Log cabin treatment - Tuin
This post will explain the Log Cabin Treatments we offer, but in other posts I talk about the importance of a good quality treatment which is correctly applied in regards to Log Cabins and what happens if it is not done well with the best products or not done at all, these posts are here:
In these posts I gave general advice on treatment but did not talk about our own treatments and what we recommend if you choose to use them. Following some comments, this post focuses on answers in relation to our own Tuin Timber Treatments and using them alongside your log cabin.
What is the best treatment for log cabins?
We have different types of treatment for your log cabin:
Factory treatment options
Immersion treatment:
The factory options of treatment include the Immersion treatment, needing two further coats of additional treatment once installed. This treatment is where the entire log cabin and all its parts are put into a vat of rot proof treatment and allowed to soak for hours. This allows the wood to absorb the rot proof treatment. It then separates and dries naturally.
Personally, I don’t really like this treatment in anything other than a Log Cabin Gazebo or a Log Cabin style Garage. This is because they are already treated and in brown, green or silver grey and can make the building very dark inside.
Remember that this is only a rot proof treatment, two further coats of treatment will be needed for it to be protected from the weather and to prevent it absorbing water thereby creating water marks and wild expansion and contraction in the log cabin due to the moisture content in the wood.
The perfect treatment on top of this from our ranges is the Carefree Protectant Timber Treatment. Requires two well-applied coats for full protection.
An immersion treated cabin in green being installed – I like immersion treatment for Gazebos such as this, I’m not so keen on a full building as it makes it very dark inside.
Log cabin treatment options - self applied:
Carefree protectant treatment
This is now the very best selling treatment we offer. It is state of the art and is a simply amazing product. Please see the Carefree Protect Timber Treatment page for all the details. I thoroughly recommend this and have been using it on everything from a log cabin to hardwood furniture.
Ideally use this on it’s own (other than the immersion treatment). It does not require base coats of preservative or any other product. For full protection for years we recommend three-four, well applied coats.
It is available in a number of colours and all finishes are slightly satin, the clear is VERY clear which people love. It is expensive but I think it is worth the cost. If you love the wood colour and want it to shine the Clear Carefree is Amazing!
I would not recommend using any other product with this or painting anything on top of it. Instead, just reapply the Carefree treatment if need. Painting on top is okay, so I’m told. However, I personally cannot recommend it from prior experience. I also cannot see any point in this as this is a great treatment on its own.
Carefree timber treatment, 3 – 4 coats are required. These logs are an ongoing experiment of mine from January 2016 showing the effect of different layers.
Embadecor timber treatment:
Embadecor Timber Stain can be used on its own if you require a stained coloured finish. Like Carefree, it requires no other treatment or preservative. Again, like all good treatment you will need to apply three-four coats if you are using it on it’s own. Lots of colours of stains are available, please see more details on the Embadecor Timber Stain page. Use Embadecor treatment as an undercoat for the Embalan Timber Paint.
If you like the stained look whereby there is a colour but with the grain of the wood coming through then I recommend this stain highly (still not as highly as the carefree though)
Embadecor timber stain, 3 – 4 coats are required. These logs are an ongoing experiment of mine from January 2016 showing the effect of different layers of the stain.
Embalan timber paint:
Following Embadecor, Embalan is a very high quality paint, it gives great coverage and is available in several colours. This is on par with what I consider to be the best UK paint – Sikkens. To use this successfully, we recommend 1-2 coats of Embadecor timber stain (clear) as the undercoat. Further details of this paint can be found on the Embalan Timber Paint page.
Embalan timber paint, 3 – 4 coats are required if used on its own. These logs are an ongoing experiment of mine from January 2016 showing the effect of different layers of the paint. If you use an undercoat of 2 coats of clear Embadecor stain then it requires two top coats of the Embalan paint.
Impregnation fluid:
Likewise, if you have a hot tub, a jacuzzi, a freezer or fridge in your log cabin, then it is good to protect the inside of the cabin. This also applies to leaving your cabin locked for long periods. The impregnation fluid is excellent for doing this, it is clear and goes on like water and will inhibit the formation of damp spores and guard against fungi / mosses forming. You can paint / stain over this as required. This is only a rot proof treatment and does not guard against the weather. This is also an excellent treatment for timber that is already suffering from not receiving any treatment at all to kill any bugs that may be present before applying a proper treatment outside.A quick test ….. more to come in a blog post and product launch.
How do you treat a log cabin exterior?
I’ll give a quick run through of my recommendations and combinations of treatments using Tuindeco range to sum up.
Immersion Treatment – requires TWO further coats of treatment, these can either be Embadecor Stain or Carefree Protect. But I would not recommend the Embalan paint without applying two undercoats of the stain first.
Carefree – Only use this on it’s own, requires nothing else, 3 – 4 coats is perfect for 100% protection. Likewise, this needs no undercoats or topcoats. Just use Carefree and nothing else.
Embadecor Stain – 3 – 4 coats gives 100% protection, Needs no further products. Sand lightly between coats.
Embalan Paint – 3 – 4 coats is good and no undercoat required if you wish. BUT, for best results use at least one coat of clear Embadecor stain as an undercoat. For the perfect solution use two coats of clear stain followed by two coats of paint.
Impregnation Fluid – Ideally use inside when damp conditions persist – one – two coats.
For my other posts on the treatment of your log cabin timber please see the posts below:
