MAINTENANCE

                The most important factor in log home maintenance is to seal the exterior with a high quality preservative.  The exterior of your log home should be sealed with an acceptable preservative before the construction is actually completed (see the previous section entitled “Exterior Preservative Application”).  A second coat of this preservative should be applied within three years.  After the second coat, reapplication may be neccessary every three to seven years.  Refer to the literature on exterior sealants you received with your log home as to the manufacturer’s recommendations and to other products available to maintain the exterior of your home.  Maintain your home according to the sealant manufacturer’s instructions.

                Another important aspect of home maintenance is to keep water away from the home.  Gutters should be installed to prevent large amounts of water from dripping onto the log walls.  Also, water should not be allowed to stand in the crawl space or around the exterior of the home near the foundation.  If you notice any areas of your log wall system with water infiltration, normally you can look to the exterior of that area and see the cause.  Chances are a gutter may be clogged, a roof overhang is not sufficient, or maybe your area experienced an abnormal amount of rain.