water stains on inside logs

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Permalink Reply by Lee & Sondra Kraley on July 4, 2009 at 11:36pm

Hi Trisha! We had that problem in a few spots too. Once the drip was resolved, I had the stain to deal with. I tried LOTS of different things...different ratios of bleach and water, wood 'color' remover, it actually turned out to be a pretty stressful process. It was right in the prow, which is the pride and joy of our design, so it was important that this spot was PERFECT! It seemed NOTHING I found suggested online did the trick. Eventually, we resorted to just a light sanding in those spots and TADA! Problem solved! We had to do some 'touch up' finishing (reapplication of the clear stain and poly), but it turned out nicely. And I was greatly relieved. We have two or three coats of poly on the interior (over the clear stain) and I've found that most spots that need a vigorous cleaning (toothpaste spatter in the bathroom is the biggest culprit), I spray a little 409 or Fantastic on a toothbrush, scrub just a little, dab it with a clean, wet cloth, and they're gone. Hope that helps! :o)

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Permalink Reply by Lee & Sondra Kraley on July 4, 2009 at 11:46pm

P.S. We put a fine line of a sealant that PermaChink makes specifically for chinkless log homes (which ours is) between the half logs and in all vertical seams. The bottom 9' of our house is solid 10" logs, but the upper gable ends are half logs. I cringed when hubby came home with it...chinkless was a big thing for me. We bought it in the same color as the house (it can be stained also) and it blended in well. Comes in tubes like caulk, but it's flexible and somewhat gritty, and smooths out beautifully with a tool...and a little practice. And NO MORE WATER behind the half logs! Yay! :o)

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Permalink Reply by trisha conroy on July 5, 2009 at 11:15am

Hi Lee and Sondra, Thanks for responding to my problem. I tryed to sand it this morning and it does get rid of the stain. Now I have light marks where that was and the logs are a rich honey color. I am hoping the poly will cover that up. My log cabin is 25 years old and is chinked inside and out. Outside is a thick chink that holds up really well. Only the real logs are chinked but not the half log. I hate heights so I never got up any higher than the real logs. I may have to bite the bullet and climb a little higher! How old is your house. I don't know if they had chinkless logs when I built mine. Are they really tight together?
I am going to start working on my inside logs and I will let you know how things are going. Thanks again Trisha

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Permalink Reply by Lee & Sondra Kraley on July 5, 2009 at 12:48pm

Hi again Trisha! If you hold off just a little, the spot will darken naturally on it's own. Even just a couple of weeks will make a difference. You could probably speed up the process with some type of UV light. I just left the freshly sanded wood exposed a few weeks, then put a little wood conditioner on it and let it dry (that brought it closer to the color of the rest of the logs). Our interior logs have a clear stain with poly over that, so they are like a rich honey color also. So I just touched the spot up with the 'clear' stain and then the poly and it's unnoticeable to everyone (except me!). It's MUCH better than the water stain though! Yes, our logs are pretty tight. They have a rippled design were they connect. The temperature is a little cooler in the winter in the seams than it is on the face of the 10" log. So, we may be considering some type of chinking anyway. Don't like those electric bills! :o)

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Permalink Reply by Kelly on July 5, 2009 at 9:21pm

Hi Trisha,

Water marks are a tough one.

In order to get rid of water marks you would have to sand them out, but doing this you wil get a lighter effect on the logs you are sanding. So if you decide to do this you would have to sand the whole wall in order for it to be uniform.

I know it is alot of work but the water marks will be gone and it will blend in beautiful!

I wish there were something out there to help with this situation but we have been in busniess for 16 years and haven't heard of a better solution but to sand all of it.

I would rechink the area where you are having the water come in first and then sand it.

If you have any questions feel free to email me at info@iwoodc.com and I would be happy to help you through this process!!!!!!

I hope this help you!


Kelly

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Permalink Reply by trisha conroy on July 11, 2009 at 7:25am

Hi, I sanded a couple of spots and it is very light. We only put poly on the logs and they are a honey color. I will do what you said and let them sit for a while. I love my house but it does have issues a normal house does'nt. But it is so cozy inside. Before we chinked our house the air was always blowing in the logs. But since we chinked inside and out it has made a big differance. Our heat is electric so it did'nt really change that bill much. But at least you did'nt feel like you were sitting outside in the winter with the gale winds whipping around your head! I know I need to chink the logs where the water comes in only problem is I hate heights and this is really high. Guess I will have to figure out something. Thanks again for your input.

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Permalink Reply by trisha conroy on July 11, 2009 at 7:31am

Hi Kelly, Thanks for the help. I would like to chink the upper logs but have no way to get up there. I am afraid of heights and only could chink to above the windows. I have a ranch style house. I think sanding and then poly over it should help the problem. Now what to do outside! I will have to try and find someone who can do the job. Its not easy to find people who even know how to handle the chink. Anyway thanks again. If I need any more help I will let you know.

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Permalink Reply by Kelly on July 12, 2009 at 6:35pm

Hi Trisha,

You are welcome!

If there is anything we can do. Feel free to email us and we would be happy to help you through this process!!!!!


Kelly

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