Preserve the Natural Beauty of Your Log Cabin

Certified Homes Log Cabin Maintenance

To preserve the natural beauty of your log cabin or certified home, you must maintain the exterior by periodically re-staining it. Fresh stain should be applied approximately every five years.

The stain applied to your certified log cabin home at the factory was Haley Paint’s Wilderness Ultra Log Stain 701. The standard colors are Butternut and Bark; however, re-staining with this same color will significantly darken the color of your home, so we recommend re-staining with ULS Natural, which is a lighter tone. Test the color on a small patch in an inconspicuous location.

Step 1

Remove the shutters and anything attached to the home that blocks access to stained surfaces.

Step 2

Clean the exterior. This is typically done with a pressure washer. The goal is to clean the siding, not strip the previous stain. Be careful not to wash so closely that it roughs up the wood. If any mildew is present, treat it with a mold & mildew remover before re-staining.

Step 3

When the exterior has fully dried, you are ready for the stain. It is typically applied with a large brush. If you apply it with an airless sprayer, it may still need to be back-brushed for consistency. A properly installed single coat of stain is all that is needed to freshen and preserve your exterior for the next five years. Reinstall your shutters when the stain is fully cured.

Log Cabin Maintenance Staining Tips

Apply stain only when air temperature is between 55° and 100° Fahrenheit. Do not apply in direct sunlight.

Apply consistently. Adjusting the amount of stain you apply will affect the final color.

Work the entire length of a log as you go to prevent unsightly overlap lines.

Check out our Certified Homes Main Page for more information!