Log Building Maintenance & Restoration’s
Log Home Chats Winter 2026
Dreaming of Spring? Why Now is the Time to Plan Your Restoration
Ice Dams 101
What’s That Sound?
Preventing and Managing Roof Buildup
Understanding Winter Log Movement
The Early Bird Gets the Schedule: Planning Your Spring Projects
Maintenance Tip of the Month
Spring might feel distant, but the season is already beginning in the world of log home restoration. We often see our schedules fill up by March. So if you wait until the snow melts to make a call, you might find yourself waiting until late summer for service. Use this quiet time to review your fall inspection notes. Did you spot fading stain, peeling sealant, or potential rot? Don’t wait for the thaw to act.
Keep an eye on roof snow accumulation. If it gets heavy, use a roof rake with a rubber guard to gently clear the eaves of snow. This reduces structural strain and helps prevent ice dams from forming.
2 | Log Home Chats
Contacting us now to discuss your project secures your place in the queue and makes sure there’s time for budgeting, material ordering, and service before the weather turns. ■
Best-Selling Maintenance Products
Log Wash
Check Mate 2
Simple Green
Log Language
“Settling” As logs lose moisture (especially in dry winter air), they shrink slightly, causing the walls to compact and lower. This natural process is expected. However, if settling causes doors or windows to really stick, you might want us to take a look.
Ice Dams: The Silent Roof Destroyer Heat escaping your roof melts snow, which trickles down and refreezes at the cold eaves, forming an ice dam. This barrier forces water to back up under shingles and into your walls/logs. Prevention starts with proper attic insulation and ventilation to keep the roof deck cold. If a dam forms, don’t use rock salt, which chemically damages wood fibers. Instead, use a roof rake to keep eaves clear or contact us for safe removal. ■
Winter 2026 | 3
How Do I Fix “Checks” That Open Up in Winter? Winter’s dry heat often causes logs to shrink, widening existing cracks known as “checks.” While most are cosmetic, large upward-facing checks can trap moisture. To fix them, insert a backer rod into the opening to create a firm surface, then apply a specialized sealant. Tool it smooth to shed water. Ignore hairline checks; they typically close back up in humid spring weather. Only seal the ones that pose a moisture risk. ■
Monitoring Your Home’s “Vitals” During the Deep Freeze Mid-winter is the time to listen and look. First, check windows for excessive condensation; this indicates high indoor humidity that can harm logs. Adjust your humidifier to keep levels between 30-50%. Next, feel for cold drafts around windows and doors. If you find them, your sealant might have failed. Mark these spots for spring repair. Finally, listen to your plumbing. If pipes run through exterior log walls, ensure water flows freely during extreme cold snaps.
Ask the Expert I hear loud popping or cracking sounds coming from my walls at night. Is my house breaking?” Likely not. This is usually “thermal checking.” As logs adjust to extreme temperature shifts between the cold outdoors and warm indoors, the wood fibers move, creating popping sounds. It’s normal behavior for log homes. But if you see visible structural shifting along with the noise, give us a call.
A quick “vitals check” now prevents emergency repairs later. ■
LogBuildingMaintenance.com Info@LogBuildingMaintenance.com
Log Home Chats
Winter 2026 | 4