Michigan Custom Log Homes: July 2007 Newsletter

Welcome to The Leelanau Log Home Company E-NEWSLETTER. Our free electronic newsletter offers helpful tips and suggestions on buying, building and owning a log home.

The Leelanau Log Home Company welcomes your suggestions for topics you wish to see in future newsletters. If, at any time, you decide you would rather not receive our E-newsletter, please visit http://www.leelanauloghomes.com to remove yourself from our subscriber list.

About The Leelanau Log Home Company LLC

The Leelanau Log Home Company LLC is an authorized independent dealer for The Original Lincoln Logs LTD serving the Great State of Michigan. In addition, we offer complete construction and general contracting services, site evaluation, custom design service plus much more. Let our experience, craftsmanship and professional customer service go to work for you!

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July 2007 (Volume 2, Issue 1):

Leelanau Log Homes Introduces a Second Model Home

The Leelanau Log Home Company LLC is pleased to announce a second model home in Northern Michigan. If you live or are visiting the Michigan area, experience the quality, comfort and beauty of a log home from The Original Lincoln Logs LTD through one of our two company model homes. Model homes are located in Lake Leelanau in Leelanau County, Michigan, and now Irons in Manistee County, Michigan. Contact us for a personal tour or visit us during one of our scheduled events.

Tip of the Month: Log Home Maintenance

Just like any home, log home maintenance is required to protect your valuable investment from the environment. Owning a log home requires regular inspections as part of a proactive maintenance program that can help you avoid future costly repairs and keep your log home beautiful for generations to come.

Proactive Log Home Maintenance

As part of a proactive maintenance program, create a record of your maintenance activity. Include date of inspections, maintenance coat applications, caulking, etc. Also keep record of the finish stain manufacturer, color and other products that you use on your log home.

Outlined below are some simple tips to include in your maintenance plan.

Inspect the logs for checks that face towards the sky or any check that tends to hold water. A great time to inspect your logs is after a good rain. Fill those checks with a quality high performance caulk specifically made for log homes.
Inspect butt joints, corners, window and doors and where log siding meets full logs. Caulk by filling any gaps.
Look for discolored logs, which could be a sign of finish stain failure or mold growth.
Look for signs of insect damage, which can be small holes with wood powder near them.
Clean your logs once or twice a year using a manufacturer's recommend cleaning solution and follow the manufacturer's directions for a light power wash. Some areas of your log home will require more frequent cleaning, such as near foundations, porches or decks, dormers or anywhere back splash occurs. You may need to invest in a gutter and downspout system if you have excessive back splash. Also, when designing your landscaping, consider a rock border around your foundation to reduce back splash.
Keep plantings and trees away from your logs; they could potentially introduce insects and moisture to the logs.
Evaluate how well your finish is holding up to the UV (ultraviolet light) exposure. Compare the sides of your home that have the most sun exposure to the ones that don't. UV degrades the finishes ability to protect your logs. The sides of your log home that receive the most UV will fade more quickly and probably need to be recoated more often.
Select darker colors that hold up longer (due to more pigment) to prolong the life of the finish.

Maintenance Application

Usually you will have to apply a maintenance coat every 3-6 years. However, if you've been diligent with a proactive maintenance program, you may even extend that period of time. The key is to apply a maintenance coat before it actually needs it. How do you know when it's time? When water droplets no longer bead-up, it's time. Always use the same finish stain product as the initial application, follow the manufacturer's instructions and warranty guidelines and hire an experienced applicator.

Finish stain manufacturers are continually developing improvements for durability and UV protection. Many offer products for cleaning logs, maintenance coatings, high performance caulk and insect repellants. Contact your local paint supplier or finish stain manufacturer for more information.

About Lincolns Logs. When you purchase a Lincoln Logs home, each log is treated prior to shipment. The process involves submerging each log into a dip tank with chemical solutions that provide protection to your logs during the construction process. In addition, each Lincoln Log home package comes with Sikkens Pre-Treatment which prevents further moisture absorption, helps control the drying process and provides additional protection during construction.

Log home maintenance is not more difficult than caring for a typical stick built constructed home, it just requires different methods. If you have additional questions about finish stains, application and log home maintenance, please give us a call.

Featured Floorplan: Cimarron

3 Bedrooms, 2 1⁄2 Bathrooms

Main level: 1,598 sq. ft.
Second level: 761 sq. ft.
Total: 2,359 sq. ft.

Great view? Enjoy it from every room in this stunning home. Three large bedrooms, a spacious vaulted living room and plenty of storage make this stylish contemporary one of our most popular homes.

For more floorplans, access our floorplans database.