How To Properly Winterize Your Log Cabin

Winter is coming (no, that’s not a Game of Thrones reference) and it’s time to start preparing that beautiful log cabin of yours for bad weather just around the corner. Log houses are amazing as they are great value, beautiful, sturdy, and a dream home for many. Unfortunately, they require a bit more maintenance than the average home, given the materials used to build it.

Before it starts to snow, make sure you’ve eliminated these things from your winterization checklist.

Clean the exterior

The first step is always to prepare the exterior of the house, because it is what will be affected the most by inclement weather. Rubbing it and removing dirt with a hose is a good idea. If dirt gets trapped under the snow, it could stay there all winter, which is not good for wood and could lead to damage later down the road.

You should also clean the gutters, which can clog with water and cause wood to rot during the winter. Consider snapping gauze caps and an extender that releases water farther from the house. This is an inexpensive investment that will save you much more expensive wood repairs or replacements in the future.

For your garden, it is worth cleaning and preparing everything for the next year, such as laying special floors to cure the soil for the next few months. It may even be a good time to do a little gardening, as many businesses have lower prices during off-peak months.

Cleaning the interior

Cleaning the interior is as important as the exterior. Why? Think of it as a pre-spring cleaning. Washing walls and windows, getting rid of dust and dirt, and simply airing everything out is an efficient way to prepare for the months you’ll be spending indoors. After all, you won’t be able to keep your windows open in the freezing cold.

This is a great time to clean ducts, clean vents, change filters, clean carpets, and do other things that will make your home cozier and cleaner.

Look for (and seal) any leaks

There are several reasons to make sure there are no leaks in your home or holes in the wood. First, gaps and leaks can let out precious hot air. If you’ve noticed that you’ve been using a lot more air conditioning during the summer, chances are there is a leak somewhere. As the weather gets colder, these leaks are easier to find as there will be drafts in certain areas of the house.

Weatherstripping is an easy way to get rid of the most obvious places where this is happening. Air leaks out of windows and doors all the time, leading to increased energy costs and a less pleasant home climate.

Another problem that can occur is warping of the wood. Log cabins can have holes in them, letting in pests and undesirable creatures that are best left outside. Fix these gaps as soon as possible; otherwise the problem will just grow.

Pest spray

Even if you don’t have any known infestations, it may be a good idea to spray for pests before winter hits. As the weather turns colder, insects and vermin of all kinds can find their way into the crevices of your home, make nests, and take shelter from the winds and rains before it turns to snow. You may not know they are there until there are so many that they can no longer be hidden. That’s a common story for log cabin owners who end up finding signs of infestations in the spring.

Spend a few weeks trapping, poisoning, and spraying. Pay particular attention to attics and basements, as well as anywhere you have found leaks. Spray outside as they may not have found a way into the house yet.

As winter progresses, you may need to re-spray. Wooden houses are prone to certain more sneaky pests, such as termites, which can eat up the wood and cause damage to the exterior and interior of the home faster than you might imagine. Always be on the lookout for signs of their existence.

Put up energy saving curtains

If you have weatherstripping, checked and sealed leaks and you still want to save energy and keep the house nice and warm, consider putting up energy saving curtains. These are the thick blackout curtains that require reinforced rods for hanging.

They are heavy, dense and do not let light into the room, which makes them perfect for days spent sleeping or for those who have a night shift and sleep during the day. These curtains also help prevent indoor air from escaping so your home stays nice and warm during the colder months and nice and cool during the hotter months.

If you don’t want to go with heavy curtains, there is an alternative method. Get regular curtains and place another piece of fabric between them and the window. Not the best way to keep warm as some will still leak through the layers. But that extra barrier will be an improvement for a single sheet.

Assess the exterior for possible restoration

All log cabin owners know that they must restore their home every three to five years to keep the wood healthy and reduce the risk of cracking, warping and splintering of the wood. Every year before the snow falls, you should take a look outside to make sure the time has not come for that new layer of stain.

One thing you may notice is that there are some areas that are more worn than others. This is usually due to exposure to the sun, rain, or wind, which means that one section may need to be stained before the rest. Do this before it gets too cold, or you risk rotting wood from moisture.