Blog
Wood-boring beetles can be found all across the United States. There are several types of beetles that can be considered “wood-boring” beetles. Often referred to as “wood worms” or “powder post beetles,” wood-boring beetles are responsible for damage to structural wood, second only to termites.
Wood-boring beetles are difficult to control once an infestation has begun. Therefore, prevention is the best management method. Great NEWS: the treatment for all types of wood-boring beetles is the same.
Shell-Guard RTU is the best way to protect your home from wood-boring beetles, termites, carpenter ants, wood rot, fungi and more. It’s active ingredient Disodium Octaborate Tetrahydrate, or borate, combines with food-grade glycol added to deepen wood penetration that can be used to both treat and prevent pests from eating wood.
Research results shows that the presence of borate in the wood does two things:
- It kills younger beetle larvae that are feeding in the wood.
- It prevents any old house borer eggs from hatching. The borate treatment interrupts the beetle’s life cycle and eventually the infestation will end.
About Wood-Boring Beetles
Wood-boring beetles invade and damage wood furniture as well as structural and decorative wood inside the building. The beetle larvae feed in and do most of the damage to wood, and when they reach the adult stage, they emerge through round exit holes, which they create by chewing through the wood surface. Adults of some species also bore exit holes through plaster, plastic, and even soft metals that might cover the underlying wood.
What are the signs that beetles are present in the wood?
- Sawdust or frass is the first sign of beetle infestation.
- The chewing noise made by older larvae in the wood.
The life cycle of most wood-boring beetles is similar. It starts with an adult female depositing her eggs in the wood. The eggs hatch and a small grub-like larva emerges. It’s the beetle larvae that feed on wood, and they may continue eating the wood for several months or, in some cases, up to 20 years depending on the species. There comes a time in its life cycle when it’s getting ready to make the change that the larva makes a hole to the surface of the wood, so it can get out of the wood as an adult beetle. That’s why the holes are called “emergence holes.” Typically this is the first sign that beetles are present in the wood. Once the hole is complete and the tunnel is cleared of the sawdust or frass, the larva creates a pupa case and makes the transition to an adult beetle. The adult beetle eventually emerges from the hole, feeds on pollen and nectar and looks for a mate. Once impregnated, the female beetle can start the cycle all over again.
Order Your Shell-Guard RTU or Shell-Guard Concentrate to kill any wood ingesting insect it comes in contact with.
Customer Testimonial
For active infestation I have successfully used borates against insects that are actively living in isolated spots on structures. In the pictures below, poweder-post beetles infested barn wood on my porch. I injected Shell-Guard RTU into the actual holes using a syringe made for injecting marinade into food (any plastic syringe with a tip small enough to fit the hole will work).
These holes were treated and within a day there were dead larvae. It has been more than a year and they have not returned.
Protecting wood surfaces in a beach or water front environment is a challenging task. You are faced with numerous variables that contribute to erosion and degradation of the substrate including sunlight, wind, moisture, salt, and sand. The two most destructive environmental variables to an exterior coating system and wood are sunlight and water.
Sunlight is the major cause of damage to a number of materials, including plastics, textile, wood, coatings, and other organic materials. The type of damage, such as loss of gloss, chalking, elasticity, adhesion, and color change, varies depending on the material sensitivity and the spectrum of sunlight. Spectral sensitivity varies from material to material.
One component of sunlight is ultraviolet light, commonly referred to as UV. UV light is responsible for most damage to exposed wood because it changes or destroys the wood’s lignin, a component of wood that hardens and strengthens the cell walls. In more scientific terms this process is called photo-oxidation. The colorants contained in the color coats are responsible for absorbing UV light. The more colorant a finish contains the less UV light will get through to the wood itself.
Opaque finishes like paint and solid body stains are very efficient in blocking all of UV light from hitting the wood. That’s why when they peel off the freshly exposed wood may still look bright. On the other hand the objective of transparent stains is to allow the character of the wood to show through the finish.
In order to accomplish this transparency the pigment loading is significantly less than that contained in opaque finishes. Although some of the UV is blocked by the colorants, enough of it gets through to eventually photo-oxidize the wood. Since darker colors typically contain more colorant than lighter ones they tend to last longer. However, some lighter colors that contain titanium white, or KX colorant, also contain a high colorant loading which extends their life but they do give up some degree of transparency in return.
Lighter colored stains that contain titanium white (KX) will also absorb less heat; therefore, there will be less overall stress (day surface temperature versus night surface temperature) that the finish system and wood substrate is exposed to over the course of a 24-hour period.
Squared logs, timbers, and vertical flat siding are easier to maintain since the sun hits these wood pieces at the same angle and the UV light is evenly distributed over the entire surface. In addition, the flat vertical surfaces cannot accumulate snow and ice and even upward facing checks are not as prone to rainwater entering the logs. Squared wood pieces are subject to the same weathering parameters as round surfaces, but the weathering is mostly uniform over the entire exposed surface.
The second challenging variable for wood in a coastal environment is moisture. Coastal areas are notorious for their high relative humidity and pop-up thunderstorms. Keeping wood dry is the goal to protecting its long term integrity. If wood remains wet for long periods of time without drying out, conditions are favorable for the formation of wood decay fungi, the precursor to wood rot. Four conditions are necessary for the development of wood decay producing fungi. Eliminate any one of these and decay fungi cannot survive: oxygen, temperature (40° – 90°F), moisture content in excess of the fiber saturation point (> 25-30%), and a suitable source of energy and nutrients (that is, the wood).
Recommendations:
- There are two basic ways to combat the effects of weathering. By far the most effective method is to keep wood surfaces in the shade as much as possible by extending roof overhangs or constructing roofed porches around the home.
- Keep all vegetation at least 24 inches away from wood surfaces to allow for adequate ventilation and drying out of these surfaces.
- Clean the wood surfaces to remove all foreign materials from the wood prior to the application of an exterior finish system. The overall performance of even the best finish system is dependent upon proper surface preparation and application technique.
- Select and apply a highly durable exterior semi-transparent stain, like Lifeline™ Ultra-7 or Ultra-2 to protect the wood and enjoy the beauty of the wood grain. Select Lifeline™ Accents to highlight wood timbers and trim if more opacity is desired.
- Select a color that contains shades of brown, red, or gray. Consider colors that contain titanium white (KX) for lower surface temperature swings as well as good UV protection. (colors: Butternut, Wheat, Driftwood, Stone Gray or Gentry Gray).
- Apply an exterior clear topcoat, like Lifeline™ Advance Gloss or Satin, to protect the color coat and add additional UV and mold and mildew protection. Consider the Gloss for additional reflection of UV light.
- Fill all upward facing checks, cracks in wood, with a specialized acrylic sealant, like Check Mate 2™
- Clean the finish systems at least once a year with Log Wash™, a liquid concentrate for bare wood and maintenance cleaning, to remove all foreign debris for the surface of the finish system and extend its longevity.
- Perform an annual inspection of the coating system as a proactive maintenance approach.
- Darkening of the wood or finish when water is applied, is an indication of water getting through the coating and wetting the wood
- Checks or micro-fissures in the wood, especially upward-facing
- Cracks in the finish
- Color fading
- Pay close attention to the south- and west-facing surfaces
- Keep metal surface clean and freshly painted. Salt spray is highly corrosive.
You can’t completely stop or reverse the weathering of exterior wood, but you can slow the process dramatically by using the right type of finish system and a proactive game plan to combat the environmental elements.
Chink Paint™ is a high quality, elastomeric latex paint used to refresh or change the color of your log home chinking. Chink Paint is available in all eight standard colors of Perma-Chink® in either a textured or smooth finish (with or without aggregate, respectively). This difference provides the customer a choice as to whether or not they would like to add additional texture to the appearance of the chink joint.
Chink Paint can be used in several situations. Some log homes have cosmetic chink joints that serve no purpose other than giving the home the appearance of a chink-style structure. These false chink joints are typically quite shallow and do not allow enough room in the joint for both backing material and the proper recommended thickness of chink. It is much easier to paint the joint with Chink Paint Textured than it is to apply a thin layer (less than 3/8 inch) of Perma-Chink and be more susceptible to negative performance qualities like tears and blistering.
When staining a home that is already chinked, it takes less effort to paint the existing chinking with Chink Paint than it does to try to protect the chinking with masking tape during the staining process. It is virtually impossible to prevent some stain from getting on the chinking and once stained, it is extremely difficult to clean or paint the discolored areas and blend with the surrounding chinking.
If you are applying a new finish to your home, you may as well refresh or even change the color of your existing chinking. This really gives the home a new, clean look. Since Chink Paint has a texture identical to Perma-Chink, it’s impossible to tell if the surface is original Perma-Chink or Chink Paint.
When applying Chink Paint, the first step is to make sure the product is well mixed. Chink Paint, both Textured and Smooth, contain a blend of raw material ingredients that need to be uniformly dispersed to ensure proper color, adhesion and long-term performance. Furthermore, Chink Paint Textured contains an aggregate to give it the similar textured appearance to Perma-Chink. Over time this aggregate may settle to the bottom of the pail, so it’s important to stir it well to make sure the contents of the container are uniform before beginning.
Chink Paint is best applied using a paint brush with about two to three inches of fairly stiff bristles. An expensive brush is not needed, and can be disposed of once the job is completed. A chip brush works just fine, especially for the textured version. Keep a wet rag handy to wipe off any Chink Paint that may get on stained surfaces and clean-up with soap and water.
A lot of wasted energy is released through poor sealing of windows and doors. Luckily we at Perma-Chink Systems have a solution to solve these air leaks. Energy Seal and Log Gap Cap work together to seal the windows and doors.
How to Seal Step-by-Step:
1. Use masking tape around the window or door seam.
2. Insert Log Gap Cap into the crevice using trowel. Log Gap Cap provides an even surface for sealant application and makes it easier to apply a uniform thickness across the gap.
3. Apply Energy Seal™ and tool smooth.
4. Remove masking tape as soon as tooling is complete.
We occasionally get calls about repairing spots of finish that have peeled from logs, handrails, etc. In most cases, the peeling is associated with checks or small fissures that have opened up after the finish was first applied. When this occurs, rain water soaks into the bare wood on either side of the check, and when the sun beats on the area the wood turns to water vapor and expands with enough force to push the finish right off of the surface. If the peeling is limited to a few small areas, touching them up is not very difficult.
Before we get started on the best way to perform the repairs, there is one thing we need to cover. If you have leftover product that’s more than two years old, you need to obtain enough fresh stain and topcoat to accomplish the repairs. Using old product is risky and unnecessary. Give us a call, and we’ll see if there is anything we can do to help.
Following are the recommended procedures for touching up peeled areas:
Step 1: Sand the peeled areas with 60 to 80 grit sandpaper. Do not use a finer grit. We want the stain to have something to grab onto. Be sure to sand off any surrounding stain film that looks like it may have lost its adhesion.
Step 2: If it’s just a few small areas wipe down the sanded spots with a damp rag. For larger spots or multiple areas on a wall, it’s best to wash the entire wall with a two cups per gallon Log Wash™ solution. Allow the wall to dry.
Step 3: If the peeling is associated with checks that are 1/4” or more wide, seal them with Check Mate 2® after sanding and cleaning, but before staining. This will help make the Check Mate 2 less visible.
Step 4: Using a rag, not a brush, apply one or two coats of stain to the bare wood. You want to apply enough stain to match the color of the surrounding wood. Since the coarse sanded area may be more absorbent than the original surface, one coat of stain may be sufficient to match what’s already there. Using a rag helps avoid lap marks and gets some stain down into any unsealed checks, as well as small cracks and fissures.
Once the stain has been applied and the color matches the surrounding wood, one coat of Advance™ Topcoat can be applied with a brush or rag. Lap marks are not much of a concern since the Advance is clear and colorless.
How about EuroPlast?
Looking for just the right compliment to enhance the interior walls of your dream home? Consider the ageless appeal of Venetian plaster. For centuries architects, designers, builders, and owners alike have marveled at the splendor of this highly popular form of wall surfacing, and throughout the ages the artisans who were skilled at creating such beauty have been revered and sought after. With today’s advanced technology, you can now have this distinctive elegance and appeal at a fraction of the cost- in as little as two days.
EuroPlast and Euroseal by Stuc-O-Flex International
Consider this revolutionary approach to dramatic design. EuroPlast is a pre-colored, acrylic polymer-based interior and exterior coating system that transforms vertical walls into a classic example of old world Venetian-style plaster. This versatile decorative coating exhibits a rich aesthetic appearance with an unlimited selection of color and texture opportunities. Achieve a wide range of effects from rustic plaster to smooth polished limestone.
EuroPlast is a decorative finish providing color, texture and hard durable surface that resists staining, dirt pick-up, and abuse. Applications easily go over interior and exterior surfaces including stucco, concrete, brick, block, plaster, cement-board sheathings- even primed drywall for interior applications.
Euroseal is a pure acrylic sealer that is applied over the EuroPlast finish. Euroseal has a unique ability to transform newly constructed walls into a classic example of centuries-old plaster. This semi-transparent sealer is formulated to obtain an uneven antiqued, or “mottled,” appearance. Euroseal is available in clear or in an unlimited selection of semi-transparent colors. The material can provide a high level of gloss or an eggshell appearance, depending on your design requirements. Euroseal colors are available in pre-tinted containers, ready to apply. The product is intended to create an old world or weathered look while adding a striking characteristic to completed walls.
If this unique product might be that one element to compliment and enhance the beauty of your dream home contact Stuc-O-Flex International, Inc @ 1-800-305-1045 or e-mail: techservice@stucoflex.com
So how do our Communication and Distribution Systems work and how are they different from other suppliers?
Communication
Our Communication System is a nationwide VOIP Internet-based system. That means that each of our Branches and our Knoxville, Tennessee Factory are connected 24/7 like a large office – but the office is nationwide. Answering calls, forwarding calls, etc., happen nationwide the same way as a direct call to a local office are.
That means that every office and every sales desk is connected with a simple stroke of a keyboard. In addition, our Call Forwarding capability automatically connects an incoming call anywhere in the nation. Yes, at times you may be connected with a Customer Service Representative other than the one you typically talk to, BUT – the CSR that does answer the call has your entire order history on the screen in front of them immediately. That is thanks to our second system, which is an online database.
Each time an order is placed, whether it be from a new Retail Customer, or an existing Applicator, Dealer, or Manufacturer, the order is entered in real time into our Accounting Database. That database is immediately updated with any new Customer data – purchased products, colors, quantities, shipping addresses, etc. That means that any order that customer has ever made is instantly available on the screen, and we can tell them anything the customer has ever ordered (for example: I bought Lifeline Ultra-7 for a project 8 years ago and I forgot the color and now I need some touch up and additional for a garage, and by the way, that was for the Rutherford house in Pigeon Forge, not the Pinkerton house in North Carolina). We can tell you in real time what stain was used, what color, how much was purchased, when it was purchased, and where it was sent to. Every CSR in the company has that information, for every customer, on the screen in front of them as soon as the call is answered. Then, if the customer would like to talk to a particular individual (my ‘favorite’ salesperson), we can use the same network to send a notification to that CSR to call you back or attach any particular notifications for the order.
Because of the time difference from the East Coast to the West Coast, this system is available from 8:00 AM Eastern Time until 5:00 PM Pacific Time. That means that a call placed at say, 8:00 PM, on the East Coast will be answered by a salesperson in Redmond, WA that has your Customer History and can take the order or answer any question. That also says that you can make a call at 5:00 AM in Washington State and place an order with a CSR in Tennessee. That is a tremendous advantage for a Contractor who needs to place an order before normal business opening times, or after normal business hours. Remember, it doesn’t make any difference who answers the phone or where they happen to be – they have your Customer History on the screen in front of them and can take the order, handle shipping, and answer any questions you might have – and make the order at your particular price level.
Distribution
If you can’t get the product when you need it, it’s all for naught. If you are an Applicator, Manufacturer, or a Homeowner, you all need the product available at a particular time. Products that arrive a day or two late, or a week late, cause havoc with application crew scheduling or weather changes, and can reverberate through the season if early season jobs are late and will negatively impact schedules.
Our Manufacturing Plant is in Knoxville Tennessee, centrally located in the heart of the Log Home Industry. It is also located at the intersection of the major North/South and East/West highways. It’s no coincidence our factory is in that location! We of course have massive ‘Whole House’ inventories (products for an entire home project), but that location also feeds seven fully-stocked Whole House Company-owned Branches. Each one of those Branches is stocked with a Whole House inventory. Not one or two ‘Overage or Sample’ inventory. Additionally, each Branch location can make any custom stain color you desire and also stocks inventory for a number of Independent Distributors.
The point here is that we are located at strategic locations across the USA and are well-stocked to handle anything from multiple Whole House orders to samples and anything in between. These locations disburse our inventory so that we can fulfill orders from a number of large stocking locations that are close to you, our customers. We are not dependent on large inventory shipments or Whole House shipments arriving from one location. This drastically lowers shipping time and expense.
In addition, each of our seven Branches is staffed with a minimum of three experienced Log Home Specialists. Larger Branches have five and up to eight Inside Customer Care Specialists. No matter when or who you call, be assured you’ll be connected with Industry Experts that can help you get the right product at the right time.
While adequate air exchange is essential for health and safety, many older log homes have a far higher rate of air exchange than is necessary. This is often due to poor design and/or construction which allow air leakage from the inside or outside of the building, but log homes are additionally prone to settling, seasonal expansion and contraction of the logs, and other factors that can cause log joints to move over time. Given that the typical 30 x 40 log home can easily have more than a linear half mile of log-on-log surface area, determining leakage pathways is often complex and extremely difficult to visualize; leaving log homeowners no other choice than to apply a sealant to all log joints in hopes of locating and correcting the problem areas.
To identify areas of energy waste, infrared imaging has quickly become a valued tool in identifying problems related to energy loss, water and insect infiltration, inefficient HVAC systems and much more. A thermal imaging camera identifies patterns of heat loss that are invisible to the naked eye and quickly indicates the air leaks within the log home with measurement data that can easily be compiled into a written report. Professional log home applicators are using leading-edge infrared technology coupled with a computer controlled blower door to depressurize the home to an industry standard of -50 pascals, which simulates a 20 mph wind blowing on all four sides of the structure simultaneously. As air is drawn through failed log joints the temperature of the log surfaces changes, producing a thermal image that can be recorded. This allows the applicator to accurately identify and repair the problem areas to stop the energy loss immediately.
Wayne Bell, owner of Log Home Care, uses this technology and reports: “Thermal imaging provides both an immediate cost benefit from the reduction in labor required to seal the home and future savings on energy costs. The computerized blower door provides information about air exchange within the structure, expressed in square inches, which can easily be understood when expressed in terms of an open door or window. The home featured in these photos indicated an open surface area of 66.5 square inches which equates to a 24” wide window being left open nearly 3” but many log homes exhibit air exchange rates several times higher.”
“Don’t confuse this equipment with the inexpensive infrared thermometers sold at home improvement stores,” Bell clarifies. “Advances in technology have reduced the prices of this equipment but it still represents a major financial investment for the applicator. Prices vary by applicator, but homeowners can expect to spend several hundred dollars for blower door testing and thermal imaging services, but a portion of that charge is rebated back as a credit to the homeowner if our firm does the sealant work”, says Bell. “Whether we simply provide a printed report that illustrates what needs to be done or we handle the entire process of applying sealant to the home, our company couldn’t be happier with Perma-Chink Systems products. When dealing with log joints that may allow for both air and water infiltration, we use Energy Seal and backer rod on the outside of the structure. If the joint is leaking air but there is little risk of water infiltration, we can alternately use Check Mate 2 (often the clear color) in the interior if needed, but our preference is to do our sealant work on the exterior surfaces. By reducing air leakage, the homeowner obtains a better level of comfort in their log home and Perma-Chink Systems provides the products to make that possible.”
Shell-Guard™ Concentrate, Shell-Guard RTU, and Armor-Guard™ are all used as solutions that contain water. Since time and cold temperatures affect each of these products somewhat differently, we’ll address each product individually.
Shell-Guard Concentrate
Unmixed Shell-Guard Concentrate will remain stable for many years. As a concentrate it will not freeze; however, as it gets colder, the viscosity increases and at very cold temperatures (below 10°F), it may get so thick as to appear to be solid. At this point it has not frozen. As it warms up, it will become thinner and thinner in viscosity, to the point where it can be poured out of the container. Getting cold will not affect Shell-Guard Concentrate’s performance, and it can go through many cycles of heating and cooling without creating problems.
For proper use, Shell-Guard Concentrate must be mixed with an equal volume of water (one gallon of Shell-Guard Concentrate to one gallon of water). Using warm water makes it easier to mix, but it’s not necessary to use warm water. Once the concentrate is mixed with water it must be used within 24 hours. After 24 hours or so, borate salts will begin to drop out of solution, forming white crystals on the sides and bottom of the container. If left in spray equipment too long, these crystals will block up the spray tip and/or filter screen and, once formed, they are very difficult to dissolve. The colder it is, the faster the borate will drop out of solution.
If you have mixed Shell-Guard Concentrate that you want to keep, you need to get it out of your sprayer ASAP and into a plastic container. Thoroughly rinse out your sprayer as soon as possible. Although borate crystals will form in the container, if the mixed solution is heated to about 95°F there is a good chance that the crystals will re-dissolve. Furthermore, if the solution is not used within 24 hours the borate crystals will start forming again.
Shell-Guard RTU
One erroneous assumption about Shell-Guard RTU is that it is just Shell-Guard Concentrate that has already been mixed with water. This is not the case, as Shell-Guard RTU is an entirely different formulation than Shell-Guard Concentrate. Although the chemical components are the same as those in Shell-Guard Concentrate, they are present in entirely different ratios that help keep the borate salts in solution.
If Shell-Guard RTU is subjected to cold temperatures (less than 40°F) for extended periods of time, there is a chance that some of the borate salts will begin to coat the inside walls of the container. This is not a sign that the RTU is freezing, it’s just that the temperature has reached a point where the solubility of the borate salts have dropped below 10%. Like most salt solutions, the lower the temperature, the less salt will remain dissolved in water. Once this occurs, the solution needs to be warmed up to 80-to-90°F for the borate salts to re-dissolve.
The best way to warm it up is to fill a bucket with hot water, put the container of RTU into it, then after an hour or so, take it out and shake it until the crystals disappear. With 2.5 gallon containers it’s a bit more difficult to do this, unless you can find a large bucket. However, you can fill a bathtub or kitchen sink with hot water and do the same thing. Just placing the containers in a warm room will not heat the solution up enough to dissolve the borate salts.
Armor-Guard
Armor-Guard is typically used as a solution by dissolving one pound (two of the enclosed scoops) of dry borate powder in one gallon of water. Using warm water speeds up the process. It should be mixed up in a bucket, not in a pump-up sprayer. Once the solution in the bucket is clear and there are no clumps of undissolved Armor-Guard, then it can be transferred to a garden sprayer.
Once Armor-Guard is dissolved in water you have about 24 hours before any borate salts begin to drop out of solution. The colder it is, the more rapidly the salts will crystallize. Solutions of Armor-Guard can and will freeze if the temperature drops below 20°F. However, it is not worth trying to save or salvage Armor-Guard solutions that remain unused.
Sure Shine™ Gloss or Satin is a water-based, urethane-acrylic, interior clear finish for application on both horizontal and vertical surfaces; however, the application of a urethane-acrylic finishes is a bit different than those based on acrylic latex polymers. For example, our pigmented Lifeline™ stains and Advance and Acrylic Topcoats should be thoroughly mixed and brushed out as far as they will go. This may include vigorous back-brushing. However, this technique does not work when applying Sure Shine and its proper application is a bit different than any of our other finish systems.
Being a urethane-acrylic hybrid, Sure Shine is very susceptible to air entrapment. That’s why the label states to gently stir Sure Shine using a paint paddle or stick and not to shake or agitate the container as this creates foam that may result in air bubbles within the finish. Vigorously brushing Sure Shine will also entrap air resulting in a rough surface with lots of visible air bubbles.
For best results, Sure Shine should be applied with a good quality brush or pad using slow strokes. It can also be applied with a High Volume Low Pressure (HVLP) sprayer, but only spray small areas at a time and slowly back-brush. Since Sure Shine dries fairly rapidly, back-brushing must be accomplished within a couple of minutes of application. If it begins to dry, back-brushing will leave striations in the finish that will have to be sanded out if a smooth surface is desired.
Another application tip about Sure Shine relates to sanding. Typically, the application of a water-based finish directly to wood has a tendency to raise the wood grain; therefore, the first coat of Sure Shine may not be completely smooth. Allow Sure Shine to dry for 1-2 hours before sanding is attempted. Lightly sanding with sandpaper (180 grit or higher) or a buffing brush to remove all of the small bumps, ridges, and other imperfections. If the film is just the slightest bit soft, sanding will generate little pills of finish and make a mess of the surface. Once the first coat is sanded smooth, subsequent coats of Sure Shine can be applied without sanding between coats.
If you want a smooth, deep lustrous finish on your interior wood surfaces, Sure Shine is hard to beat. And remember that Sure Shine can be applied over any of our interior finishes including Lifeline Acrylic Gloss and Satin.
Wayne Bell
Log Home Care Online
Have you ever wished that you could live in a log home but you’re stuck living in conventional housing? If so, join the growing number of people tackling home improvement projects to create a space that has the “feel” of log home living within the limitations of your current home.
Our project was to convert a roughly 30’x50′ unfinished basement in a contemporary suburban neighborhood into a space that would capture the tranquility of a northwoods lodge. Many of the design and construction techniques we used could just as easily be applied to any interior room, log home basement, or other living space. And best of all, most of the skills required are within the reach of the average handyman, so you can add significant value to your home with only a modest financial investment.
This space needed to harmonize with a contemporary home, so we used a mixture of log siding and drywall in the design.
We included a central fireplace as a gathering point for visitors, kitchen/bar area for entertaining, home theater, game room, guest bathroom and storage areas. To maintain the theme, we used natural materials wherever possible. We sketched out the space and made note of existing features (like the stairs, duct work, support beams and posts) so we could accommodate them in our design.
We’ve seen basement conversions that didn’t address the storage issue and that is a mistake so we framed in the corner that housed the furnace and other utilities to create a generous storage room.
Visitors are impressed with the functionality and attractiveness of the previously unused space. The extensive use of standard construction techniques allow for homeowner participation in the building process, and the use of log siding and natural materials provide for a dramatic effect. When it came to selecting the sealant and finish materials, we chose the same supplier that we have used to professionally finish hundreds of homes: Perma-Chink Systems.
It’s always fun to admire beautiful designs in log home publications, but with some creativity you, too, can enjoy the feeling of a log home wherever you live.
About the Author
Wayne Bell is a log home refinishing, repair and restoration contractor, serving the Midwest and southern United States from his base in Ohio. If you have questions about the materials or processes used in this project, you can contact him at 937-657-4565 or at www.LogHomeCareOnline.com.
Have you ever considered the impact that landscaping can have on the well being and beauty of your log home? Let’s look at some things around your home that can significantly affect its health.
Trees
In summer months trees located close to your home can help provide shade which may lower your air conditioning costs. But if any branches are touching your roof they can provide pathways for insects and rodents to enter your attic and eventually your living space. It’s best to keep tree branches at least three (3) feet away from your walls and roof. This distance will discourage creatures like gray squirrels and roof rats from investigating your attic and help prevent carpenter ants from taking up residence inside your home.
Shrubs and Hedges
The next things to consider are shrubs and hedges planted next to your foundation. Over the years you’ve probably let them grow too large, and they may be getting close to your log walls, or even worse, actually touching the logs. In addition to keeping the logs damp, shrubs and hedges can actually wear the finish right off of the wood. You need to trim them back, if for no other reason than they are hiding the beauty of your home. There should be at least two (2) feet of clear space between any plants and shrubs and your foundation or log wall. This allows air to flow over the logs which helps keep them dry and free from insects, mold, algae and decay.
Plants and Grass
It’s quite common to see plants and grass planted right up against foundation walls. Even though they may not be in contact with the logs, they still provide a lot of moisture to the surrounding area and water is the enemy of wood.
Mulch
If you have flower beds around your home you probably use some type of mulch to keep the weeds down. The most commonly used types of mulch are shredded wood or bark, bark nuggets, or pine straw. All of these types of organic mulch materials attract a wide variety of insects including termites as well as wood decay fungi. In addition, over the years the decayed mulch builds up bringing the soil level closer and closer to the bottom course of logs.
Fall Landscaping Tips
To prepare for fall and winter seasons, here is a checklist to make sure your home and yard looks great. Here are our recommendations regarding landscaping around log homes:
1. There should never be any plant life growing within two (2) feet of the foundation, log, or siding wall. Any existing plants or branches within the two-foot zone should be removed or cut back.
2. The best way to maintain an adequate clear space between your landscaping and home is to lay down a two to three foot wide band of landscaping fabric or perforated plastic around the base of your foundation and cover it with two to three inches of river pebbles or crushed stone (not wood or bark mulch). This will help keep the foundation area dry and you will be surprised how it will reduce the number of bugs you’ll see inside your home.
3. Make sure that your sprinkler heads are not spraying water onto the logs or foundation walls.
4. Take care of your lawn by overseeding, applying fall-specific fertilizer and weed control, and don’t forget to water your lawn (for areas where there’s no rain or snow).
5. Prune and trim trees and shrubs. Since blooms are done for the year, now is the time to cut them down.
6. Don’t forget to winterize sprinkler systems and related items. Don’t forget about outside water timers, too (I may or may not have experience forgetting to bring my timer inside one winter, and it may or may not have frozen and failed).
7. Plant trees, shrubs, and bulbs in October. This allows them to acclimate to their new home without the stress of a hot summer.
8. Rake leaves and clean-up other debris, composting what you can.
9. Place mulch around newly planted trees, but away from the trunk as this invites pests.