Florida Log Home Restoration and Log Home Repair
American Log Restoration offers Florida Log Home Restoration services and log cabin repairs. Our crew of log home repair and log home restoration experts can help assess any issues you may be facing as a Florida log home owner. With over 20 years of experience repairing and restoring log homes all across the Southeast and United States, the team of log home restoration experts at American Log Restoration and M&M Log Home Care are able to provide all of their expertise in log home repair and log cabin restoration services in Florida.
If you live in Florida and own and log home, you are in luck! American Log Restoration and M&M Log Home Care provide complete log home restoration and repair services in Florida. Since this southern tropical state is so humid and can be wet at times log home maintenance is extremely important. Contact us today to see how we can help. Whether you have log rot from water or bug damaged logs or failing stain, caulking or chinking we can help.
Common Florida Log Home Repair & Restoration Problems
One of the most common problems we see in log homes that need repair in Florida is rotting logs due to the high humidity of Florida. We also see a lot of problems resulting from logs located too close to the ground. One of the most important things that can help prevent water damage to log cabins and log homes is to make sure water is draining away from the walls of your log home and not towards the logs.
Another important thing to consider when evaluating your log home for repair or restoration is staining and sealing. Log homes require regular maintenance in order to keep the logs free of problems for years to come, so don't hesitate to contact us our log home maintenance experts if you believe your home is in need of some preventative maintenance.
Over time, even the best laid landscaping plans can become overgrown and can lead to problems with log homes. We often see log homes in Florida with shrubs and landscaping planted too close to the building, which can cause water to splash onto the logs. This also blocks sunlight from reaching the log home and prevents the logs from drying out, which usually creates a wet environment where mold and mildew can thrive.
In addition to landscaping being too close to log homes in Florida, we also see rain gutters that are in need of cleaning or repair that can, if left unchecked, cause major problems with moisture to your log home. We highly recommend adding rain gutters to log homes to make sure that moisture isn't building up on the logs of your log home.
Another problem that we occassionally see is improper flashing around dormers on log homes in Florida. Make sure you have proper flashing along dormers to prevent water from getting in the wrong place causing major damage.
One issue that is often overlooked when considering renovations and additions to your Florida log home is the problems that these types of things may cause in the long-term. For example, decks built up against the logs often cause rot unless they are properly flashed and prepared to prevent water buildup behind the deck. The log home water damage is caused when water comes off the roof and drips down onto the deck splashing back onto the bottom courses of logs. If you have rain gutters installed you will limit the splashing to a minimum that probably isn't causing any problems. Make sure to check these logs and also make sure your rain gutters are working properly.
A final thing to consider when evaluating your home to prevent log home damage caused by moisture and other environmental factors in Florida is the total amount of overhang on your log home. Log homes should have a minimum of 24" overhang and more if possible. In our experience restoring and repairing log homes in Florida, we have found that the bigger the overhang the less water will be exposed to your logs. Gable ends can get hit the worst with weather since the roof overhangs can't protect the entire wall.
Florida Log Home Maintenance
The best way to prevent log home damage caused by rot, moisture problems and insects is to perform regular log home maintenance on your Florida Log Home. We recommend log home owners make sure to keep their log home up to date with all maintenance by doing regular home inspections and following a maintenance schedule. Once the sealant fails on a Florida log home, more often than not, log home owners are at a much higher risk of having to complete log home repairs due to log rot. If your stain has been failing for many years, you may find that the log home damage has alredy been done and you may have several logs that are rotted and need to be replaced or repaired by our log home repair experts.
Chinking failures - Chinking and caulking are important to not only save money on heating and cooling but also to prevent water from getting in between the logs. Chinking around the log ends on your home is an important place since water can hit the log ends and travel down the logs from there. Insect damage - Generally, insects like wet wood so if you have wet logs or water damage you may attract bugs. Bugs will also get into a log home that does not have water issues as well. Doing a good borate treatment to your logs using a product like Shell-Guard is a great way to prevent insects from entering your home. If you notice ants or beetles its a good idea to check the logs around the areas where you see them. You could have a moisture problem. Log ends protruding past roof overhangs - These will always get hit with the most weather causing the stain and sealant to fail and then ultimately they will rot. You can keep log ends cut back so they are under the roof overhang to protect them better. If you have log ends that stick out make sure to check them for log rot.
Mold, mildew and discoloration - Make sure to look for discolored logs that are either very dark or have mold or mildew on them. Mold and mildew can be green, black and white and can also have many different shades.
These are several issues that logs homes can have which in turn can cause log rot. Make sure to check over your log regularly by using the above list as a reference. If you notice you have a problem then you'll need to check the logs to determine the extent of the damage.
These photos below show some common log rot problems found in humid climates like those found in Florida. If you have log rot or discoloration similar to these photos you may be dealing with serious water or bud damage to your logs. Don't worry, we can help! Call us today at 1-877-788-5647.
