something inviting and reassuring about the
solid wood log construction. It is not
necessary to live in the country to have log
house. Should you plan to build a new house
instead of purchasing a pre-loved home, let
your mind run free. There are a lot of
different places in a city where a log home
would fit in beautifully. If you find a little rise
or a wooded area a ponderosa type house
is probably going to look marvellous.
Choosing to build new does not restrict your
imagination. Log houses are sold as kits.
There are hundreds if not thousands of
different designs to choose from. Or you can
build from raw materials if that is something
you just have to do. As with any other kind of
construction, you will want to select the
design with your lifestyle in mind. If you love
to entertain, find a floor plan that provides
you with a large comfortable living room and
a bar. Along with the large living room
maybe you would like frontier size porch. If
you work at home then the large bedroom /
office on the upper floor where you can
survey your domain may well be the top
choice.
The purchase of an existing log house can
present you with some unique challenges as
far as repairs go. Most newer log houses
(twenty years or younger) are log
construction of the outer walls only. The inner
partition walls are usually stud and drywall
construction. The partition walls may have
wood panelling for a finish. Some of the
unique challenges may be;
Rotting logs (usually on lower portion of
walls) As this happens the building sags on
that side. The process for repairing this is
multi-stepped. First a problem logs need to
be identified. Then the sound portion of the
wall must be carefully lifted with jacks and
stabilized. Now the damaged logs can be
removed and the areas that were in contact
with them can be treated to stop the spread
of the rot. The new logs can now be inserted
and secured. Make every effort to match the
existing log for size and species. Carefully
lower the original wall onto the new. Move
inside and repair any cracks created by the
process.
Weather staining This is usually the result
of poor maintenance. If the weather faces of
the logs are not treated with either oil or
some form of finish, they will bleach out on
the sunny sides of the house and may host a
fungus on the shaded sides. This will cause
dark coloring of those logs.
The process of correcting either of these
problems is similar. The surfaces must be
cleaned. You can carefully use a pressure
washer to peal the majority of the dirt and
moss off. Then a wire brush or sandpaper
will be needed to get the surface ready for
the application of a protective product. First
caulk the seams between the logs. Use a
product designed for this application. Now
apply a couple coats of your chosen finish
(follow the instructions on the container)
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