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Question about Weather Seal, any experience? And Sashco complaint....
The other parts of the forum don't seem to have regular traffic so I am posting here...
Our home is 10 years old in central Minnesota and I am currently sanding the entire house down to bare wood for the third time! We had used Sashco Capture and Cascade from the beginning and have had nothing but trouble. During the 2nd year, it began getting mildew between the top coat and the stain coat on the south and east sides. After talking with Sashco (who was great at the time) they sent half the supply we would need to redo it and advised we put a borate (PeneTreat) down first. We did that and by the 2nd year of the recoat, it did it again but this time we started to notice dry rot in the middle of lengths of logs in the middle of nowhere. We put impel rods in those spots and have maintained the caulking religiously during this time. Now here we are, years later and 2 summers now ago I noticed dark spots on the east side and in the corner of the second level on the south east corner. I decided to chisel out the 1" spot and patch it, except the 1" spot turned into a 3 ft hole encompassing several logs almost through the entirety of the log depth. My house is rotting from the inside out. I immediately called Sashco, who was rude, unhelpful, and even accusative about how the stain was applied and the maintenance it received. In order to even consider helping us out, they wanted a list of all the finish and sealant purchases we made with exact dates and amounts. I didn't keep every one because I didn't realize my house was secretly rotting deep within the logs. I consulted with several restoration experts and they all asked what I had used, and the response was overwhelming pointing fingers at Sashco products. The fact the interior of the south and east sides had been coated with Sashco interior 2 coat system essentially "hard-candy coated" the logs and held the moisture inside to cause severe decay. I was advised to sue Sashco but after the response I received from Sashco, I figured what I spend on trying to get Sashco to take some responsibility I would just spend it on something that would actually work.
We spoke with some area log home owners and have heard wonderful things about Weather Seal and it's endurance. I just can't seem to back this up online from any other users. Any advice? I heard great things about Q8 but that its like putting motor oil on the logs. I don't think I want that much issue with finding compatible caulking...
Tags: Sashco, mildew, rot, seal, weather, weatherseal
Views: 387
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Donald Parsons on -
Kristin-it's disappointing to hear about your log home. I can totally relate to the concerns you have and some of the problems you have had over the years. Fortunately in 1992 I built a log home that was borate pressure treated (the entire log is filled with borates) so although I do not have the rot/decay problems, I had similar problems with exterior finished that were "film forming" or a type of coating. The only product I found that satisfied me (after trying two other finishes) is the Q8 log oil. Here's why I like the product:
- It is a unique oil (not like motor oil or other oil type products) and will not form a skin if you leave the container open for any period of time.
- It is "idiot" proof...and I should know...you don't have to worry about lap marks (YEA!)
- You apply it to the point of refusal (no multi-applications, no top coats, etc.)
- It contains a preservative
- It is a superb water repellant
- It is offers UV protection
- You can apply it with a brush or a pump up sprayer
- The same manufacturer makes a wonderful, compatible cleaner (KleenStart) that is "green"
- They also make the additive NBS-30 carpenter bee/bug repellent that is "green"
- For mold/mildew problems Q8 already contains a "copper" type substance for a mildewcide
- They also make a product MoldBuster (it's also an additive) for those of us living in the high humid areas that boosts the existing mildewcide in Q8
I've had these products on my log home for over 8 years now and can not be happier. I too had to blast off previous coatings to get my home down to bare wood before starting over with the Q8 products. Their web site is www.chemtch.com for more information.
Best of luck with your log home - hope this help a bit.
Donald
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Permalink Reply by Raymond Wengerd on
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We do lot's of restoration, The proplem with weather seal, you will get the same result as you did with sashco, stay away from any film forming stains, sealers or finishes. I agree with Donald that Q8 oil is a good product. We use Lovitts Emerald Gold, or Lovitt's Natural Gold,we have used their products for over 6 years, and have nothing but great results! They have the best, most knowledgable customer support in Log Home restoration I have ever dealt with. check out their website, www.lovittscoatings.com
Make this your last finish removal!
Ray
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Permalink Reply by Dave R on -
We just completed our log home build this week in the UP of Michigan. [about the same weather as you get] I am not an "expert" but we used Weather Seal. WE FLAT OUT LOVE IT! I disagree completely that weather seal is a film forming product. In fact if you call the company they will give you the nod that this product will never need to be blasted off. We did test Q-8 I did not like it.
Our home was completed in May of 11 20" logs hand scribed. We went through a complete cleaning process and treated with a borate and then the weather seal was applied. No issues from then to date. In fact tomorrow morning I am washing the west and south side of the house for the second coat. Very easy to put on brush, and likes being brushed. Please feel free to contact me directly via email for more detailed info. I will get a current pic before staining tomorrow. I will try to post a pic. midalake@netzero.com
Dave
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Permalink Reply by Michael Whalen on -
Hello Everyone-
Most stains look pretty good when first applied to a new log home, the real testimonies are from customers who have been through many maintenance cycles or who have had experiences with many types and brands of coatings.
Some of the top log home restoration companies in the USA use Lovitt's, how do we know? Because we consider ourselves one of them!
We have restored thousands of log homes, maintain them over time, and have been doing this for many years. We run the largest log home restoration company on the west coast. We exclusively use only Lovitt's Pro Finishes.
Why? Because we can't take a chance on using inferior products, or products with fake or limited warranties, on our customers' log homes, we provide long term guarantees for our professional service work, and only with Lovitt's we can offer our guarantees on SERVICE and PRODUCTS!
That has been the formula of success for our company, and in turn success for our customers' log home care.
I invite you all to visit our website and view our work gallery, each one of these "restorations" were from removing other products that failed, and installing Lovitt's wood stains.
Now these people are on a long term system of care for their log home, maintenance is easy and quick using their system and the log home never needs to be blasted or heavy sanded! We have some customers who have been through 3-4 maintenance cycles and the money they have saved compared to using an acrylic film forming finish is tremendous.
One more thing for every one to consider when looking for a long term system for caring for their log home, labor is the most expensive part of caring for your log home, not the product!
So choose wisely and don't buy a product just because it is well advertised, very expensive, or "New and Improved" ?....
The expense of restoration will make that initial choice sting hard a few years down the road....
Mike Whalen
MM Wood Restoration & Protection
(877) 966-3476
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Permalink Reply by CharisB on -
Kristin -
I'm Charis w/ Sashco. I'm so sorry to hear of your problems. I myself don't remember speaking to you directly so I'm not up-to-date on what conversations were had, but let me first apologize for the rude response you received last time. That's certainly not something we like to hear. You need to know that this post has made it to the highest levels of Sashco and is being addressed.
In the meantime, I would be happy to speak with you directly myself. I understand why you wouldn't want to use Sashco stains again, but I fear that you may have some deeper problems going on here with moisture infiltration of some kind that could be a problem for you in the future, no matter what stain you use. Film-forming stains and deep-penetrating oil-based stains can all exacerbate any rot problems and trap moisture. It would be great if I could speak with you and look at some pictures in order to help you figure out the root of the problems so you can fix them once and for all moving forward.
Feel free to email me or call me so I can do what I can to help you.
As to Weatherseal: I've heard good things about Weatherseal and we at Sashco enjoy a good repoir with some there at the company. Nonetheless, any issues with rot that you have now must first be remedied before you move forward with any stain. I'd be happy to partner with you to figure out what is the root cause so you can get things re-stained and sealed before more damage occurs.
Call me at 1-800-767-5656 or email me at cbabcock@sashco.com.
Thanks.
Charis Babcock
Sashco, Inc.
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Permalink Reply by EZMARY on
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Sorry to hear of your troubles. My log home was built in 1989, (in the winter). The first two times we stained the exterior, we used CWF. That is what we were told to use, by the manufacturer. It turned the house dark. CWF doesn't last but a couple years. Then we sanded down to bare wood, (lot of work). Then we started using Permachink products( water based). The exterior stain, on bare wood, it will take two coats, then you clear coat. This will last 5 to 7 years. So the next time you stain, is will only take one coat then clear coat, because it won't be down to bare wood) Permachink has wonderful products. I have used Weatherseal, Exterior (oil based), on my wooded decks and walkways, and it really holds up. The weatherseal, wouldn't go through a sprayer, we had to roll it on the decks, (paint roller). I have never used Weather Seal on the home, cause permachink products work so well, and its easiest way for me to go. So I hope this helps and good luck to you!!!!!!!!!!
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