we are building an Honest Abe log cabin and getting close to selecting a stain color.
i would like the logs to look as ‘old’ and authentic as possible. any suggestions on stain colors? should i use semi-transparent. i would simply like to let the pine logs age naturally, but have been told ‘many times’ that i can not do this because of moisture .
logs have been treated for insects and i would just like to leave them for a couple of years and let that nice weathered grey color happen. then, clear coat. what do you guys think? please reply. .
Replies
Follow the advice you have been given.
Seal the pine logs as they do not tolerate weathering as would other species of timber that were often used in log cabins from the actual pioneer days.
Plus those were hewn from old growth timber...current pine logs are often harvested from cultivated fast growth timber farms. Too much soft grain between the growth rings, no resistence to water intrusion and subsequent rot.
The "natural weathered look" might be approached by use of a gray stain undercoat followed by caulking of "checking cracks" and then a high quality sealant such as made by Sikkens.
...................Iron Helix
I cant get into the discussion of the logs you have but Olympic makes a stain that matches weathering and also protects.
Clear sealing doesnt work because underneath the shade of over hang and such that doesnt get sun will stay the sealed color. The portions of the building in full sun will grey anyway when it eats through the finish along with water discoloration. Pretty much a mess . Then people have "that " problem and go to the solid stains to cover it . If you let the wood age a year and then weather color stain it , it will remain grey when the finish eats away because they have matched the color .
Theres a theme park in Branson Mo. thats called Silver Dollar City that has older look "new " buildings they have built. They use the weathered color stain after aging a year or so. Even the different colors used are drab colors such as homeade walnut water stain from simply storing walnuts in five gallon buckets of water in the sun.
Tim
"logs have been treated for insects"
yikes! i would be more worried about my health right now than the logs. i have built a few "handcrafted" log homes and have seen more than a few "kit" log homes begin to fail structuraly BEFORE they where finished. if yours is handcrafted you are ahead of the game. regarding moisture getting in the logs...there is one key thing the builder should have done that would make "sealing" the logs" totally unnessesary. and another key thing he could have done regarding any future insect problems. i don't give unsolicited advice so if you want to know just let me know.
fm2
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