PAINTING GUY writes:
Topics on Northern BC Log Home Finishing
Burns Lake, Smithers, Houston, Vanderhoof, Prince George,
Well done but... WHAT DID THEY DO TO
THE LOG FINISHING!
Saik’uz Development Corporation Vanderhoof
- The Saik’uz Development Corporation will receive $624,610 for the
Saik’uz
First Nations Gateway Arts and Cultural Exchange Centre. The total
project
cost is $820,400. http://www.wd.gc.ca/siceai/results_northwest_e.asp
- The centre will house a studio, gallery and retail sales area
featuring
locally produced arts and crafts. It will help grow the cultural
tourism
industry for the area and will enable the area to host meetings and
conferences.
It will also encourage and promote the development of First Nation
business
ventures throughout the region by capitalizing on Alaska-bound tourists.
OKAY! Good to see this happen. I think this gallery is the best
think to happen since Mom's apple pie. However, from a professional
point of view, finishing logs like the Image
1 below is not going to weather the test of time. If
we are to grow as
a business the first thing we need to do is identify and promote good
log
home building and contractors.
I
don't get it. Maybe they want this shoe polish look but is it really
cost effective with long term planning here. Having log homes finished
like this high
profile gallery will surely turn off some new log home buyers after the
finish rubs off and the rain, snow and sun beats it to a grey fungas
travesty. If this was a 800 sq. ft. backwoods cabin I wouldn't get so
worried but $825,000! Let's keep dishing out the cash lol.
From a log home builder/applicators POV, it shocks me to think
homes are actually finished this way and people pay for it. I fear for
the home buyer.
I'm including these image examples to help the conscience level of
log building quality improve and hopefully to save someone the
heartache
of something like this from happening to you. Northern BC is growing
and I want to see the log home finishing trade grow along with it.
Surrounding
our trade around professionals that improve our industry is key to its
growth. Hopefully this article will help educate people interested
in building and buying the higher quality log homes built by qualified
Northern BC
log home builders and finishers.
- <>Example: BAD
Log Home Staining and Finishing.
- <>Example: GOOD Log Home Staining
and Finishing
Image 1
This log building, located between Vanderhoof and Prince George, BC
Canada was built
using premium grade, large diameter spruce and pine house logs. From an
outsider's eye looking across the road this log building looks
pretty good. I was thrilled to see this project happen however, once I
walked closer to take be better look the stain finishing was shocking!
I brought a local log builder along and our opinions were the same.
Until the angle griders came out and the staining began they had a very
nice start. It appears someone was either cutting the budget where
profit is made or, had no idea how to finish (stain) the outside logs
and clear coat the interior of this very expensive community project
made possible in part by the Softwood Industry Community Economic
Adjustment Initiative and Community Futures I might add.
The Big Question... I know they were informed but wonder why they
didn't they take advise from any qualified log home finisher
or company(s) that makes stain formulated for Northern BC climate? They
obviously used
amateurs to apply this stain and in my opinion they used the wrong
product and method to apply the solution
for NOTE!: preserving, the outside logs of this expensive project. It
also appears they very sparingly, brushed
a "shoe polish looking stain" onto these beautiful house logs... IMHO
what
a mess... It makes me wonder who actually approved this and who will
pay to do it over when the deterioration begins sooner than expected (a
few years)? Not only do these logs look very " stain thirsty" and IMO
terrible up close, there is no penetration to the wood. It looks so
sparingly applied, no way will this staining preserve this expensive
log building for long.
According to http://www.wd.gc.ca/siceai/results_northwest_e.asp the
total project cost is $820,400. Expect this 2750 sq. ft. Saik’uz Legacy
Home beauty to look very weathered and thirsty in a few years. What a
shame seeing beautiful log work finished like this in the end.
That being said, not all is lost. Future log home projects can learn
from, IMHO, these log builders mistakes.
If you want your log building to last, what protects your
investment?
Staining and or clear coating a log building is one of the MOST
important
processes and often the most over looked or scimped on because of
budget. It is my opinion, if the contractor has profit issues he
usually "pulls the wool" over the owners eyes in this part of the
project. Not until later do most owners actually notice bad paint jobs,
finishing etc.
I say... There is no point in going to all the mass work and major
expense of building a log home
like this one and then do-it-yourself staining in the end.
GOOD
Finishing Starts here!
Professional Log Home Finishing
Here is a good example of what your outside logs should look
like. This is an example of Timber Pro Coatings finish. This Vancouver
based company makes world class eco solutions for all types of log home
finishing TimberProCoatings.com.
Image2
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Beware of Bad Interior Log Home Finishing
This is not how a log home should look.
NOTE: red arrows.
Grinding and Cleaning Logs:
These large diameter, spruce and pine logs were finished with a 6 inch
angle grinder. They could have been buffed with a special cup
brush,
not a high speed angle grinder! The angle grinder not only
removed the
beautiful hand hewn drawn knife work, but missed ALL the
laterals
and corners on every log in the building! The result is a
very rough and dirty looking log finish. It is also a good possibility
that the dark area's missed have a fungus. This log building could
have been finished so much better but wasn't. From my understanding the
general contractor was
advised on interior finishing but obviously felt they knew what they
were doing.
Finishing Logs with Urethane:
The logs were then coated with an interior water based urethane. This
was a good thing however, the log applicator poorly cleaned the
building
after all the grinding. Air blasting, exhaust fans and vacuuming
was obviously not done properly resulting in very rough to touch (will
hold dust now) very hard to clean) finish. The applicator(s) also
used half the amount of clear coat needed to finish this building. They
never used a HVLP spray system. Flood coating is a must to give your
logs that deep professional look that lasts.
This is how interior logs should look before urethane is applied.
NOTE: red arrows.
Use a slow speed polishing disc and a special cup brush, hand sand
tight area's and air blast the logs. Draw knife work is then untouched
and the laterals are clean and buffed. Notice how the rich natural
grain comes out from buffing. The result is a super clean, very smooth
natural looking wood finish.
Worried about a dusty log home?
Buffed logs look awesome, buffed logs that are flood coated hold
much less dust years down the road.
These two logs are prepared properly and ready for clear coating now.
Following steps are:
2 to 3 flood coats of Timber Pro Coatings interior satin urethane
lightly
sanded or fine buffed between coats.
Stay tuned for the profinish coat! ...
Top
Cheers!