Here is a good guest article on protecting your yard and garden log furniture. Which reminds me that I need to clean up my wood swing at our log cabin and then put a waterproofing on it. Enjoy Michelle’s informative article!
- Jim

Garden furniture, such as a wooden bench or a swing, is always out in the elements. This means your furniture needs to be protected from water. The most common water problem is rain. However, there is always that possibility that a severe storm can leave standing water. Standing water can saturate outside log furniture if it is not properly protected. There are a variety of ways to protect log furniture from the effects of standing water.

Weather Effects

Log Lawn Furniture

The effects of weather over time can wear on outside garden furniture. This is due to the heat coming from the sun, moisture extremes, and temperature variations. If you have log furniture made using wood that has not been properly treated is susceptible weather including rain and standing water. You will need to check your garden furniture each year to ensure it is properly protected from the weather.

Proper Cleaning

Outside furniture made from wood will need to be completely clean before any treatment is performed or applied. This includes removing any dirt, grime, or tree sap that has accumulated over time. You can easily do this by wiping the furniture with a sponge soaked in soapy water. If you see signs of mold on your furniture, then spray a mixture of water and bleach and let dry. This will give you a clean slate for applying a waterproofing treatment to the furniture.

Applying Treatments

There are many ways to waterproof outside wooden furniture. The easiest method is to apply a gel or a wax using a clean cloth. Dip the cloth in the wax and then wipe it on any wooden surface, such as arms and legs. Wear gloves when applying the wax to keep your hands clean. Another option to waterproof a wooden piece of furniture is to sand it and then apply a waterproof paint or use a varnish.

Higher Elevation

Avoid placing garden furniture in low-lying areas where standing water can occur. Another option is to increase the height of the furniture on the ground. One way to do this is to add a base that is made from concrete or a group of cinder blocks. The goal is to raise the furniture a few inches to avoid any type of water damage to the legs. You can do this to prepare for a severe storm or incorporate your landscape.

Multi-Purpose Waterproofing

 This is a solution that is added to a garden sprayer that can be applied to garden furniture. You can find this solution at a local hardware store or a home improvement center. Pump up the sprayer and stand at least 12 inches away from the piece of furniture. Make sure to take off any cushions or accessories and then begin spraying the surface. The treated furniture will then need to dry for at least 48 hours. Splash a small amount of water on the furniture and see if small beads appear. If you do not see beading of the water, then another coat needs to be applied.

About the author:
“Michelle Custodio is a writer and SEO specialist for JHE’s Log Furniture Place, one of the oldest and most trusted online providers of rustic log furniture. Like JHE’s Log Furniture Place Facebook‘s page and follow them on Twitter. “

Foundation to our “small” log cabin

We began to feel that 2 people, 2 dogs, and a cat would never fit in such a tiny space. Magazines showed their version of small log cabins needing extra space. Their small cabins were huge compared to ours. But we started taking note of their suggestions.  Ideas like taking advantage of any space under the stairs. Using some of the space in the loft where the pitched roof meets the floor (known as a “knee wall”). Building extra shelves in between interior walls. We even built a window seat in the loft with storage under the cushion.

We did take advantage of many of the space-saving tips only to learn that our “small” log cabin wasn’t that small after all and, once we finished building it and started using it, we found it was fine for our needs.

We had a full basement that we planned to finish for a rec room but so far, it is still unfinished and a wonderful trove of tools, scraps of wood, and other goodies that allow me to tinker with do-it-yourself projects. And as you can probably tell from our log cabin photos the space we have for our cabin is just right for us! We now laugh at the log home magazines version of “small log cabins” and have since realized that most of those articles are for folks with a much larger concept of a log cabin that we have. So don’t worry if you start reading those log home magazines and find their version of small does not meet your dream log cabin… I bet yours will be just fine!

A few words from a guest author who is a father about being a father. Lessons come in unexpected settings. This has little to do with log cabins (other than being in the woods), but it is a fun read by a guest author. Enjoy it!
– Jim

I’ve camped…a lot. Living all my life in Portland, Oregon, my family used to go camping nearly every Saturday and Sunday. Truth be told, I’d have worried if we didn’t get out at least to the lake for a few hours of fishing.  So you can imagine how happy I was to return to my parent’s home for the Thanksgiving holiday knowing that, no matter any drop in temperature, the family was camping. Nothing was set to keep us from the woods.

The woods have changed since I was a child, and considering I am raising a child of my own, I am finding myself forced to confront those changes in ways I never thought to consider. Now, I won’t pretend to be a classic Alpha Male—the truth is, I do not much care for sports, and I certainly do not maintain a weird interest of cars—but I never thought I’d ever be scared of the forest. Remember, the forest trees are a part of me!

Getting ready for the weekend went well. Manny and I collaborated well together. He had so many questions, and I was so ecstatic to bond over every little thing with him. He was honestly intrigued in the hows and whys as we set up the site. He was interested in how the how we intended to start the fire, how the tent worked, whether we should get a hold of a Portland bug killer company to come kill the insects on the ground, and where we were to get stuff to eat (“There’s no shops out here, dad.”). My childhood returned to me quickly. It was like I had never left the woods at all.

What I didn’t expect was that when night fell and I began to comfort Manny by reassuring him that nighttime hurt him and the sounds of the forest were harmless, we fell into a weird type of role-reversal. He wasn’t worried at all. On the other hand, I, was kinda …it’s hard to say… scared.

Perhaps it was because that for the first time ever in my life, I had a reason to be frightened of the unknowns in the dark. I had a son, remember, and my only real goal in my life was to keep him safe. That’s what family and fatherhood has become for me: being scared is part of being a father.

Here is a helpful article on taking care of wooden windows in your log cabin. Some log cabin kits come with wood-framed windows and those can take a bit of care as this article details. I hope this helps!
–  Jim

By Guest Author: Chris Caldwell
Sash windows and wooden casement quite often get prone to degenerative action in process of time. Regular work of maintenance ought to be done on them nonetheless. Prompt repair action might very well also preserve them. Renovation might rather easily be conducted on wooden windows by following a number of vital steps. Challenges worked on here include rotting, stickiness and rattling.

Rattling in particular is caused due to ill-fitting lever fastener that can be corrected easily. If such fastener wears out, carry out replacement with new one or undertake resetting of plate on window frame where it is fastened. Those sash windows that have gotten old produce very notorious rattles.

This action is occasioned by sash at the bottom fitting in rather loose manner into frame. To combat this problem, remove inner staff bead then replace it with long one. Such action facilitates close fitting against sashes. Do ensure that the rattling effect does get cured. Perform this by sliding such fitting up and down before driving the nails in and fixing the problem.

Rub candle wax onto sliding surfaces on both the sides. If for instance top sash gets to rattle, pack it out prior to adjusting catch position, which pulls sashes together. Later, fit in new Fitch or Brighton catch when this becomes necessary. Binding sashes together is also allowed, using dual screws which are security apparatus for preventing rattling.

Home improvement case windows made up of wood swell up on occasion owing to wetness. Sticking might result from this and render it very challenging to operate a window. Poor interior design work done on these structures or improper stripping might also become a huge problem though it may be handled well by drying warmly.

Employ clear wood preserver as well as paint in such case. Persistent sticking action might be arising from paint building up on window. You could in fact find a structure glued onto the frame due to wetness. Avoid this situation by appropriating professional hopuse and home maintenance practitioners.

To free such sticky fittings, employ scraper or thin knife in the middle of frame and window. Strip old paint after this, at the junction of edges and frame, before finally applying fresh paint coating. You would need to plane edges in slight fashion as it enables fitting of window without causing any scrapes.

No problem should arise while sticking wooden sash windows. These do not get sticky unless if painted while shut or if staff beads get poorly positioned. Ascertain to check your house structures regularly for any rotting present using screwdrivers.

Window frames may at the bottom become rot-prone in particular. Spongy and soft areas get rotten and should be repaired. Dig out any piece of wood that is decaying with use of chisel or perhaps scraper. Also, soften the wood maintenance compound for kneading then press it into area which has experienced damage in order to smooth the surface.

Perform repainting work only after the compound dries up and becomes hard. Widespread rotting action may necessitate replacement windows. Get advice online if opting for double glazing for wooden windows.

A Note From The Author:
If there is a requirement for the upgrading of wooden windows, check out a London sash window company. The choice of a sash window specialist London home owners require can be seen at http://www.sashwindowrepairs-london.co.uk/sash-window-services.html today.

Here is a guest article about everyone’s dream — building a rustic cabin in the woods! Some good tips to consider. Enjoy it!
– Jim

Have you ever dreamed of a building a rustic log cabin in the woods? If so, it is time to make it real. These are basically impermanent or less refined homes. These are built by stacking the tree trunks and developing new interlocking connections and then making a decent log cabin in the budget. Few people desire to live in such homes; however, it gives a different feel and very appealing look. Log home is the modern version usually from the broken up trunks. Much of these can be found in the Scandinavian countries.

People who are fed up with the work, noise and population take this decision and stay far away from the city. As they are not permanent don’t spend or put more effort in constructing them. So build yourself by following the below key aspects.

• First check for the land which may be owned by somebody else or may be expensive. Perhaps the area may be unsafe or unsuitable for any other reasons. So consider the best land which is suitable for all kinds of activities and opt for an inexpensive one.
• Consider the better site to build the cabin. A clear and spacious area nearby a lake will be the apt spot for it. Also choose a site where there are enough logs to construct it. Around 25 logs are needed to shape out a small cabin.
• After that, laying the foundation is important. It should be a foot height with a good choice of groundwork. Cut the foundation boards accordingly and they should be uneven at the ends, so that by overlapping they may get interlocked.
• Layer the centre foundation by keeping the centre beam inside and maintaining the same height to place the parallel beams. Then select the logs for the walls and place them parallel to each other. Select the strong ones or the thicker ones.
• Later, cut them into equal pieces and, leaving a foot more, place them in such a way that they get overlapped and make a wall. Check if they are correctly placed, then on top of the first log make a cement foundation if necessary. This may harden or be flexible adhesive.
• Measure the width of the logs and repeat the same on the parallel side. To make them intersect cut them at the ends with a chain saw and by shaping, it will give the necessary foundation. The combination of these can be done to make a perfect view of the cabin.
• Then select the second layer of the logs which should be a bit thinner than the first. Make required markings and place the notches. This will make up the walls of your cabin and it can be repeated for a bigger size or any other.
• Building the roof depends upon the size of the cabin whether a sloped roof or the straight one is preferred. Roof trellis logs should be gathered and placed as roof beams. Secure the edges by any wood pegs or notch the ends.
• Cover the roof with few shrub materials or roofing resources. Check the basement and each step should be well projected. Don’t opt for much decoration as they may cost more.  If necessary opt for Payday loans for instant cash.

If you have your log cabin on a lake (you lucky rascal!), then it is time to start saving for that pontoon boat or even a houseboat. Here’s an article by a guest author to give you something to dream about that caught my eye! A hot tub in a house boat? Wow!

Luxury on the Murray

If you are thinking of purchasing a houseboat, then it is possible that you already have had some experience in purchasing an automobile, house or both. A lot of people would require loans to purchase properties of such degree. However, some lending institutions may not offer financial solutions for houseboat buyers. But this doesn’t mean that you won’t find a lender. This only means that you may find it quite harder to finance a houseboat as you would with cars or houses.

If you only wish to stay on the boat during holidays instead of using it as a primary residence, then you might want to consider looking for co-investors. You can then split the costs and share the ownership of the boat. A lot of people do this because most lenders would be happier lending smaller amounts for this kind of purchase.

Whether the boat is for a primary residence or a holiday getaway, you need to find a safe place to have it moored. Therefore, doing your assignment would help you make the proper decisions. Search for a safe and secure mooring area for Echuca houseboats. It is also important to find out about the necessary fees. Mooring areas vary greatly in costs. So, make sure that you’ve done your homework and calculated all the costs before making that important move.Otherwise, you might end up with an expensive boat with no place to moor it because you can’t afford the fees. 

Another important thing to remember when buying a houseboat is taking a good look at the vessel first to give you an idea of what you are getting. List down the things that you want to have in the boat such as additional amenities, appliances, entertainment and others. After writing the list, be sure to stick to that list. Otherwise, what is the point of making one?

The next thing to do is check out the price difference of a new and second hand boat. This will give you a general idea of what is a fair price when you start the boat hunting. It would also help you if you could ask a friend or a family member who knows a lot about houseboats Murray River so they can help you select the best one for you. You don’t want to buy something and end up regretting that you did because it did not leave up to your expectations.

Once, you’ve got yourself a houseboat and found a wonderful place to moor it and most of all, when you’re sure that you can afford all the costs, all you need to do is sit back and enjoy a beautiful life.

Don’t neglect your feather friends when you are at your log cabin! This guest article may give you some ideas on fun things you can do while taking care of the birds around your log cabin. Have fun!
– Jim

by Jeff Buckley

Here is a fun article From a guest author with some general history of log cabins that might be of interest. Enjoy it!
– Jim

by Alex Blaken

About the Author:
Get a summary of the benefits of building wooden workshops and tips on how to find wooden workshops for sale, right now.

Half Sanded Log Wall – click to enlarge

“Easy” Log Sanding Alternatives

We tried 2 different bleaching agents for wood. One didn’t work much at all. The other one turned the wood pink-ish. The log home company who suggested it then said that it isn’t a good solution for a lot of log homes but is easier than sanding… thanks!

Fortunately we only bleached a small inconspicuous area so we set to work sanding off the pink hue. Good news is it came off easily. Bad news is the sander dust spewed toxic-like dust so I had to wear a hazardous materials mask to sand it. And it gummed up the sandpaper… a lot! I would sand a 0ne-foot square area, change the sandpaper and do another. Thankfully it was only a square yard area that I had to contend with!

In another section, I tried to put the finish over the stained wall hoping the finish would make the stained area blend in with the rest of it. No such luck and back to sanding the finished section to remove the finish AND the water-stain.

A Workable Solution — Sanding The Logs

After making all the mistakes, we finally put all those things aside and did it the old-fashion way — the sander and a lot of work! We have the “D-logs” (flat on the inside and rounded on the exterior). That made the sanding process a bit better to sand a flat surface. I used a belt sander with coarse sanding belt to get the major stains off and then used a smaller hand sander to finish it off.  There is a groove between the logs and I found that should be sanded too, otherwise it looks unnaturally dark. I just used those sanding blocks that look like a sponge covered with sandpaper to get in the grooves.

Someone suggested that if we needed to sand any rounded logs, Black and Decker has a floating orbital sander with 3 little heads that hug the round contour much better than other sanders but fortunately, we didn’t need to do any work on the rounded logs so I never tried that tool.

I got very skilled at feathering the sections between the logs that were water stained and the ones that were not. No need to sand the entire wall. For those stark differences (see the photo above), I would start gradually sanding less and less over the course of 2-3 logs so it looked like natural shadows rather than sanding the entire cabin again.  When there was a section that got water stained very deeply, after some practice in less noticeable areas, I was able to blend those in with the surrounding areas to make those look like natural log discolorations.

My concern was that after I finished my handiwork, whether the log finish would make those blemishes blend in, or stand out. Fortunately, the clear finish was a good equalizer. The lighter areas blended in nicely with the darker areas. For us do-it-yourselfers, we tend to stare at a section of the wall, knowing it isn’t perfect. But after it is finished, and you look at the whole wall, everything that you’ve worked on blends in nicely with the natural imperfections of the logs. The sections I tried the hardest on look too perfect compared to the rest of the wall. If I had to do it again, I wouldn’t try so hard to make it quite so perfect. Mother Nature didn’t make it perfect… why should I?