- Keep all vegetation at least 4 feet away from the building
Why ?
Fire Danger. Usually you water your plants which gives up moisture to the foundation and some roots will eventually penetrate and destroy the foundation.
Trees and taller shrubs should be a minimum of 20 feet away from the house
Again:
Fire Danger and after time the roots can lift up your whole foundation or crack it.
They also look for a water source, one easy to find is your septic system. The roots will grow into the pipes and plug them.
- Take care of rodents. Make sure that no mice or larger animals have access into your Log Home. Close all openings.
- Watch for wood destroying insects. Usually you can see them and sometimes you can hear them. Termites, carpenter ants, the list goes on and on.
- Close all gaps with caulk or chinking. Water infiltration is your biggest enemy. It will destroy your Log Home over time.
- Make sure your caulk lines are not too big or too small, follow the manufacturer's recommendations.
- Stain your Log Home on a regular basis. Stain gives a protective coating against the elements. If your Log Home turns grey, you pushed it too far already.
- I recommend not to use a total clear stain. It is not really a protection from the damaging UV rays. A lighter pigmented stain is a better alternative.
- Never apply a new coat or caulk over wet wood. You just trap moisture.
- Watch the first two or three courses of logs above ground level, they are more prone to rot.
- Make sure your flashings are in place and are working properly. A flashing is not very helpful if it directs the water inside the structure or the roof.
- Watch for other visible damage, like large cracks in the logs. This gives water the opportunity to run into the wall structure.
- If you find mold, even if it's just a little bit, it needs further investigation. This can be a serious threat.
- Watch for cracks in your foundation, stone work, wall covering, drywall etc. Maybe something puts some pressure on parts of your house that are not designed to be load bearing.
- If your windows or doors start to stick, this might indicate the same serious problem
- Make sure the air in your Log Home is not too dry, otherwise your logs shrink excessively and this creates gaps.
- Use only quality materials for maintaining your Log Home.
- Do your background check on the materials.
- Be an informed Log Home Owner.
- Call us regularly, at least every 2 - 3 years for a Log Home Evaluation.
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