However, some types of homes require more maintenance than other — and here is where log homes have an advantage. It is quite easy to preserve your log home and keep it that way for life. Below are the steps to take toward low maintenance living.

Keeping your materials in good condition throughout the building process will get you started in the right direction. Once the log home has been built and your interior is ready for finishing, we recommend sealing the interior T&G walls and logs with a good quality polyurethane.

If the wood is dirty or has unsightly marks from the construction process, a simple mixture of 50/50 water and bleach will help remove dirt and whiten the wood back to its original color. Be sure to start at the bottom of the wall and work your way up —if you start at the top you will leave streaks on the wall. A stiff bristle brush can make this a quick and easy task. Be sure to let the wood dry before proceeding to finishing.

When the wood is clean and ready to finish, you can apply the polyurethane. We recommend using two coats with a light sanding between coats. Some homeowners even sand all the walls before finishing them to give the wood a furniture finish. This is a lot of work, but it only has to be done once and the results will last a lifetime.

When buying the polyurethane, you will need to decide on type —oil or water based, as well as your choice of finish— glossy, semi-gloss, or satin. You should look at homes that are finished a way that appeals to you and find out what they used.

To maintain the interior walls, a periodic simple cleaning will keep your log home looking great and won’t take very long to do.

For the exterior of your home we recommend applying a quality wood preservative as soon as you can once the house is under roof. You can clean the logs in the same manner as the interior allowing for time to dry properly. Coventry sells WeatherSeal and Perma-Chink Systems, both of which are excellent choices for preserving your log home.