stains and unfortunately can not be removed.

2. Interior Cleaning on the inside may be more messy than on the outside, if the house is already furnished. A general dusting may work, but to actually clean the logs, a sponge saturated with a bleach and water combination may be used. The logs will need to be rinsed, hence the messiness. A trough could be built to catch any of the dripping water when rinsing, or use another sponge with plain water. Otherwise, just a light sanding is necessary.