Cardi Log Home Restoration(978) 337-7692 · cardicontractingllc@gmail.com
Annual log home checklist
Finish & stain
- Water bead test on every wall, high and low
- Fading or graying (south & west walls first)
- Peeling, flaking or blotchy areas
- Mildew or black spots (north walls, eaves, low courses)
- Photo of each wall from the same spot as last year
Checks (cracks)
- Upward-facing checks on top of logs
- Any wider than 1/4" (use a coin)
- Longer or wider than last year?
Chinking & caulking
- Cracks, gaps or sealant pulling away
- Corners and butt joints
- Window and door trim
- Pipes, wires, vents and fixtures
- Drafts inside on a windy day
Rot (screwdriver test)
- Log ends at corners
- Bottom 2–3 courses
- Under windows, at door thresholds
- Where decks, porches and roofs meet logs
- Around dormers and roof valleys
Insects
- Round 1/2" holes (carpenter bees)
- Sawdust (frass) on decks, sills, ground
- Pinholes with fine powder (beetles)
- Woodpecker damage
- Carpenter ant trails
Water management
- Gutters clean, downspouts drain away
- Splashback on lower logs
- Soil slopes away; bottom log clear of grade
- Shrubs, mulch, firewood kept back
- Sprinklers not hitting logs
Roof & overhangs
- Overhangs protecting walls
- Flashing where roof meets logs
- Ice dam signs near top courses
- Where snow slides and piles
Notes by wall
| Wall | Found | Better / worse than last year |
|---|---|---|
| North | ||
| South | ||
| East | ||
| West |