Log Rot: What Causes it and how to fix it

In our previous post, we mentioned what could happen if water got into your home, and one of the possibilities we mentioned was log rot. In this post we’ll discuss the ins and outs of log rot, from what causes it to how to fix it. Log rot occurs when moisture gets into your home’s logs. This can happen for a number of reasons, like when logs are too close to the ground, if overhangs aren’t long enough to prevent moisture from coming into contact with logs, when cracks form in your logs, when your interior plumbing leaks, etc. When moisture gets into your logs, that then invites the decay fungi to invade and eat away at them. Once the decay fungi gets into your home’s wood, it needs plenty of oxygen, a moisture content of 20% or more, temperatures between 60° and 90°, and a food source, which, in this case, is your home to get going. Ultimately, the best thing to do when it comes to log rot is to prevent it with wood preservatives and effective design. Unfortunately, that’s not always possible. If log rot has invaded your home, there are a couple of things you can do, so long as the damage to your logs isn’t too extensive. If the damage to your logs goes further than surface rot, you should consider having those logs replaced. Apply a borate treatment to affected areas Products with borate, like Armor Guard, Shell Guard Concentrate, and Shell Guard RTU, help protect wood for many, many years by preventing wood-boring insects and decay. When you apply your borate treatment, be sure to apply it to bare wood by painting, brushing, or injecting it. After you apply your treatment, it may take logs several weeks to dry. Apply an epoxy treatment Once your logs have dried after your borate treatment, you can coat logs with an epoxy treatment to harden, restore, and waterproof wood. For log-restoration projects, we recommend Liquid Wood, which can be poured, painted, or injected into wood. If you need epoxy or borate treatments for your log restoration project, give us a call at (800) 564-2987, or check out our website to see what we have in stock.