Welcome back to the Summer Blog series! In this week’s installment, I’ll share some insight into one of the most important things you can do to ensure your logs stay healthy and that your cabin can be enjoyed for years and generations to come.
Because the exterior logs of your cabin are constantly exposed to the elements, they should be oiled every few years. Oiling your logs helps protect them, and, as a bonus, it also helps your logs look shiny and brand new again.
Step 1: Wash the logs & tape off the windows
First, brush off any spider webs or other debris from the logs. Then, using a pressure washer or a garden hose with a nozzle attachment, give the logs a good wash. You don’t need to use any soap, but you can use a scrub brush to help remove stubborn patches of dirt or grease. This helps ensure that the oil will soak into the logs. Now that your logs are sparkly clean, you’ll need to wait a day or two while they dry out. After you’re done washing the logs and your windows are dry, consider taping them off using plastic sheeting or trash bags and painter's tape. This will prevent oil from smearing around your windows.
Step 2: Maintenance Landscaping
While your logs dry out, take this time to pull weeds, weed eat, and trim tree branches. This helps keep critters away from your cabin, and helps prevent fires, especially during the hot, dry summer season.
Step 3: Gather your supplies
Safety gear
Oil might be great for your logs, but it’s not good for your lungs or skin! Wear safety goggles, a respirator, a Tyvek paint suit, nitrile gloves, a long shirt and long pants, and cover your hair with a baseball cap, bandana, or buff. Once you’re done oiling for the day, be sure to take a shower immediately to wash off any residue.
Equipment & oil mixture
Buy or rent an electric, airless paint sprayer or pump sprayer to apply the oil. To get the best results, mix 5 gallons of chevron shingle oil with 1 gallon of boiled linseed oil and 1 container of M1 mildewicide. This mixture treats and hydrates the logs, locks in shine, and prevents mold and mildew from growing.
Step 4: Spray the logs
Stand a few feet away from the logs and use sweeping, consistent strokes. Don’t forget to give the eves and the ends of your logs a healthy drink!
Step 5: Clean Up
Use paint thinner to clean out the sprayer before storing or returning it to the rental shop. Remove window coverings and use glass cleaner to wipe off any excess oil from the windows.
Step 6: Enjoy your hard work!
After oiling, you may notice a color variance in your logs. This is completely normal and is due to how logs are exposed to the elements. If one side of your cabin receives more sun, wind, or precipitation than a different side, you can expect different signs of weathering. Oil helps slow down the weathering process. Now that you’ve oiled your cabin, you can kick back and relax knowing that it is protected for years to come!
Spot the difference between these two photos!
Do you have any log maintenance tips? Share them in the comments below! Be sure to check back next week for our next post on landscaping tips.
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