Step 01 · Inspect
Inspections & Maintenance
Free first inspections with a written, wall-by-wall scope, plus yearly checkups and maintenance coats that keep restoration costs down.
What it is
Most expensive log home repairs start as small, cheap ones that nobody caught: a check that collected water for three winters, a gutter that overflowed onto the same corner every storm, or a south wall that went gray two years before the others.
A proper inspection finds those early. We check every wall, take moisture readings, probe for soft wood, and give you a written scope broken down by elevation. You see exactly what’s fine, what needs attention and what can wait. No single number scrawled on a card.
Inspections are the first step of our process, Inspect. Yearly checkups and maintenance coats make up the last, Maintain, and that’s what keeps a restored home from ever needing a full restoration again.
Signs you need it
When to call about inspections & upkeep
- You just bought a log home, or are about to
- You don’t know when the logs were last treated
- It’s been a year or more since anyone looked closely
- You want to budget for restoration before it’s urgent
- Your home was restored and you want to keep it that way
How Cardi does it
Our method
- 01
Walk every wall
We inspect each elevation for finish condition, checks, chinking, splashback, gutters and grade, and photograph what we find.
- 02
Measure moisture
Pin-meter readings are taken on each wall, high and low, because sun and shade make a big difference to what’s happening inside the logs.
- 03
Probe for rot and insects
Suspect areas are probe-tested for soft wood and checked for frass, holes and other signs of insect activity.
- 04
Put it in writing
You get a written scope broken down by wall, with what we found, what we recommend, what can wait and in what order.
Where it fits
Inspections & upkeep is part of step 01: Inspect
You can’t price or plan a restoration from the driveway. The inspection tells us what’s cosmetic, what’s structural and what can wait.
FAQ
Inspections & upkeep questions
Is the inspection really free?
Yes. The first inspection and written scope are free, with no obligation. Yearly checkups after that are part of a care plan.
Do I need to be home?
It helps for the first one, so we can walk you through what we see and answer questions. If you can’t be there, we’ll send photos and go over the scope by phone.
Can you inspect a log home I’m thinking of buying?
Yes. We look at the exterior wood, finish, sealing and signs of rot or insects. It isn’t a substitute for a full home inspection, but it’s a useful second opinion on the logs.
Related services
Usually done alongside
Staining & Topcoats
Breathable, log-specific stain and topcoat systems, color-tested on your logs and applied to the right film thickness.
Learn more Step 04 · SealChinking & Caulking
Seals the joints between logs, the checks in them, and every corner and opening, with flexible products that move as logs move.
Learn more Step 03 · RepairLog Rot Repair
Finds soft wood, cuts it back to sound log and rebuilds it with consolidants, fillers or wood patches shaped to match.
Learn moreBook an inspection
Book a inspections & upkeep inspection
That’s what the inspection is for. It’s free, it’s in writing, and it breaks the house down wall by wall, so you can decide what to do now and what can wait.