If you insist on painting your cabin, remember never EVER to use regular paint or polyurethane. Sure, it might look good for a year or two, but it will ruin your cabin in the long run. Use a paint that is breathable and has been specifically designed for log cabins. Or, play around with stain colors.

What kind of paint do you use on a log cabin?

The most common and, by extension, most popular kind of paint to use on a cabin exterior is acrylic-latex paint. Acrylic-latex paint dries quickly, looks great and better yet, provides a strong layer of protection against weather and mould wear.

Should you paint a log house?

The short reason why paint is a bad idea? Log homes need to breathe. Paint seals the logs in a way that traps moisture inside, and moisture is the enemy of a healthy log home. Moisture inside the logs will cause them to deteriorate and rot from the inside out.

Is it OK to paint a log cabin?

When latex or oil house paints are applied to log homes, they can damage the logs. … Peeling, flaking and cracking paint makes it impossible to fix without blasting and staining. In other cases, however, the damage is more extensive. Paint layers build up over the years, sealing in moisture that causes the logs to rot.

Can you paint log cabin exterior?

So, painting a log cabin may be a good idea. However, you should know that when it comes to log, paint won’t protect logs like it does other materials. On the contrary, paint will only cause the logs to rot. If you want to add some color to your logs, it is better to stain it.

Is it better to paint or stain a log cabin?

Instead of painting, you should stain your cabin. Stain allows the cabin to breathe, and a clear coat can help repel excess moisture without trapping moisture inside. Luckily, if you’re over the wood look, you can stain your cabin a color other than brown!

Can you change the color of a log home?

These days, log homes are built for style, and while you can create a home using natural wood, a variety of stains are also available to add extra color to the home.

Can you Sheetrock over log cabin walls?

You cannot place drywall directly against the logs. You need a buffer that will allow the logs to shrink while not damaging the drywall. Place wood studs every 16-inches on center, mounted with lag screws placed in vertical slots cut into the stud.

How do you paint a log cabin interior?

Painting Log Cabin Walls Simply mix the amount of Real Milk Paint you need for the areas you wish to cover and coat those surfaces with Real Milk Paint by using a natural bristle brush, then coat them again to get the coverage you desire. Once the walls dry, you may need to add another coat to get the perfect look.

How do you lighten a log cabin wall?

A trick of pro designers is to whitewash the walls in order to brighten the room and make the style feel more contemporary. Whitewashing is preferred over simple white paint, as little is needed to allow the grain of the log or wood to still come through. The end result is beautifully distressed walls.

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How often does a log home need to be sealed?

How often should I reseal my log home? The short answer is usually every 3-5 years but this can vary due to many factors.

Do log cabins need to be sealed?

Sealing and Staining Your logs should ideally have moisture content around 14-15%. and anything above it will cause mildew, mold, blistering and log rot. When weatherproofing your cabin, you have to consider the natural climate, cabin size and also your budget.

What is the best wood treatment for a log cabin?

• Osmo Natural Oil Wood-stain. …
• Barrettine Log Cabin Treatment. …
• Cuprinol Ultimate Garden Wood Preserver. …
• Ronseal Total Wood Preservative. …
• Sadolin Wood Preserver. …
• Cuprinol Exterior Wood Preserver. …
• Protek Wood Preserver Plus. …
• Cuprinol Wood Preserver Clear.

How do you lighten up a dark cabin?

1. Lighten & Brighten. 1/12. A dark room can feel drab and uninviting. …
2. Paint the Ceiling White. 2/12. …
3. Limit Dark Colors to Accents. 3/12. …
4. Lighten Your Window Treatments. 4/12. …
5. Minimize Furniture. 5/12. …
6. Lighten Dark Floors. 6/12. …
7. Diffuse Lighting. 7/12. …
8. Use Brighter Lightbulbs. 8/12.

What are cabin colors?

• Canyon Red. If you would like your log cabin to have a look with a more southwest style, the Canyon Red color is perfect for you, evoking the beautiful color of a canyon. …
• Autumn Brown. …
• Cedar. …
• Sable. …
• Red Cedar. …
• Colorado Pine. …
• Barnwood Gray.

How long do log cabin homes last?

While a log cabin can last for as much as 100 years in ideal circumstances, anywhere from 20 to 80 years is more realistic. The quality of the construction matters, as does the weather in the cabin’s location. At worst, a cabin will fall apart in five years. Log cabins can be durable rather than flimsy structures.

What should I treat my log cabin with?

Do I need to treat the interior of my Log Cabin with Preservative? It is not necessary but if a preservative is required or desired, use a biocide free preserver such as Osmo Wood Protector (4006). The inside of log cabins can be treated the same as the inside of a property, with interior floor oils or floor varnishes.

Can you stain over stain log home?

If staining over stain, make sure that the new stain is compatible. Often if you switch from oil to water based stain you will have to use a cob blaster to get down to the bare wood.

Can you change the stain color of a log cabin?

Just pick up some solid-color stain, any color you want. Apply it to the logs and you could definitely lighten up the look.

How do you refinish a log cabin exterior?

1. Step 1: Inspect Your Home for Necessary Repairs. Water damage or rot. …
2. Step 2: Clean the Logs. You will want to clean the logs of dust and stains, but avoid using chlorine bleach. …
3. Step 3: Stain and Finish the Logs. …
4. Step 4: Seal the Logs.

Can you paint half log siding?

Depending on the look you prefer, you can leave the lumber with a natural color, stain your siding, or even paint the wood for a contemporary look.

Can Log Cabins be plastered?

The natural coziness of timber is one of the main attractions of owning a log cabin. But along with warmth, wood can be dark as it reflects less light. You can brighten the interior by including a plaster wall or even by whitewashing some of the walls to reflect more light.

Can you plasterboard inside a log cabin?

Partition Walls in Log Cabins You can do so as long as you remember the log cabin is always moving! … You would make a partition wall as you would any stud wall and probably with noggins for extra strength. Your final surface covering could be anything you would like including plasterboard.

Can you side over a log home?

In many situations, putting siding over the affected logs does not alleviate the environmental pressures that caused the original logs to rot in the first place, i.e. moisture and sun. So it stands to reason that with the same pressures present, the new pine siding will eventually rot too.

What do you put on cabin walls?

Knotty Pine is one of the most popular types of wood paneling for walls in log cabins and home interiors. Installing it on the walls is standard and many homeowners put it on the ceilings as well. Its rustic beauty is hard to overlook no matter where you install it.

Can you pressure wash a log cabin?

You’ll need to prepare the surface beyond cleaning for best results. Whatever you do, never use a pressure washer on log cabin walls. Almost all cabins are made of softwood. It’s too easy to damage the wood surface or accidentally drive water deep between the logs.

How much does it cost to reseal a log cabin?

Sealing and Chinking Repair The cost of resealing and repairing log cabin chinking can cost anywhere from $2-$5. For a typical 1,500 square foot home, the price tag for this type of log cabin maintenance may run anywhere from $3,000 to $7,500. Homes that are not maintained properly may sustain damage.

How often do you have to Restain a log cabin?

As a general rule, you will need to stain your log home every 3 to 7 years, depending on the elements. Elemental factors include exposure to rain, sunlight, hail, wind, climate, and more.

How do I keep my log cabin from rotting?

The best way to prevent rot is to keep water out of your wood. This can be done by using a top notch exterior finish on your logs and log siding and regularly maintaining that finish per the manufacturer’s directions. The key is maintaining that finish on a regular basis to keep water out.

What is the best stain for a log cabin?

• Organiclear Log Stain.
• WeatherSeal Exterior Wood Finish.
• UV Guard Log Stain.
• UV Guard II.
• UV Guard Advance.
• Log-Gevity Log Stain & Stabilizer.
• Log-Gevity Finish Coat.
• Lovvit’s Natural Gold.

How do I stop damp in my log cabin?

1. Heat retention in your cabin will help keep damp at bay. And the best way to retain heat is with insulation.
2. A good source of heating will keep damp under control.
3. But it’s also a good idea to treat the interior walls of your cabin with stain or paint too to help prevent the build up of moisture.