Subject: Logs almost gone
Date: Wed, 24 Jun 1998

Dear Rot Doctor,

After reading your questions from other people who have rotten logs in their log homes and not finding the answer, I thought I would email you.

We not only have rot, but once I did a test drill I found the entire interior of the log was rotten. I have had it covered so they have dried out, but the insides of the bottom three logs in the wall is a semi fine mulch type wood. We would rather not get into the expense of replacing the entire wall, but there is literally almost nothing left of the three bottom logs, from one end of the house, half way down each log.

Will your products help us? We are going to reside in the cabin as well, and have been letting the logs dry from several months. Are they too far gone?

Sincerely,

Ray K.

Ray,

I know rotted-out, hollow logs are distressing, but it's not an uncommon problem in log homes. No help to you at this point, but we are actively at work on a whole new section of our web site just for log home owners.

There is a solution. You need to get a sawsall and cut the face off each hollow log. Save the face piece. Scoop out the rough rotted wood. Use our Clear Penetrating Epoxy Sealer (CPES) to saturate the inside of the log and the inside of the face piece. The CPES will penetrate through the rot and into the good wood behind it, and encapsulate the rot fungi. The left over rotted wood will turn hard. Now, fill the vacant space with scrap wood that has also had CPES applied, and any holes, cracks or vacancies with our Layup & Laminating Resin mixed with sawdust. You can make a soft putty out of it and pour/push it into place. Finally, put the face back on the log and use a L&L Resin/sawdust mix as a bonding agent. Paint the exterior of the log with the CPES and then re-finish with whatever wood finish you choose, but preferably one with UV inhibitors.

The logs are not too far gone as long as the house is still standing. You just need to be sure you use the CPES to encapsulate the rot fungi, stabilize the wood and make it highly rot resistant. The epoxy/wood interior will be as strong as the original log. We have had some folks who fill the hollow interior with the L&L Epoxy/sawdust mixture. That works just as well and gets very, VERY hard.

Epoxies are expensive, I know, but they represent the permanent solution. We suggest you purchase the CPES and resin as-you-go, and that way you'll get a better feel for how much it's going to take.

Come back if you have additional questions.

Doc