Over time, your log cabin can become exposed to water damage and rot. American Log Restoration Inc. offers log home restoration services to restore the durability and appearance of your cabin. Here is more information about sustainable practices in log cabin restoration:
Log Cabin Inspection
To begin the log home restoration process, perform an inspection of your cabin. Log cabin inspections allow you to check the status of your cabin and determine potential issues, such as damaged logs. Identifying potential problems early helps you engage in preventative or corrective measures to preserve your cabin. This helps prevent the need for more in-depth restoration measures.
Log cabin restoration companies offer professional inspections of your cabin to identify specific issues. During an inspection, the company can check the log walls, including the condition of logs under windows and close to the ground. These logs are more susceptible to water damage. Potential issues include:
- Cracking wood: This can occur as a result of age or moisture damage. Cracks in the logs allow insects to enter and impact the durability of the cabin. If left untreated, this can lead to the eventual collapse of the cabin.
- Gray wood: Soft, gray wood is a sign of log rot. Rot can happen after water intrusion. Tapping wood with a hammer allows the company to find hollow-sounding wood.
- Sawdust: Termites, ants, and beetles can infest the logs of the cabin. This includes carpenter ants. Insect activity damages the integrity of the wood, weakening it.
- Flaking caulk: During a cabin inspection, the company will check the condition of previously applied caulk or chinking. If it is deteriorating, the caulk should be reapplied. This helps prevent drafts.
American Log Restoration Inc. identifies these issues during inspections and clearly communicates the results of our assessments to our customers. We offer customized plans and estimates to address your cabin’s specific needs. Focusing on these issues during restoration allows us to prevent waste.
Log Repair
Sustainable practices help conserve current resources for the future. Log repair allows you to preserve more of the wood from the original structure, helping prevent the need for more logs. To treat minor rot, the damage is carved out, and the wood is treated with a solution of trisodium phosphate and borate or epoxy. The wood is then sealed to prevent additional damage.
To save logs experiencing moderate rot, the log cabin restoration company shaves off about 1.5 inches of wood. The company replaces the wood with a similar type of wood, matching it to the other logs. Wood epoxy and hidden screws hold the new wood in place.
Wood that has been severely damaged will need to be replaced. This helps to protect the structural integrity of your cabin. Sustainable practices include using a log cabin restoration company that protects and strengthens the logs around new logs to preserve them. American Log Restoration Inc. is able to replace damaged logs without damaging the surrounding logs.
Caulking and Chinking
Chinking and caulking materials help seal gaps and cracks in the cabin. These include gaps around windows and doors. Caulking and chinking help to prevent drafts and damage from water and insects, and it helps protect the wood from rot. Caulking and chinking help keep the cabin insulated. This allows for improved energy efficiency in the cabin. American Log Restoration Inc. provides professional caulk and chinking application services.
Caulking is used for gaps that are smaller than ¾ inches. Chinking is used for larger gaps. Quality caulking and chinking products have the flexibility to withstand the natural contractions and expansions of the wooden logs during temperature changes. Quality chinking has the ability to last for more than 20 years, protecting the integrity of the wood. Caulking and chinking products vary depending on the climate and type of wood.
Hybrid, acrylic, and mortar-based chinking products are available. Acrylic chinking offers additional flexibility, while hybrid chinking provides high-quality weather resistance. Mortar-based chinking provides a traditional design. We specialize in selecting appropriate caulking and chinking products for wood cabins.
Some companies utilize thermal imaging tools. A thermal imaging camera is able to take photos that identify loss and infiltration of hot and cool air. This allows the company to target specific draft areas when caulking and chinking the cabin, preventing waste of materials.
Begin Your Log Home Restoration
After completing the restoration, we offer our customers professional maintenance tips. Maintenance tips include ways to trap and prevent insect activity and cleaning logs to prevent pollen buildup. We provide the option of yearly follow-up visits to inspect your cabin. American Log Restoration Inc. is able to assist you with log home additions, such as half-log siding and log accents that can be applied to various elements in your home. To learn more about log home restoration and receive an estimate for our services, we invite you to fill out our online form today.