Log siding has a long history of being a popular choice among DIY homeowners. This is for many reasons. It has so much more natural charm and beauty than vinyl. Plus, wood siding is also cheaper than brick.
When ordering wood, there comes the option of buying it prefinished or not. Some DIYers choose to buy unfinished wood then finish and stain it themselves. While unfinished wood is cheaper than prefinished, you’ll pay in time and money sourcing your stain and applying multiple layers.
Does My Wood NEED to be Finished?
The short answer is yes, absolutely.
A proper finish helps seal the wood and protect it from elements like rain, sunlight, pest infestations, and dirt. Direct sunlight dries out wood which can cause shrinkage, cracks and splintering. Rain and moisture builds up in the cracks and damages wood further. Moisture can also cause mold and mildew to grow in the wood and compromise its integrity. Why put all that work into an installation just to let the elements ruin it?
The Challenges Involved with Finishing Your Own Wood
Most DIYers don’t have the luxury of a large, well-ventilated, indoor workspace to finish their log siding. This means they have to add their finishes and stains outdoors, where they are at the mercy of weather conditions. Too much wind can kick up dirt into your stain and ruin the visual quality. Too much sunlight and the finish may dry too quickly. Too cold out and the drying takes double the time! Plus, wood has to be dry enough to absorb the finish, and outdoor conditions affect the wood’s moisture content.
Getting a completely even coat of finish onto your wood is a serious challenge without industrial equipment. Every inch of the board needs to be coated evenly, dried and then re-coated again. Experts even suggest sanding the boards before each layer of stain for better adhesion. This isn’t too challenging, but it won’t be a quick weekend project like you may hope.
The Benefits of Prefinished Wood
Finishing is best done in a controlled environment like we have in our mill.
For prefinishing exterior wood products, WoodHaven uses a “flood coater.” This literally floods the wood with stain then brushes it out–giving each board a uniform finish. A protective clear coat of gloss or satin adds depth and clarity to the wood grain. The smooth surface of the clear coat repels dirt and dust, and makes walls easier to clean when cleaning becomes necessary.
Our controlled environment gives the best adhesion possible, and takes all of the hassle off your plate! You may pay a little more upfront, but it’ll be worth it in the long run.
Even if we handle your stain, you still get your choice of color. You’re still in control of your overall design and aesthetic, we just handle the busy work for you. When you order prefinished wood, it comes completely ready to install, meaning projects are typically finished quicker too.
Convinced you should go with prefinished log siding? We have many different styles to choose from. Learn more about our different types of wood and styles here!
Need more information?
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You know the log cabin style is the look for you. Now find out how you can bring it to your home!
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