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Log Home Services
We provide log home services for the interior, exterior, and structural elements of your log home. All services are done in house by seasoned professionals. We never use sub-contractors or hire out jobs. All work done by Rocky Road Inc is done right the first time. We are so sure of it, we guarantee our craftsmanship.
Media Blasting
The first step in log home restoration is carefully stripping damaged logs from the abuse of weather, age, neglect, or natural disaster. We will assess your log homes condition and adjust the abrasive media process, to provide a properly prepared log surface. Our knowledge and experience allows us to find the most minimally invasive methods with the best results to maintain the character of your log home. Media blasting is a process that uses compressed/ pressurized air to push abrasive material out of a nozzle. The three most common abrasive materials used in media blasting log homes; are, crushed glass, corn-cob, and walnut shell. Other medias used under special circumstance include garnet and baking soda. Abrasives come in different mesh (commonly referred to as grit sizes). The mesh (size) is just as important as the media chosen. All of which are environmentally safe. Often we opt to use crushed glass media of varying mesh, due to its inability to damage logs (when used correctly), if any excess becomes lodged in cracks. If you are unsure of the stain product currently on your home, media blasting is often the best way to properly prepare your logs surface to accept your new stain. Painted log homes usually warrant stripping the logs of their paint due to moisture entrapment.
Sanding & Osborn Brushing
Proper surface preparation is key to ensuring product adhesion. We will carefully assess your homes surfaces and formulate a plan to polish logs and other surfaces to a smooth finish; while still maintaining the character of your logs and wood. Sanding is most often suited for smoothing rough sawn timbers, trim, soffit, and facia. Osborn brushing is typically the best preparation method for logs post media blasting. Osborn brushing logs, polishes them and removes splintering, felting, and/or mill glaze. A surface too smooth will reject stain due to the grain being closed; and a surface too rough will absorb stain unevenly and in excess which leads to premature failure.
Staining
When a home is stained correctly, it can look and function exceptionally well for years. Staining starts with choosing a product of the highest quality. We have done the research and have the knowledge to carefully pick the stain and chink products we recommend to our customers. Most applications utilize use of airless sprayers to penetrate wood grain quickly. Vigorous back brushing is important to ensure all nooks and crannies receive even product coverage.
Chinking
Chinking material and application has evolved a great deal over the past 100 years. Early log homes used whatever they could find to fill the gaps. Moss, mud, and wool were common filler materials for log joints. Around the 1950’s-1980’s concrete chinking was the preferred choice of material. Failure of concrete chink is common. Cracking, buckling, and chipping of concrete chink is seen in most homes it remains. These problems can lead to moisture and unwanted pests entering the home. The biggest problem with concrete chinking is it’s inability to flex with the movement a log cabin will experience over its lifetime. Log homes, no matter how well built, or what adhesive is used between logs, will need chinking or sealant work at some point in its life. Modern day chinking is a flexible synthetic material used to seal joints of a log home. It is important to choose a high quality product which has been tested for the conditions of your environment. Not only is the product you choose important; but how it’s applied. Chinking and sealant need to be applied in a way that allows the product to stretch without failure. This means a good chink line is well sealed on the top and bottom, and the ‘whips, lips, and dips’ are kept to a minimum. A properly chinked line has a slight D shape to allow for the expansion and contraction log homes will experience throughout their lives. Most areas which meet log need to be chinked and sealed for this reason. Applying chinking and sealant in less than favorable conditions can lead to premature failure and allow moisture and pests to enter the logs and the home.
Fungi & Insect Mitigation
An effective and safe method of fungi and insect mitigation is the use of boron salts, also known as borate treatments. Borate treatments come in powder, liquid, or solid; and can be applied in various forms. Some of these include borate rod installation, surface application, foam gun, powder, and dip/ drench (which is primarily used in new construction of log homes). The application method chosen is based upon factors such as what its combating, where its being used, and the longevity of application. Logs can be susceptible to insects that feed off cellulose and nutrients in wood, so it is important to protect your logs inside and out.
Scientifically speaking, borate treatments disrupt the cellular production of enzymes that allow fungi to extract nutrients from wood; or, disrupt an insects ability to digest wood cellulose (note that different methods need to be used with insects which do not ingest wood cellulose) . Disodium octaborate tetrahydrate is the most commonly used borate for this application.
Rocky Road Log Home Restoration and Finishing is committed to log home longevity and integrity and will assess, create, and initiate a customized mitigation plan for your homes specific needs.
Caulking Checks
You likely will see and/or hear cracking in your logs regardless of the age of your home. New homes typically crack more than older ones because aged homes have usually had more time to dry in. Log homes which don't maintain acceptable humidity and temperatures or are located in arid or dry climates are also more susceptible to cracking .When these horizontal cracks occur, they are called checks. Vertical checking of horizontal logs and horizontal checking of vertical logs can indicate problems with settling, engineering, build, and load issues.
Upward facing checks, most checks bigger than pinky width, and deep checks need to be filled with a log specific textured or smooth caulk. This material is very similar to chinking, however it is ideal for smaller joints and cracks more prone to movement. Homes in high wind areas often need smaller checks filled as well due to wind and snow infiltration. Before exterior checks are filled, they need to be backed by closed cell backer of suitable size so future failure is not an issue. Checking can leave your home susceptible to heat loss, pests, and moisture.
Log Home Assessments
Weather you have a log home you are looking to purchase, just purchased, have owned for years, or have recently completed construction of; a log home assessment should be on your check list. Logs settle over time and often times the inferior products of the past are just not as effective as they once were. Leaving your logs susceptible to the elements and pests can cause long term damage to your home. You can avoid costly repairs down the road if you plan ahead.
Newly constructed log homes have their own array of issues as well.
Thermal imaging and moisture meters can help examine your log home, however our log home restoration experience and time in the trades industry is the best tool for assessing your log home. We will do an in depth inspection of your log homes needs and provide options on how to remedy issues found.
Chemical Stripping
This method is reserved to be used either in conjunction with media blasting (to loosen stubborn paints and stains prior to blasting), or as a stand alone stripping process which often needs to be followed by a neutralizer. Chemical stripping is not often recommended due to its corrosive properties. It can damage plant life, surrounding surfaces, and often leaves residue behind which can cause logs to reject future waterproofing applications. This option is not environmentally responsible in most situations which is why it is reserved as a last option.
Log Washing
Both inside and out, log washing is often an overlooked aspect of log home maintenance. Logs are prone to holding dust and debris and over time, these elements can break down stains and dirty up chink; leaving you with a dingy home. Washing logs with a Ph neutral solution is an easy way to save you costly future maintenance. Log washing is also the best precursor to a simple stain maintenance coat.
Log Replacement & Repair
Log homes are prone to rot. We investigate the cause of damaged logs and remedy issues accordingly. It is important to locate the source leading to log damage or the problem is left to persist, causing future damage. As an active board member of International Log Builders Preservation Committee, we are collaborating with some of the best professionals in the industry, and setting standards worldwide for log home preservation and restoration.
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