3 Reasons Why Logs Ain't Wood!!
You didn’t choose a home made with 2×4’s for a reason: any old wood just wouldn’t do. Each and every log has its own unique grain pattern, knots, and history, just as your home has its own unique design and memories connected to it.
Here are just three of the (very technical) reasons why logs are special.
LOGS GET VERY HOT
01.
Watch that Upper Curvature:
Throughout the year, the top curvature of round logs receives the full force of the sun at a 90° angle through much of the day. In the summer months when ambient temperatures are in the low 30’s, that upper curvature can exceed 77°C!
Conventional lumber, in contrast, usually gets hit by the sun at a much lesser angle that allows most of the sun’s energy to be reflected away. That surface on the same summer day might only reach 45°C – much cooler than logs. This is a primary reason you find the upper curvature of your logs stain fades faster than the bottom.
PRO TIP
VERY IMPORTANT:
TEMPERATURE: The surface of a log, especially the upper curvature gets very hot in the sun. Example: 32C outside= 77C degrees on the surface. This will flash the stain and it will not penetrate before drying. Use a laser thermometer to test first or DO NOT work with the sun at your back.
CLEAN YOUR LOGS: One of the most effective ways to extend the longevity of your stain is simply to clean off the logs each year. Dust sits on the upper curvature magnifying the suns energy and baking into the coating. Use a simple log cleaner/brightener each spring and a light pressure wash. You will often get an extra year or two out of the stain simply by keeping the logs clean.
LOGS MOVE....A LOT!
02.
Major difference between logs and dimensional lumber:
Wood of any kind undergoes significant movement in response to both moisture and temperature changes. In dimensional lumber like a 2×4, this results in twisting, cupping, warping, and occasionally cracking and splitting. Logs endure these same forces, but because they’re bigger, the effects are bigger, too.
Logs aren’t quite strong enough to endure these forces without breaking (something’s gotta give, right), so splits and checks develop to relieve the stress. The bigger the log, the bigger the internal stresses, which means more movement and larger checks and cracks.
LOGS CHECK AND CRACK
03.
Seal things up :
The moisture that soaks in through cracks and checks usually finds its way underneath whatever stain or paint is on the logs. Much of this moisture exits back out of the wood through the cracks and checks.
A good amount also exits (or attempts to exit) through the stain or paint. Thing is, stains and paints are stubborn. They don’t like the moisture trying to come out. Pressure builds up under the paint or stain and, over time, leads to flaking and peeling.
PRO TIP
SEAL YOUR CHECKS & CRACKS: But not all of them!!
For joints less than 1/4″, do not use caulking. Instead, be sure to back brush the stain into the check. This will provide better water protection than chink or caulking will for joints less than 1/4″
WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
THE RESULT.
There are huge differences between logs and dimensional lumber:
Whew! That’s a lot of technical stuff to simply say that it’s important to use products formulated specifically for logs.
Fact is, your log home is the culmination of years of dreaming and planning, backed by a bit (or maybe a lot!) of sweat equity. So why protect your home with products from a company who doesn’t know logs from a 2×4? At Sashco, we understand that Logs Ain’t Wood, which means a “good enough” mindset isn’t good enough. Sashco only makes high-performance products designed to keep your log home in dream-worthy, weatherproof condition. Why? To help prevent needless frustration and give you more time to actually enjoy your dream home. We like to call it “delighting the customer with a better way.”
