Log homes are truly pieces of art and if you are like most log home buyers, builders, or dreamers, you’ll want to protect it and your wallet. In this article we are going to share with you the most common log home problems and how to best avoid them.
1. Moisture problems in log homes.
Rain, snow, humidity, and damp places all cause moisture damage. Wood and moisture are not friends. Moisture can result in log rot, water stains, fungus, and mold. Moisture is one of the quickest destroyers of log homes and one of the easiest to prevent.
How to prevent moisture damage in your log home.
- Avoid planting bushes or plants close to walls. Plants and bushes naturally attract moisture and if to close to log walls, will cause moisture damage. We recommend keeping all plants and bushes at least 6 feet away from your walls.
- Divert rain using gutters, overhangs, and trenches. If a log home is not protected, rain can cause huge problems. Using gutters and overhangs will help keep the water away from your walls and windows.
- Maintain your log home’s sealing. It is extremely important to maintain your log home by cleaning it, staining it, and fixing chinking. Check around windows and other locations for caulk that might need to be replaced to prevent moisture from coming in.
- Protect from ground moisture. If you log home is close to the ground, then rains can splash, dirt can collect, and moisture will cause moss, fungus, mold, and rot. We recommend having a foundation that is approximately 2 feet in height and well drained. It is also a good idea to clean the bottom logs periodically to remove any moss or dirt that might collect.
2. Insects and critter problems in log homes.
Insects and critters tend to love our log homes just as much as we do. Insects such as beetles, termites, carpenter ants, and carpenter bees eat wood and live in it. Most of these, like carpenter bees will drill small holes inside logs and the wood around doors, windows, and the eaves. Critters such as woodpeckers, squirrels, mice, and racoons can do just as much damage to log homes as insects. Here is how to prevent and solve insect/critter problems.
Insects
Most insects are drawn to wet or rotten wood. Keep dead or rotten wood away from your log home. This means use stone instead of mulch near your cabin, do not stack firewood near your cabin, keep dead trees away from your cabin, and keep bushes and other plants at least 6 feet from your log home. Carpenter bees are a huge problem and can cause plenty of damage. To kill carpenter bees and prevent them from causing more damage, we recommend using this. Blondies Bee Kit For Carpenter Bees.For ants and other insects us NBS 30
Critters
Woodpeckers have a reputation for pounding holes into our beloved log cabins. They peck to find insects and for mating purposes. To keep woodpeckers away from your log home it is important to keep insects away from your cabin and to use fake owls to scare them away.
Raccoons love to scrummage through our garbage, enter through holes in eaves, and use the dog door. To keep these little critters from moving in, you want to inspect eaves, and other places that may be a hole of entrance for them. Do not leave dog food or cat food outside and if you have a doggy door, lock it when you can. We also recommend using a thick garbage can that you can lock. Raccoons love to move into places where there is a nice food source. Fish ponds near your cabin can be a big draw for racoons as well.
Squirrels love to raid our bird feeders and our homes given the chance. Squirrels can damage heating systems, wires, and the wood in our cabins. We recommend using a rotating bird feeder or keeping bird feeders away from your log home. This food source is an invite for them to move in. Keep trees and branches away from you log home. These little critters love to hop from tree to tree and if they can hop onto your roof, then there is a better chance that they will invite themselves in. We also recommend using a thick wire screen on vents to discourage them from entering this way.
3. UV Ray damage in log homes.
The ultraviolet radiation from the son (UV Rays) breakdown the outer surface of wood. This is the beginning process of rot as micro fungi will feed off of the damaged wood and increase the rot process.
How to prevent UV Ray damage in your log home.
In order to protect your log home from UV Ray damage we recommend creating shade on the sides of your house where the sun hits directly for logs periods. You can create shade using trees, overhangs, and decks with a shade cover. Also it is important to clean and keep your stain up to date.
These are the most common problems that people face with log homes. By staying on top of these problems, you will ensure your log home last many years.
Having any problems with your log home? Let us know in the comments!
