If you own a log cabin then you’ll know that one of the regular tasks is log cabin staining and maintenance. Depending on the location of your log cabin, the climate and how often it’s used, you may need to stain your log cabin every year or two.
While it sounds like a simple task there are plenty of subtleties to log cabin staining that can make the job much harder than it needs to be. In this article, we’ll share some log cabin staining tips and advice to help you get the best possible finish.
After all, you want your idyllic log cabin retreat to look its best whether you’re living there yourself or renting it out as a log cabin rental.
Prepping Your Log Cabin To Be Stained
Prep is essential if you want to give your log cabin a professional and even finish. While some people might like a rustic look, log cabins usually look best when they’re well-maintained and the logs are evenly stained.
Before you start log cabin staining, you need to give the log cabin a good clean. This means using a power washer on the outside of the log cabin to remove any dirt, debris, and cobwebs. Once the log cabin is dry move around the cabin to inspect for damage.
This is the perfect opportunity to make any repairs that are needed such as replacing log cabin chinking or log cabin caulking.
You should also take this opportunity to apply any log cabin sealant that might be necessary. This will help to protect your log cabin from the elements and make it easier to clean in the future.
Choosing Your Log Cabin Stain
The first big choice you need to make when log cabin staining is what type of log cabin stain you’re going to use. There are oil-based stains and water-based stains available.
The main difference between the two is that oil-based stains take longer to dry but last longer, whereas water-based stains dry quickly but need to be reapplied more often.
Once you’ve decided on the type of log cabin stain you want to use, you need to choose the colour. There is a wide range of log cabin stain colours available so it’s worth taking some time to look at all the options before making a decision.
It’s also worth considering whether you want a transparent log cabin stain or an opaque log cabin stain. Transparent log cabin stains will allow the natural grain of the wood to show through, whereas opaque log cabin stains will provide more coverage.
Once you’ve chosen your log cabin stain, make sure you read the instructions carefully before starting to apply it. This will help you to understand how long it needs to dry and how many coats you need to apply.
Applying Your Log Cabin Stain
Once your log cabin is prepared and you’ve chosen your log cabin stain, it’s time to start staining! One important tip is to work in sections so that you don’t miss any areas.
To avoid lap marks, make sure you overlap each section as you work. Once you’ve finished staining the log cabin, leave it to dry according to the instructions on the log cabin stain can.
At this stage, it’s probably a good idea to rope in family or friends to help. Log cabin staining doesn’t need to be a difficult or time-consuming task but if you have a large cabin it will go much faster with some extra pairs of hands.
Once it’s dry, your log cabin will look great and be protected from the elements. Log cabin staining is an important part of log cabin maintenance and it’s well worth doing to keep your log cabin looking its best and protected from the weather.
The Best Time To Stain Your Log Cabin
The time of year that you stain your log cabin can make a big difference to how well the log cabin stain takes and how long it lasts.
The best time to stain your log cabin is in the spring or fall when the temperature is milder. If it’s too hot, the log cabin stain will dry too quickly and if it’s too cold, it won’t dry properly.
Staining your log cabin in the spring or fall will also give you the opportunity to open up the log cabin and ventilate it while you’re working.
This is important because log cabin stain can be quite strong and you don’t want to be inhaling fumes for too long.
Log Cabin Staining FAQ
With the essentials covered it’s time to dive into some log cabin staining frequently asked questions.
What is the best log cabin stain?
The best log cabin stain is the one that’s right for your log cabin and your needs. There are oil-based stains and water-based stains available so it’s worth considering which would be better for you.
Is It Easy To Stain A Log Cabin?
Staining a log cabin is relatively easy but it’s important to take your time and do it properly. Make sure you follow the instructions on the log cabin stain can and take care to avoid lap marks.
How Often Should You Stain A Log Cabin?
How often you need to stain your log cabin will depend on the type of log cabin stain you’re using and the weather conditions.
If you live in an area with a lot of rain or snow, you may need to Stain your log cabin more often than if you live in a drier climate.
How Many Coats Of Wood Stain Does A Log Cabin Need?
The number of coats of log cabin stain you need will depend on the type of log cabin stain you’re using and the coverage you’re looking for.
If you’re using a transparent log cabin stain, you may only need one coat but if you’re using an opaque log cabin stain, you may need two or three coats to get the desired effect.
What’s The Best Colour For a Log Cabin?
In our opinion, a natural log cabin with a clear stain is the best option but there are a variety of log cabin stains available in different colours.
It’s really up to you what log cabin colour you choose but we recommend sticking to natural wood colours that will complement your log cabin and garden.
Final Thoughts
We hope you’ve found this guide on log cabin staining helpful. log cabin staining is an important part of log cabin maintenance but it’s not a difficult task.
Just make sure you follow the instructions on the log cabin stain can, work in sections and overlap each section as you go to avoid lap marks.
If you have a large log cabin, it’s probably a good idea to get some help from family or friends. log cabin staining is a relatively easy task but it will go much faster with some extra pairs of hands.
And that’s it! Once you’re done, your log cabin will look great and be protected from the weather.
If you have any questions about log cabin staining or log cabin maintenance in general, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
