Log Home Rot Repair
Log homes look beautiful and if well maintained will last for a very long time.
However, there are occasions when some logs can succumb to rot and decay. There are several reasons why logs can become rotten, including poor gutter systems which do not prevent rain water from dripping on to the logs. Poorly finished or stained logs, bad design, or not having an annual maintenance plan in place to keep the stain working to protect the wood. All of these possibilities could result in rot repair of the logs or wood.
What’s the Difference Between Dry Rot and Wet Rot?
Dry rot is named ‘dry’ because wood rot is happening with no apparent cause by moisture damage. The culprit is actually a fungus that attacks the wood, causing discoloration and decay. It breaks down the wood’s strength by digesting it. Affected wood has cracks across the wood’s grain. Although called ‘dry’ rot, moisture does play a role in allowing fungi to take hold, but then the fungus is able to survive on the wood and even remain dormant, only to resurface when conditions allow it. An infestation of dry rot is extremely serious (spores can travel through masonry to reach wood) and requires aggressive professional treatment.
Wet rot damage affects wood with a higher percentage of moisture. Treatment involves stopping the cause of dampness, treating the rot, and repairing and/or restoring damaged wood.
Fidalgo Restoration Log Home Repair LLC is qualified to detect, repair, and restore your log home, log cabin, or cedar home from either dry rot or wood rot damage.
Wood Rot Repair or Replacement
The best way of carrying out rot repair is to partially or fully replace the damaged logs. This is not a job to be carried out by a homeowner. Instead it requires the use of a competent professional to ensure that the job is carried out to a high standard and the logs are repaired correctly.
If caught soon enough, for example during annual maintenance, then the wood rot repair may consist of partial log replacement rather than replacing whole logs. If part of a log needs to be replaced then a log needs to be cut and scribed so that it blends naturally with the existing log so that the look is seamless and natural.
If the damage is significant then the rot repair will involve the replacement of one, or more of the logs in the existing structure. This type of replacement must be undertaken by highly skilled professionals. This is particularly important when dealing with logs that are structural load bearing logs. The house may need to be jacked up and supported as well as shoring up the walls to prevent buckling and collapse. This is not a job to be undertaken by the faint hearted or unskilled!
With any type of wood rot repair it is important that the logs used to repair the structure are blended in with the originals to give a truly aesthetic look to the finished building. This can be accomplished by color matching during the staining process. Once the rot has been repaired and/or replaced, the home is ready to have the rest of the log home restoration process concluded.
The logs will be blasted, sanded, treated and stained so the home now looks as good as the day it was built and you won’t be able to tell which logs have been replaced and which have just been restored. Wood rot repair needs to be done with care and patience, as well as skill. Companies that have a passion for what they do, such as Fidalgo Restoration Log Home Repair LLC in the Western United States, will produce a result to make any log home owner proud.
“Fidalgo Restoration Log Home Repair LLC restored and repaired the exterior of the Rotary Log Pavilion in the summer of 2010. They started the work on time and completed the project right on schedule. Work included: removing old stain, sanding, replacing rotten logs and re-staining the entire exterior of the building. The Pavilion now looks beautiful again, for all users and the community to enjoy.”
“Fidalgo Restoration Log Home Repair LLC did a fabulous job on my log home and I highly recommend them to anyone with a log or wood exterior home. I continue to use Peter for additional work every year or two, primarily because he did such a great job on the big project and every job since then.
I was the 3rd owner of my home and the maintenance had not been done in several years. The first project we had Fidalgo do was the complete blasting, sanding, and re-staining of the whole house. It was a big job (big cost) and I was reluctant to spend what was needed, but knew I really needed something done. Peter seemed to know what he was doing more than the other companies I called, so we went forward despite my reluctance.
Each day of the work, I saw progress and gained confidence in the company, but the big shock came on the first day I came home after the stain was applied. I was completely surprised and relieved at how absolutely beautiful the wood looked. We had a brand new home!
My “buyer’s remorse” about the cost and wondering whether it was the right choice went away in a flash. The cost was absolutely worth it (not to mention increasing the value of our home). We have continued to use Peter’s service for cleaning & additional staining several times since that first job. He has been completely professional in both the work and the clean-up.
I don’t believe you could find anyone or any company that could exceed the quality of work that Peter provides. Thank you Peter for the high-quality, professional services you have provided us. We are so proud of our log home when people come over and say how beautiful it is.”
“Peter Bird did a complete restoration of the finish on our log home and barn in the Sierra foothills of California. All the failed finish was removed, the wood treated, and fresh oil base stain applied. Some rotting wood was replaced. The end result made our buildings look like new. We were so impressed with the quality and speed of the work, and with Peter’s honesty and work ethic, that we highly recommend him.”