Staining the interior logs in a log home brings out the natural beauty of the wood while protecting the structure from moisture. This is one of those jobs that is an absolute “must” to preserve the logs and keep them from deteriorating for the life span of the home. It’s best done when the home is fresh and unfurnished, but a care stain program ought to be applied over worn regions that no longer withstand water. Both kitchens and laundry areas are prime places for upkeep interior staining.
New Interior Log Wood Staining
Put a drop cloth on the floor beneath the area where you’re going to be working. Move the drop cloth around as you move.
Mask off around windows and doors with painter’s tape.
Sand the interior logs with 100-grit sandpaper. Do this not just to smooth out the rougher regions of the timber, but also to remove slivers and blemishes on the logs. Power sanders may assist with the task, but a sheet of sandpaper that is palmed shapes naturally over the curvature of the log to get the most efficient means to sand.
Brush off all of the sanded areas with a stiff bristled brush. Eliminate all of the sanding dust to get proper sealing and staining.
Put on a paint spray respirator prior to spraying. Pour a timber sealer into a garden sprayer and cover the interior logs. Work in roughly 4-foot-by-4-foot locations and backbrush the sealer in with a 4-inch paintbrush after the sealer was applied. Backbrushing makes sure the sealer gets into every nook and cranny on the log surface to give an evenly sealed foundation for the stain to stick to.
Pour an interior cardboard log stain in the garden sprayer and start spraying the interior logs. Once more, work in a 4-foot-by-4-foot area and backbrush the stain in the wood.
Maintenance Interior Log Wood Staining
Test the stain on the wood. Fill a spray bottle with water and spray the stain on places which look dull or worn. If the water beads, the stain is intact. If the water is absorbed, the logs need to be stained. Areas such as laundry rooms, kitchens and bathrooms are more prone to wear and need maintenance staining more often than anywhere else in the house.
Spread a drop fabric under the subject you’ll be staining.
Wipe down the area to be stained with a moist cloth. You only want to remove dust or dirt in the area.
Gently sand the area with 200-grit sandpaper. This removes built-up dirt, and it scores the surface so that the sealer and stain possess a much better surface area to grip. Brush the dust off with a stiff-bristle brush.
Brush on the sealer with a paintbrush. For larger areas, use a 4-inch-wide brush. Permit the sealer to dry.
Brush the interior log stain over the sealed regions. Slightly overlap the first stain to mix in the new area.