Wood destroying organisms need three things for survival: water, food (cellulose from wood) and oxygen.
Take away any one and the organisms can’t survive. Wet logs are a key ingredient to attracting the fungi to begin their job of decaying the wood. Therefore, rot prevention is easily achieved by keeping logs dry through the application of preservatives and exterior finishes.
before chinking...
and after
Caught early, rot is not a structural issue - every situation will be different. What needs to be determined is if the log is a structural element and how deep the rot is. Then it can be determined if the hole can be filled or if the log needs to be replaced.
Damage caused by Mold, Mildew &
Light
Mold and mildew are found in high moisture areas and leave stains. Mildew will appear as either white brown, yellow, gray, green, black and will be powdery in texture. It wlll open the door for other decay-causing organisms but can be removed with oxygen bleach. Ultra-violet light from the sun has a graying effect on wood surfaces over time.
Damage caused by Fungi
Fungi are the cause of wood rot. They
are microscopic plants that grow on and
extract sugars from the cellulose structure
of wood which causes the deterioaration. There
are about 100,000 species of fungi but they are all treated the same.
Wood Boring Insects
Most wood boring insects are attracted to decaying wood. Usually the first sign of insects is to find a small pile of sawdust. Find the hole and find the reason (is the wood wet?)
Borate
Borate products are very effective
against wood boring insects and fungi.
They can be purchased as spray-on preservatives
and applied to the logs before the
stain or can be applied at the
first sign of decay while the wood
is still wet. They also come as rods
which can be drilled into the wood
and slowly diffuse throughout the log.
Log Replacement
We can repair rot if it is not a structural issue, but we do not replace logs. We can perhaps recommend someone in your area or contact a local log home builder and they can steer you in the right direction.
