FAQ: How much does it cost to stain a log cabin? - De Kooktips - Homepage - Beginpagina (2024)

FAQs

How much does it cost to stain a log cabin? ›

Stain will come in right around $1600. Now the national average to apply log home stain in the nation currently sits around $1.30 a sq ft, so with labor costs you are coming in around $3,900. A top coat with application we do for $500. Leaving you with a grand total of $6000.

Be prepared — it's not uncommon to spend $15,000 to $25,000 to strip and re-stain a log home, depending on its size and region of the country.

As a general rule, you will need to stain your log home every 4 to 6 years, depending on the elements. Factors such as exposure to rain, sunlight, hail, wind, climate etc. will affect how often you home needs to be re-stained. South and West facing walls may require re-staining every 2 to 3 years.

While each log home is different, it takes approximately two to five weeks to restore your log home from start to finish. It typically takes this long due to drying time from washing the home, drying time in between coats of stain, and curing time for any caulking or chinking that needed to be done.

Simply put, the cost of a deck staining job is directly proportional to the deck's size. For this reason, most estimates are broken down to square footage -- generally speaking, deck staining itself runs about $2-$5 per square foot, sanding costs somewhere between $1-$3 per square foot, power washing around $0.15/sq.

Media blasting is usually the preferred method of stripping a log home. There are different materials that you can use for media blasting: Crushed Glass – Crushed glass is great because it does not hold moisture which could damage your logs.

The old stain makes for an unstable surface that will not readily accept new stain. In other words, the new stain won't stick to the logs. A log home in this condition needs to be blasted in order to bring back the beauty of the logs.

Removing them beforehand ensures your stain is adhering to and penetrating sound, solid wood. An aggressive power washing (sometimes with a chemical stripper to remove stubborn stains), hand sanding, or media blasting will all accomplish this.

Benefits of Staining a Log Cabin Exterior

The primary benefit of staining the exterior rather than applying log cabin paint is a stain's ability to allow logs to breathe. Log cabin paint will seal the logs completely, trapping any moisture that's already inside, leading to rot.

What time of day is best to stain wood? ›

Applying a deck stain in direct sun will cause the stain to dry to quickly and can result in premature stain failure. In the summer, stain your deck in the morning or evening so the deck surface isn't too hot. Remember, the surface temperature of the deck can be much hotter than the air temperature.

Wood Stain Drying Time

Depending on the type of stain you are using, most stains are dry and cured within 24 hours to 48 hours. After that time, it's safe for additional coats or to apply polyurethane or the sealer of your choice.

Stain Your Interior Log Walls to Protect Them

Untreated wood will degrade over time. If left alone, it will rot to the point where it falls apart and turns into mulch.

So to recap, the best complements to a log cabin interior include whites and saturated versions of colors such as yellow, blue, red, and green. The wood is enough of a neutral, and the addition of tans, beiges, or grays would be nothing but dreary.

Umber, Grey, and Pine Tone

The dark brown color like umber for the log siding creates a rustic and traditional log cabin style.

We always recommend two coats of stain for any wood project, but you should only apply as much stain as the wood can absorb. Extremely dense hardwoods may only be able to absorb one coat of wood stain. The general rule of thumb is to apply only as much deck stain as the wood can absorb.

You'll pay between $0.50 and $1 per square foot for a simple re-staining.

The best exterior stain for log homes are oil or water-based products that saturate wood pores to prevent water penetration. They typically contain a drying oil or resin in a transparent or semitransparent stain.

Log home stains are available in two general categories, water-based or oil-based.

What is the best stain remover for log homes? ›

StripIt Finish Remover for Log Homes is a water based, environmentally friendly stain and finish remover for use on log homes. StripIt is practically odor free, is non-flammable and biodegradable. Use StripIt to remove multiple coats of wood stain and finish.

Tips for Spray Staining a Log Home

Spray when the temperature is between 50 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Avoid spraying on days with high humidity or moisture in the air. Stir the stain as you use it to prevent the pigment from settling. Work one complete wall or area at a time for the most uniform color.

Chinking is the the flexible sealant used during your log home's construction or maintenance to seal joins between the logs, gaps, holes and checking.

You want to apply the stain when the wood surface and air are in the temperature range of 50° – 90°F. You also want to avoid the direct application of sunlight. Lastly, do not apply a stain if there is a forecast of rain in the following one to two days, or all your hard work could end up being washed away.

Can I stain on top of old stain? Yes! In fact, applying stain over stain is a fairly simple process. It works especially well if you're applying a dark stain over a lighter stain.

PolyShades® will work over stained wood (meaning it does not have a clear protective finish) or wood top-coated with a polyurethane-based finish. Proper surface preparation is necessary to ensure adhesion, so make sure you follow preparation tips provided in this Guide.

Without diligent and effective preparation, your refinished product is up against obstacles like dust, wax, existing stain or irregularities in the wood surface. Fight as you will – if you don't spend a bit of time making sure the wood surface is clean, your end result isn't going to live up to expectations.

If we are dealing with caked on or embedded dirt on a log wall, we use a product called OxiClean®. Diluted in water, this product does not leave a film behind if rinsed off thoroughly. OxiClean® can be purchased in many stores including your grocery store. Another cleaning solution we recommend is TSP mixed with water.

The Cons of Staining Wood

While some stains can last up to five years, postponing re-staining a wood surface for too long can cause the job to become more complex and labour intensive. Even decks that are stripped and re-stained will still require maintenance every couple of years.

Paint tends to last a little longer than most stains, coming in at around 8-12 years before you will likely have to repaint. Stain, on the other hand, typically has to be refinished every 5-10 years.

What woods look best stained? ›

Generally speaking, the more porous a wood is, the better it will take stain. Oak, for example, has very large pores so it will stain quite easily. Cedar is also well known for its ability to take stain. Other woods that are commonly used with stain include ash and chestnut.

Do not stain in direct sunlight. It will dry too quickly and cause the stain to become tacky. Follow the shadow of the sun and stain in the shade.

Most oil-based stains must dry for at least 12 hours before they are exposed to any moisture/rain; however, Ready Seal, if properly applied to prepped and dried wood, can get wet within a couple of hours, and it won't wash away. Oil-based stains will generally take 24-72 hours to fully cure.

While a 3 year shelf life is standard for most wood stains and finishes, some products have different recommendations. What is this?

With a staining brush, work both with the grain and against it. Don't worry about being neat; all that matters is getting a nice, even, liberal coat over the wood. Wipe the stain off immediately if you'd like a lighter tone. But for a deeper tone, leave the stain on the wood for 5 to 10 minutes before wiping it off.

Wood stain is intended to be wiped off immediately after application. If the wood stain remains on the wood, liquid solvents in the stain will evaporate, leaving sticky pigments behind that will never fully dry. To remove tacky wood stain, firmly scrub the piece with mineral spirits.

It's best to stay out of the house until the polyurethane is dry and the fumes have dissipated. Once it has dried, it is considered to be relatively safe and non-toxic. However, while it is still wet, it can release fumes that can be harmful to breathe.

The best way to prevent rot is to keep water out of your wood. This can be done by using a top notch exterior finish on your logs and log siding and regularly maintaining that finish per the manufacturer's directions. The key is maintaining that finish on a regular basis to keep water out.

Wood stain typically takes between 24-48 hours for it to dry, but make sure to check your wood stain of choice's directions so you know for sure how long to wait. Not waiting enough time for the wood stain to dry before applying the next coat will result in an uneven, blotchy finish.

Log homes can be very well insulated, no matter in cold or warm climates, if they are built well. Log homes are quite common in colder climates like Canada and Alaska, where there is no insulation added – it's just the logs.

How much does labor cost to stain a log home? ›

Stain will come in right around $1600. Now the national average to apply log home stain in the nation currently sits around $1.30 a sq ft, so with labor costs you are coming in around $3,900. A top coat with application we do for $500. Leaving you with a grand total of $6000.

Woodworkers often use mineral spirits before staining or painting, as it helps you spread a pigment over a surface easily. Pour a small portion of the mineral spirits onto the surface, then wipe along the wood grain to avoid making scratches or grooves.

Staining your log home on a regular basis is important to keep your logs protected and to make sure your log home looks it's best for years to come. Though it may not be noticeable, logs do get dirty and can develop mildew if not properly maintained.

Stain is often cheaper to purchase than paint. It is easier to apply stain, as well as to re-coat surfaces that need a touch up. Stain is quicker to apply than paint, because you don't always need to prime surfaces first. It also only usually needs one coat.

Light Brown

Many shades of brown are suitable for log cabin exteriors, but light brown tends to offer more design potential than other similar shades. Light brown captures a natural tone, which perfectly fits the architectural format of a log cabin.

Colours such as white and cream can really open a log cabin up, making it appear brighter and more inviting. These colours also enhance the feeling of space, helping to make a log cabin look bigger than it may actually be.

As a general rule, you will need to stain your log home every 3 to 7 years, depending on the elements. Elemental factors include exposure to rain, sunlight, hail, wind, climate, and more. How often should I stain the logs of my cabin?

Oil-based stains are the best wood stain for furniture or any large wood surface because of the slower drying time, which gives the piece a more even finish. Oil-based stains tend to penetrate deeper, leaving behind a richer color that is easy to refresh by applying another coat.

There are a variety of different wood stains on the market today, but we recommend using a dark stain. A dark brown will help the distressing really stand out and make your project look aged. But too dark, and the wood won't look natural anymore.

Paint lasts longer.

Oil-based paints offer the best protection from moisture, whereas latex paints provide the best defense against UV-related fading. Stain finishes on decks are more short-lived, lasting from one to eight years before requiring re-application.

Is it better to stain wood with a brush or rag? ›

The best way to apply stain is with a lint free rag and wiping it into the grain of the wood. Using a lint free rag is the best way to apply wood stain because it is great for controlling the amount of stain that is applied and for removing any excess stain.

The Cons of Staining Wood

While some stains can last up to five years, postponing re-staining a wood surface for too long can cause the job to become more complex and labour intensive. Even decks that are stripped and re-stained will still require maintenance every couple of years.