Kamiah Log Home Restoration

Kamiah Log Lodge – July 2024

After

The Flying B Ranch in Kamiah is a premier hunting lodge that offers all kinds of outdoor opportunities. The entire structure is a beautifully constructed log lodge. Over the years, the owners of the lodge were misled on how to properly maintain their structure and were told to use several layers of fence paint on the structure for multiple years.

We were hired to complete a total restoration of the log home, including blasting, replacing rotten sections of log, filling all checks with “Log Jam Chinking” and applying a new coat of “Capture” stain and “Cascade” clear coat. 

As you can see from the before/after pictures, the thick paint had hidden the unique details of the natural logs. By removing the paint and instead staining the structure, the logs look natural and beautiful again!

Why You Shouldn’t Use Paint on Logs

Painting a log home is generally discouraged for several reasons, and it’s commonly recommended to use alternative finishes to allow the natural beauty of the wood to shine. Here are some reasons you should avoid painting a log home:

• Breathability of Wood:
• Issue: Logs naturally expand and contract with changes in temperature and humidity. If logs are sealed with paint, it can trap moisture within the wood, leading to issues like rot, decay, and mold growth. This occurs because paint doesn’t allow the logs to “breathe” or release moisture as effectively as other finishes. 
• Consequence: Entrapped moisture can result in long-term damage to the logs, compromising their structural integrity and reducing their lifespan. Additionally, the trapped moisture can create a favorable environment for mold and mildew, negatively impacting indoor air quality.

• Maintenance Challenges:
• Issue: Paint tends to chip, crack, and/or peel over time, especially on surfaces that undergo significant expansion and contraction, such as logs. Maintaining painted log exteriors can be challenging and may require frequent repainting.
• Consequence: Regular maintenance is not only time-consuming but can also become an expensive and labor-intensive task. The constant need for repainting can be impractical and may lead to the degradation of the log home’s appearance.

• Natural Aesthetic Appeal:
• Issue: Log homes are chosen for their natural and rustic aesthetic. Painting logs conceals the unique grain patterns, textures, and colors within the wood, diminishing the visual appeal that draws many people to log homes in the first place.
• Consequence: Painting a log home may result in an artificial appearance that doesn’t align with the traditional and natural look that log home enthusiasts often desire.