Having just returned from an exhibition in the Northeastern states, my mind is full of creative possibilities for this year's summer projects. The show was filled with the typical big sellers; hot tubs and spas were present in liberal quantities, windows, sun rooms, and man made ponds are always present at these shows, and will likely be back at the spring Home Shows that will be filling the same exhibition centers a few weeks from now. But the tone of this blog and of The Cedar Meadow web site focuses on a rustic decoration style, and there was no lack of displays to spawn the creative thought process.

The thing I like the most about the landscaping shows these days is the fact that you don't just look at a single product at each display. The companies renting floor space do it all up right, and design an entire landscape in their space. You can imagine looking out your back window and seeing exactly what is laid out in front of you at the show. For example, a manufactured paver company put up quite a display, building a complete landscape. Obvisously the entire scene was built upward from their pavers, which were arranged in a complex pattern under foot, but they combined efforts with other products from other companies to give a feel for how their product worked with others. Stackable manufactured stones bordered the paver patio, cedar landscape accents were strategically placed, a striking cedar pergola rose from the patio, and a stackable stone island was placed just outside the pergola with a polished granite counter top to cap the stone and provide a resting place for a propane cooktop. Having taken in that whole scene, I have an idea of what my summer project will consist of this year!

Other displays that I haven't seen too much of until this year included 'modular outdoor fireplaces'. These displays looked like stone fireplaces built by skilled stone workers, but were actually pre-cast modules that stack together horizontally and vertically to create sprawling outdoor structures. The show piece was a configuration that included five foot counter top units on either side of the fireplace, and the fireplace itself whose chimney extended upward for about nine or ten feet including the chimney cap. This impressive configuration did come at a price; it was tagged at just under $20,000 installed. That's 20K, as in new car dollar figures. Of course, there were more reasonable configurations set up that displayed gas grills embedded in them with a bit of usable counter space.

Me, I am sticking with the patio-pergola-counter top configuration this summer next to the pool. That will create a nicely usable outdoor room in a section of yard that I've been wondering what to do with for quite a few years now. How about you, what's your summer project for this year? Not sure? Get out to your local Flower Show or Home Show to get lots of fresh ideas!

Have fun,
Ron

Ok, this is the time of year you should be thinking about sealing up the outside of your log home to keep things cozy for the winter. Here are three huge differences between your log home and the neighbors' siding-clad white and beige homes stretching down the street (other than the fact that your log home has much more character!). The exterior of your log home needs to be protected from the elements, from air penetration, and from insect infestation. With a little work, these issues won't get out of hand. In this article, let's address our first point of getting a quality exterior grade finish on the wood to repel water and look great.

Issue #1: The Finish

There are many companies that offer exterior finishes that they claim have been engineered specifically for log homes. Beware very careful when selecting an exterior finish. Some stains and sealers are not sufficient for protecting your logs from water, wind, and UV rays, and they may wear off very quickly (within a few years). After staining your entire log home, the last thing you'll want to have to do is start the process all over within two or three years! There are products that do very well, getting you about 5 or 6 years between coats. Of course, the sides of your house that are more exposed to wind, driving water, and sunlight may need attention sooner than the more protected sides.

Some log home finish products can make your house look dirty and dingy, especially finishes that do not harden beyond a sticky, tacky finish. Because of the tacky finish, wind-blown dust and dirt stick to the finish and soon you'll have a filthy stack of logs. That makes periodic reapplication of the finish much more difficult because of the extra effort needed to make the logs look presentable before glopping more goop over them. Manufacturers of these finishes claim the products have 'more solids added to them' to aid in water repellency, but some of them still have difficulty shedding water after time.

I have tried a few different products and in my experience, I am most satisfied with Sikkens Cetol Log and Siding finish. It hardens to a slightly glossy sheen and allows the beauty of the wood to show through perfectly, and has a few different tints available to lighten or darken the logs to your liking. I've just applied this product in recent years and I'm very happy with it, in comparison to the finishes I took off before using the Sikkens. Oh, by the way, don't get discouraged if you aren't satisfied with a finish you've already applied and you want to try something different. There's a product call Stripex-L that will remove your old finish easily and cleanly. I painted it on and did some light scrubbing (nothing seriously muscle aching) and the old finish rinsed right off with water, making way for two very good looking coats of Sikkens clear coat.

So, your tastes and mileage may vary. This article identifies my own experiences, and other people may have excellent luck with the products I've removed. Feel free to try your own. A great tactic is to use a scrap piece of log that may have been left over from your construction to test your final result. Oh, speaking of which, if you have a house built from solid logs through the first story but have thin log siding up top in the gable ends, be aware that finishes may apply to the different surfaces differently, causing some color mismatches. Again, the Sikkens Cetol I used did not have this problem, whereas the other products I tried did.

Coming soon, our articles about Log Home sealer and how to keep the hungry bugs away. Keep up to date by subscribing to our blog as well!

Until next time,

Ron

Well, the agricultural fairs will be starting up again within a few weeks. You know, the ones where you look at the area's hugest vegetables, eat a bunch of corn dogs and sausages, and look at all the stuff you want to buy- trucks, tractors, sheds.... log homes? Yup, the log home dealers will be there too.

A log home is not just a dream, they are as comfortable as conventional homes. Sure, they require some maintenance and attention, but what home doesn't? And they require some planning before taking the plunge; check on local building and zoning laws and certainly check with bank lenders, as not all conventional mortgage lenders view log homes as a safe investment. If you get an inexperienced builder who hasn't managed a log home project or doesn't know some of the 'tricks' necessary to build a log home, then it may not be a safe investment. If you deal with a reputable company and experienced builder, you can feel like you live in a vacation lodge all year long!

Don't rule out a log home if you are planning a new home. Because the exterior walls are full logs, interior finishing on those walls is minimal if you like the look of natural wood. Look through the brochures, collect some information, and stay tuned to our blog for more advice if you're just beginning to research log homes.

As log home owners since 1998, we can share some of our experiences with you to make it a more satisfying process for you. The main point to consider is DO NOT RUSH into a purchase. This type of home requires more research than many other types. To get started, certainly look at the dealers' brochures and information packages at the upcoming fairs and home shows. Here is an excellent short ebook on avoiding log home building mistakes, as well. Also, view our Rustic Home online blog to keep up to date with our latest information, and feel free to leave feedback or questions about building your new log home.