Log Home Staining in the Greater Knoxville Area

Residential Painting Services > Log Home Staining

Professional Log Home Staining in Knoxville, TN

Log homes and cabins, although not the majority, can be found all around the wider Knoxville, TN zone. We cater to these unique homes with our specialized log home staining, brought to you as a component of our comprehensive exterior painting services. Maintaining the exterior of log homes comes with its specific demands, something that is defined by the unique quality of the materials used. Reach out to us for a no-cost estimate if you’re considering this service.

Log Homes Need to Breathe

Log homes, due to the inherent moisture content trapped within the logs, requires a way to exhale this moisture. When these unique homes are constructed, the logs are left to dry, often for a whole year. Nevertheless, this is seldom enough to fully extract the moisture from the logs; some homes still hold moisture even a decade post-construction. Therefore, no matter the age of the house, the logs likely still contain some moisture.

Staining, Not Painting

The key reason behind this advice is the moisture retained within the logs. Painting results in sealing the external log surfaces completely, blocking the water vapor’s path as it slowly escapes from the log. Consequently, the risk of wood decay increases over a few years. Although it’s not impossible to paint the facade of a log home, and we can do it if you’re adamant, we strongly advise against it. Besides, painted logs cover up any visual signs of decay or damage, leading to possible unnoticed severe damage.

Why Staining is Important for Log Homes.

Stains will soak into the wood, and allow the ability for moisture to escape the log, while still protecting from the elements on the outside of the home. Log homes should be stained approximately once every 3-7 years, depending on the types of materials used and the weather / conditions around the home. Lots of direct sunlight, rain, hail, or snow, can accelerate the rate at which staining applications should be done. Staining is one of the most important maintenance requirements for log homes and should be on your maintenance calendar if you own a property like this.

The Process for Staining Log Homes

The process for staining a home is overall, fairly simple. However depending on the architecture there may be some unique problems with accessing all of the wood surfaces for staining. Here in Tennessee, 2 story homes with some hard-to-reach places are not uncommon. Take great care if you decide to DIY a staining project like this and seriously consider hiring a team of professionals.

1. Clean the exterior – Remove all dirt, bugs, debris that would otherwise interfere with the staining process, a hose or power washer are good methods of doing this
2. Let the water from cleaning dry out, and start the staining process. There are numerous ways to apply stain, but a sprayer and a brush are an efficient combo of tools. Srpay on the stain, brush it into the wood. Work your way all the way around the house doing this process. Be generous with the stain application, dont skimp!
3. Make sure at least 30 min have passed, and start the process over again for a 2nd coat of stain.
4. After giving the stain some time to cure its a good time to plan for chinking. Chinking can be done at any time but after looking over the entire exterior of the home while staining your probably have a good idea of where this need to be done.