Media & corn-cob blasting
A soft, biodegradable blast medium lifts failed stain, mildew, and gray fibers out of the log's checks and profile without gouging the wood, reaching where sanding can't.
Log home restoration for the southern Colorado mountains
Blasting, borate, chinking, rot repair, and premium stain systems that bring tired log walls back to life, and keep them protected for years.
Our specialty
The work our region is built for
Around Cuchara, La Veta, and the rest of Huerfano County, log homes are part of the landscape, and they take a beating from the same mountains that make them beautiful. Restoring them well is what we're known for.
A log home isn't a house you can simply repaint. The logs are structural, they move with the seasons, and they need a coordinated system of surface prep, preservative, sealant, and stain working together. We handle the whole restoration in the right order, so nothing gets trapped, skipped, or sealed over a problem.
- A full restoration, not a coat of paintBlast, treat, seal, and stain as one coordinated system built around how logs actually behave.
- Local, high-country experienceYears of log work in exactly this climate, elevation, and sun exposure.
- Honest assessmentWe tell you what truly needs repair and what doesn't, then quote it clearly.
The full restoration
Every stage a log home needs
A complete restoration is a sequence of specialized steps. Here's what we bring to a log home, from bare-wood prep to the finish coat.
Log washing & brightening
After blasting, the logs are washed and neutralized to remove residue and even out tone, giving the stain system a clean, receptive surface to bond to.
Borate preservative treatment
With the wood bare and receptive, we apply a borate preservative that penetrates the logs to guard against wood-boring insects, fungal decay, and rot.
Chinking & energy-seal caulking
Flexible chinking and backer rod seal the gaps between logs, while energy-seal caulking closes checks and joints, cutting drafts, blocking water, and lowering heating bills.
Rot repair & log replacement
Localized decay is consolidated with epoxy or cut out and replaced with matching timber. Full log replacement is reserved for the rare cases of true structural damage.
Premium stain & clear top coat
A film-forming or penetrating log stain system goes on in coordinated coats, finished with a clear top coat that adds UV defense, sheen, and easier future maintenance.
Start to finish
How a restoration comes together
Order matters on a log home. Each stage sets up the next, and skipping steps is where most failed restorations go wrong.
Inspect
We walk the whole structure, checking for rot, insect damage, failed chinking, and problem walls, then map the scope.
Blast & wash
The logs are blasted back to sound, bare wood and washed clean, exposing anything that needs repair.
Treat & repair
Borate preservative is applied and any rot is repaired or replaced while the wood is open and accessible.
Seal
Chinking, backer rod, and energy-seal caulking close the gaps and checks that let air and water in.
Stain & top coat
The stain system and clear top coat go on in coordinated coats for lasting color and protection.
Choosing the finish
Film-forming and penetrating log stain systems
Log stains are their own category, engineered for wood that expands, contracts, and takes direct mountain sun. There are two families, and the right choice depends on your logs, your exposure, and how you want to maintain them.
Film-forming systems
These build a durable, breathable film on the log surface that delivers rich color and strong UV and moisture protection. They give the most uniform look and the longest intervals between full recoats, and they pair well with a clear top coat that takes the wear and can be refreshed on its own.
Penetrating systems
Penetrating stains soak into the wood and wear by gradually thinning rather than peeling, which keeps maintenance coats simple. They're a good fit for logs where a natural, matte look and easy re-application matter more than a built-up film.
The clear top coat
Over either system, a clear top coat adds a sacrificial layer of UV protection and sheen. When the walls need attention down the road, refreshing the top coat is often all it takes, far less work than stripping and restaining.
- Exposure is decisive: south and west walls take the most sun and drive the recommendation.
- We match the new system to what's already on the logs so coats bond instead of fighting.
- Every system we use is chosen for how it holds up at elevation, not just how it looks on day one.
Why it matters here
What the mountains do to unprotected logs
The southern Colorado high country is hard on log walls. Intense UV at altitude breaks down the surface fibers and fades the wood to a lifeless gray. Snow piles against lower courses and melts into every unsealed check.
Once moisture gets in and can't get out, rot and fungal decay follow, and wood-boring insects are quick to move into softened timber. That's the cycle a real restoration interrupts: blast away the failed surface, treat the bare wood, seal the gaps, and lock it all in with a stain system built to stand up to sun and weather. Do it once, do it right, and keep it going with timely maintenance coats.
- Stops the UV gray-outPigmented stain and a clear top coat shield the logs from the sun that bleaches and degrades them.
- Keeps water outChinking and caulking seal the checks and joints where snowmelt would otherwise invite rot.
- Guards against insects & rotBorate preservative defends the timber from the pests and decay that follow trapped moisture.
Protecting the investment
Maintenance coats keep it that way
A restoration is the big lift. Staying ahead of wear with periodic maintenance coats is the easy part, and it's what keeps you from ever needing another full restoration.
- Refresh before it failsA maintenance coat every three to five years on sun- and weather-facing walls renews protection before the finish breaks down.
- Wash, inspect, re-coatWe clean the walls, check the chinking and caulking, spot-treat any trouble, and lay down a fresh coat.
- A fraction of the costTimely upkeep is far cheaper than a repeat blast-and-restain, and it keeps your logs looking their best year-round.
Ready when you are
Give your log home the restoration it deserves
Whether your cabin needs a full blast-and-restain or just fresh chinking and a maintenance coat, we'll assess it in person and lay out a clear plan and price.
Good questions
Log home restoration FAQs
How do you strip old finish and graying off log walls?
For most restorations we use media blasting, often with a soft, biodegradable medium like crushed corn cob or ground glass, to lift failed stain, mildew, and UV-grayed wood fibers without gouging the logs. Blasting reaches into the checks and profile of the log far better than sanding, and it leaves a clean, uniform surface that a new stain system can bond to.
What is chinking, and does my log home need it?
Chinking is the flexible sealant between and around logs that blocks air and water infiltration. Along with backer rod and energy-seal caulking at checks and joints, it keeps your log walls tight, cuts drafts, and lowers heating bills. If your existing chinking is cracked, pulling away, or missing, resealing is one of the highest-value parts of a restoration.
What is borate treatment and why does it matter?
Borate is a wood preservative applied to bare logs after blasting. It penetrates the wood and protects against wood-boring insects, fungal decay, and rot. Because the logs are exposed and receptive during a restoration, it's the ideal moment to add this long-term defense before the stain system goes on.
Can you repair rotted logs without replacing the whole wall?
Usually, yes. Localized rot is often addressed with epoxy consolidation and fill, or by cutting out and replacing the damaged section with matching timber, a technique sometimes called a half-log or dutchman repair. Full log replacement is reserved for severe structural damage. We assess the extent, explain the options, and repair only what genuinely needs it.
How often does a log home need a maintenance coat?
It varies by exposure, but a maintenance coat every three to five years on the sun-facing and weather-facing walls is typical in our mountains. Staying on that schedule refreshes the stain before it fails, which protects your investment and avoids the far larger cost of another full blast-and-restain down the road.
Before & after
From gray and cracked to sealed and protected
Drag the handle to compare a set of log walls before and after a full restoration.
From the blog
Log home restoration: when to re-stain, chink, and reseal. How to read the warning signs and plan the work before small problems become big ones.