FAQs
How often should I stain my log home?
So there are many factors that influence this. Short answer is roughly about every 5 years assuming you apply a quality stain like Perma-Chink or PPG Sikkens stain and sealer. There are many factors that can influence this. The south side of your log home receives the most sun so that typically will need a recoat first. Any side with porches will typically exceed the expected recoat time. And if you take great care of your log home, then most times you will just need a coat of sealer and not stain. It is also very important to wash down you log home once to twice a year with a mild cleaner like Perma-Chink Log Wash. Give us a call at 208-881-8564 and we will be happy to provide a free quote.
How often should I wash my log home?
Taking care of your log home is similar to taking care of your vehicle. If you never wash it, the stain/sealer will break down faster. A log home should be washed one to two times a year with a mild cleaner like Perma-Chink Log Wash.
How do I know my log home needs a new coat of stain/sealer?
Just like your vehicle, when you spray water on you log home and it does not bead up then it is ready for a recoat. Don’t delay because the stain/sealer will continue to break down and at some point your log home may need more extensive work beyond just a restain/reseal.
I like the look of bare wood. Can I just apply a coat of sealer with using any stain?
You should never do this because stain provides a layer of protection from sun and rain. Ultimately, your logs will develop issues that will need extensive work.
Can I just paint my logs so I don't have to incur the cost of stain/sea?
No, you should never do this. Paint locks in moisture and may lead to log rot and extensive log issues. That is why log homes are recommended to be stained so the logs can breathe.
Do I need to caulk my log home cracks, joints, and checks? Why do I need to do this?
This is very important to prevent water and air infiltration. Without this, your logs may develop issues over time and may be less energy efficient. And not all checks need to be caulked. Only checks that slant downward into the log and are more than 1/8 inches or more need to be caulked. Any you should also caulk the corners and also around windows and doors.
How do I know if my logs may need replaced or need an epoxy repair?
Short answer is that if you knock on your logs where you think there may be an issue and it sounds more hollow then it probably has issues. These logs may need replaced or an epoxy repair. Don’t delay on this repair because it will become more costly as time progresses. Give us a call at 208-881-8564 and we will be happy to provide a free quote.
What is the typical cost for staining/sealing?
This can vary based on many factors. What condition is your current stain? Is your log home a 2 Story? When was the last time stain/sealer was applied? Where are you located? What is the size of your log home? What stain was used previously on your log home? Give us a call at 208-881-8564 and we will be happy to provide a free quote.
My friend has a log home and decided to just apply siding over the top of his logs to save money and the time of staining/sealing. Can I do this for my log home?
Well you could but why would you want to have a log home then? Why not just take care of it and continue to have a beautiful log home? And you may greatly reduce the resell value.
My cousin restained and caulked his log home himself and it only cost him about $1000. Can I do this?
You could. It is your log home so do what you want. We frequently see log homes that are stained with inexpensive deck sealer and some that are caulked with bathroom caulk. It looks terrible and it always saves the homeowner money and these products are not intended for log homes so can fail quickly.
What is the cost for an estimate for my log home?
No cost for an in-person estimate as long as it is in our service area. Give us a call at 208-881-8564 and we will be happy to assist.
How is River to River Log Homes different from other Log Home Repair/Restoration Companies?
We have been in business since 2005 and take great pride in everything we do. We treat every log home as if it was our Grandmother’s and it shows in our reviews and pictures.
Will I need to strip down my log home down to bare wood before I stain it?
Typically you do not need to do this. This is based on many factors. What condition is your current stain? When was the last time stain/sealer was applied? What stain was used previously on your log home? Give us a call at 208-881-8564 and we will be happy to provide a free quote.
What packages are available from River to River Log Homes?
Our typical package includes a Log Wall, Second Floor System, and Timber Roof Package. Other companies may try to sell you everything to build you home including appliances and the kitchen sink. Guess what? Most put a steep mark-up on those items adding tens of thousands or more to your log home. We have local sources for these items to save you money and allow you to customize your home to your exact specifications.
What about financing?
We have contacts with many financial institutions. Please call us at 208.881.8564 or contact us for more help with your financing.
Can designs be modified or can I build a custom home?
Absolutely! Any of our Popular Designs can be modified to your needs or we can start from scratch. We have built homes from customers drawing their future home on a piece of paper. Our design department will do the rest to create complete construction drawings for your new home.
How many log homes has River to River Log Homes help build?
Since 2005, we have built many homes throughout the US. Check out some of our latest homes on the Recent Work page.
Are your logs dry? Are they kiln-dried?
Our logs are dried to 19% moisture or less. We have comparable shrinkage to a conventional home. Other companies leave up to 10,000 lbs of water in their logs in an average home. We have no screw-jacks to adjust or springs to account for the shrinkage. We build a quality home you can enjoy for generations to come.
Why should I choose River to River Log Homes instead of a national company?s Here
Local knowledge of the building trades and subcontractors in your area, personalized service, and an interest in building an airtight, energy-efficient home are a few of the many reasons to choose us. We live near our customers. We’re not out of state.
What sets River to River Log Homes apart from other log home representatives?
Most log home representatives’ top priority is to get a deposit and sell you a log home. We want to gain a satisfied customer, a friend, and a reputation for building quality log homes at competitive prices.
How much does it cost to build a log home?
Typically, in this area we see log homes built for a little more than a conventional house, about 10 to 20% more for a turn-key. This is a home with nice finishes, but not over the top. How you finish the home (flooring, counter tops, light fixtures, plumbing fixtures, cabinets, etc.) will impact your total cost. This estimate does not include land related costs such as excavation, putting in a road, well, septic, etc. as this can vary significantly depending on where you are building.
Do you build or construct log homes?
Depending on your location, we typically have builder or dry-in contacts. We can offer to come out with the log package delivery to provide your builder technical assistance on the job on day one. If additional technical assistance is needed, we will work together to find the best course of action.
Do you supply any framing material?
We do not supply any of the dimensional framing material. This material is readily available at any building materials store. You/your builder can purchase the material less than what it would cost for us to provide it since we would have transportations costs.
How long does it take to build a log home?
Highly dependent on the weather and complexity of the home, you are probably looking at 6-9 months.
What species of wood do you use?
We use many different species. Call us at 208.881.8564 and we will be happy to discuss.
Do you accept changes to your floor plans? Custom Plans?
Absolutely! Nearly half of our clients have a custom design, the other half start with a standard plan and modify it to what they want.
What is a heavy timber roof system?
Our typical heavy timber roof system consists of Douglas Fir Rafters, white pine tongue and groove, 7 1/4″ polystyrene R-38 insulation panels laminated to OSB (followed by your house wrap and roofing cover). Your building location dictates the size rafters and tongue and groove needed.