Log cabin sand blasting

10 years ago

I fear the only course of action I can take on getting my cabin to where it needs to be for restaining is to sand blast. I reached out to the only cob/soda blasters within 2 hours of the cabin and their estimates were through the roof high. Since I cannot rent a cob blaster seemingly anywhere a sand blaster is the only readily available option. The cabin is hard old Chestnut no I'm not too worried about tearing up the wood like if it were Fir or Pine but anyone have some advise or pointers for me? What size compressor would I need?

Featured Answer

missyrichter

10 years ago

Victor-Our log house is the exact same way except the previous owners did the worst thing possible...they painted the logs with regular paint instead of products made for logs such as Sikkens or Lifetime Ultra ect.. I did the same thing and had all the corn cob blasters within 4 hours of us come give us a quote..the cheapest was close to $25,000 and that was a year ago. I found a site to purchase the blaster and the different grits online for only $5,000 new but im now looking at chemical stripping it now. Theres another site where i found log house strippers that are water based you roll on and wash off. Not sure which was we will go yet but we are also wanting a light or clear glossy finish..but first we have to either use log caulking or backer rods to fill in the gaps. I have already sanded the interior logs and put a clear finish that doesnt turn yellow on the logs..you cant use poly because it wont let the logs breath. We purchased this house knowing we would only be here about 3 years since the Army stationed us here but it was a really nice brown not knowing until a few months later when the color started chipping off that they recently painted it to get it sold. Our neighbors had theirs corn blasted and how remarkable ot looks...we have to do something or we wont beable to sell this house!

Comments (25)

missyrichter
10 years ago
I'm needing the same info for my log cabin.
User
10 years ago
I've seen people pay good money to try and get a patina like that on a log cabin. Why would you want to start over?
Related Discussions
Need help with what to do with fireplace.
Q
Comments (40)
Hi again! For anyone that's interested, I have finally managed to have a go at my varnished stone fireplace and am pretty happy with the results… It's not perfect but makes a huge difference in terms of light in the room and cost me next to nothing! I used a tiny bit of annie sloan paint to dull and lighten the stone - my mum sent me leftovers of 'paris grey' that she had used on some furniture. The link I had found which described the painting process belonged to an artist, so I was aware that my results would differ quite drastically from hers, but I'm still happy! I also had a new mantlepiece made from old planks that my boyfriend has had stashed away for years - a carpenter we often use put it together for the equivalent of about US$10. We don't own the house so I haven't waxed the paint on the stone (meaning it can be washed off with water and a light scrub) and the new mantlepiece is literally slotted on top of the old one and discreetly screwed in place. It is no huge home improvement project but made a big difference to the feel of the room using minimal time, money and mess… Now just the rest of the room to decorate…!
...See More
What should I do with this fireplace?
Q
Comments (54)
Oh dear god why would you artex over a fireplace!? If you have a period property with the original fireplace - keep it! You are lucky! I curse the previous owners of my house for removing the original fireplaces.
...See More
Scandi inspired Bedroom
Q
Comments (12)
Looking great - what a transformation. We too have taken on a 30s semi this time. Have gone quite modern in kitchen and bedroom (look at my Instagram @styleophile UK ) and Scandi elsewhere (have done playroom like a log cabin !). you can get great concrete plant pots at Hay. i would put a tug on the floor under the bed with it just poking out at the sides - you'll get a softer feel and won't cover up all the floors - which are lovely btw. Personally I think a print would just finish it off beautifully - and I like the idea of painting the bed dark too ! Good luck.
...See More
It’s go, Go ....... GO !!! – Kitchen / Diner project.
Q
Comments (81)
Well, the chippies van was up the drive when I got home from work - a little unexpected. At first I thought that he was sleeping with the Mrs, but then I remembered that he needed to finish the skirting boards. He's done a cracking job - quite a few tricky internal/external corners, plus the corners not being exactly 90 degrees he was back and forth to his saw all the time. He really did a stirling job. It was 13 meters of skirting in total - which took him 4.5 hours in total (over 2 evenings) and it cost me £90. Considering I was origionally going to do it, it could well be the best £90 I've spent on this whole kitchen. I need to get a lick of paint inside the alcove that's pictured. Our little fishtank will be returning in there, but as it's out I may as well do it. When we get the bar stools, and dining room table & chairs I will update again. So: What would I change/add/remove ADD - Somewhere to hang the tea-towels. We have some on the inside of a cuboard, but they keep falling off. Maybe I need some slightly more expensive 'hangers'. The space where they could have gone we put a spice rack/draw thingie - that's probably better though. ADD - We forgot about the bin! Now we have our pedal-bin basically kicking around the kitchen. The Mrs has already filled the cupboards to maximum capacity so I'm having trouble getting an internal cupboard one past her. I think I may just fit one then deal with her later. The bin has gravitated to a semi-perminant place, but with the kids trying to be *cough* helpfull the wall is already beginning to get the odd splatter of 'stuff' where they just throw their food in the general direction of it. Last night I said 'Well, why don't we just put it in the utility room' - She shot that idea down instantly as she obviously isn't happy about the extra 4 steps that it would take to walk all-that-way into another room. Poor thing! Typical woman lol. ADD - At the start of the project I would have got the electricians to chase in another mains wire from the fusebox so that it comes out of the kitchen wall centrally to the back garden, then I would put a PIR Security Light in. I know that it's not a big job by any means, and I could, and probably will, do it myself over the coming weeks but if I could have had it without a wire on the outside of the house then that'd would have been perfect. Also, thinking about it, I would have actually got him to do it at the front of the house as well as he re-wired the whole downstairs with new fusebox etc.
...See More
Victor
Original Author
10 years ago
because it looks terrible..
PRO
OnePlan
10 years ago
To me, it just looks like a lovely log cabin ! What sort if finish are you aspiring to ?!?! Are there other cabins, with the finish you like, in your area ?! If there are, why not ask them who refinished their homes for them ?!?!?? Fingers crossed for you !! :-)
Victor
Original Author
10 years ago
We'd like to strip it down to bare wood because the previous owners neglected it so much. Then figure on a semi transparent stain - not too dark - not too light. I'm just hoping that someone with sand blasting knowledge helps answer my question.
Scott Andrews
10 years ago
See attached for some info from the guys we get our blasting stuff at work from.
Not sure how the wood will come up if you sandblast it? I'd be wanting to do a trial on a sample piece of wood before you go to any fuss about arranging a blaster I'd think.
Scott Andrews
10 years ago
Sorry, attachment didn't seem to work - try this link: http://www.blastmaster.com.au/images/stories/pdf/booklets/technical_reference_-_abrasive_blasting.pdf
Kathy
10 years ago
Just a thought... Maybe you could paint trim and let wood logs age.
Victor
Original Author
10 years ago
The cabin is chestnut so its a really hard wood but the outside probably hasn't been touched in 15-20 years.. I can rent the sand blaster at a local hardware store with a compressor plus buy the sand aggregate easy enough. I'm just not sure of the results but one thing is for sure it can't make the logs look worse.. The tricky parts will be the peak areas and staying away from the windows because the sand will cause issues there where the soda blasting or cob blasting wouldn't...
missyrichter
10 years ago
When i watched them corn cob the neighbors, they wrapped up the winows pretty good because they said they would break. Also, one of the blasters that gave me an estimate said they would use hard grit and it gave the aealant something to adhear to but the others all said that they sanded the entire house after the blasting so that there are not any pits and indentions. Ive never seen one sand blasted my brother pressure washed my mothers log home in TX and it took everything off instanty and it was free and easy,then it dried super fast before they sealed it and armour guarded it for bugs...im so far north that i cant use water because it wont dry even here in the cold summers and the outside molds and im afraid the water would go through the walls between my logs since the exterior is so bad. I have no idea what type of wood ours is. Whatever you choose to do...let me know if it works and ill try it..lol.
Kathy
10 years ago
http://houzz.com/photos/3228459
Kathy
10 years ago
http://www.loghomes.com/information/about-maintaining-log-homes/cleaning-wood-surfaces/pressure-washing
Is it possible you can power wash it w water?
decoenthusiaste
10 years ago
The cob blasted ones I've seen look great!
PRO
Mackay Painting and Finishing
9 years ago
Victor-I just now saw your thread, and perhaps you've already completed your project. If not, perhaps I can help a bit. If you're considering renting a compressor and blast pot, you're a serious DIYer. Excellent. You should be concerned with damage that can occur with sand media (as you indicated you are). Perhaps you're not aware that you can blast with corn cob grit with a standard blast pot that can be rented...it's not specialized equipment. Simply substitute cob grit for your media, and away you go, incapable of doing damage to glass, window trim, etc. I pay about $29.00/100lbs of cob grit, which is more than crushed glass (another popular blast media for log homes), but you can come out well as captured cob grit can be used a couple of times before needing to be trashed. From the looks of your home, I'd say you could spend about $250.00-$300.00 for the cob grit, and rent a compressor and blast set up for 2-3 days, and be done with it.

Hope this helps.
loriewpg
9 years ago
I lived in a small log house. I sanded the logs myself using a belt sander and 9 inch grinder. Get the family together....and it can be done on a weekend. Just need to wear masks.
PRO
Mackay Painting and Finishing
9 years ago
Victor, if you're still considering blasting, but are worried about how it will look, I have several pictures on my website, including close ups, of log homes I've blasted.
PRO
Mackay Painting and Finishing
9 years ago
Oh, one more thing. There are dangers to vegetation with soda blasting. One, it leaches chlorophyll from plants, including grass. This will cause green vegetation to turn brown, but the green color will come back in a few weeks. The greater danger is that if it comes in contact with plant roots, it prevents the roots from being able to absorb water. That, of course, will kill the plant. IMO, corn cob grit is the best solution. We do soda, cob grit, sand, and crushed glass. When doing log homes, we use cob grit exclusively.
Victor
Original Author
9 years ago
Thanks Mackay, appreciate the advice. You are in NC correct? I think I am pushing the blasting to next spring. We just put a new roof on the house and there is some landscaping stuff I want to do with river stone and top soil this spring. I got one quote from a guy that does cob blasting of cabins for $4500 cash which I thought was pretty high for such a small house. Granted there will need to be some scaffolding but still. I def have to do some minor wood rot repair this spring and some chinking repair. I definitely need to get this done though one way or another.
tjw319
8 years ago
Crushed recycled glass is by far the best media for blasting log homes. New age blast media is the brand I use. While media blasting is a great option I would never recommend trying to blast your log home with no experience. You are literally reprofilling the exterior of you home and you must do everything evenly. Hitting any one area more of less will make what I call hot spots and they will be very apparent when stained. You should mask all windows and have a helper shield trim and other milled wood as they will be severely pitted. Use tarps to capture the media and stain that is removed. Then you need to sand using a variable speed grinder. Use Osborn brushes to remove felting or Buffy pads to remove stain still left behind. If you really need help and want to get the work done right pay someone. I work on log homes in Colorado but I'm sure there's reputable companies closer to you
PRO
Log Home Finishing LLC Thomas Elliott
7 years ago
We've been media blasting, staining, and chinking log homes in Colorado for 15 years. Media blasting is usually just one step in the process. You need a high volume low pressure compressor such as a 185 Sullair http://loghomemaintenance.com
PRO
TruLog Siding
7 years ago
Another alternative, new to the market, is go over your current logs with a maintenance-free, steel log siding. No more maintaining your home! Check it out: www.trulogsiding.com
Thomas Elliott
7 years ago
How would putting siding on top of logs pass fire code? We have had many customers suggest this over the years only to be shot down by local building departments. A wall over a wall cause a backdraft in fire situations like the Kevin Kostner movie Backdraft....
PRO
TruLog Siding
7 years ago
Hi Thomas, thank you for your question. I dont know the specific answer to your fire code question. We have had numerous people install our steel log siding over their current log home structure without push back from fire code. The steel log siding is more fire resistance than a stained a log home, thats for sure. Our theory is that homes with steel will have a better chance against fires vs traditional log homes. Now, if the fire is strong enough, it will blow the windows out of a home and burn it from the inside out, cant get around that. This is from our experience
PRO
S&E Cabin Log Home Services
9 months ago
www.cabinloghome.com

we do afordable log home restoration,we also use corn cob media blast

Visit our website for more info
Victor thanked S&E Cabin Log Home Services

Log cabin sand blasting

missyrichter

Comments (25)

missyrichter

User

Related Discussions

Victor
Original Author

OnePlan

Victor
Original Author

Scott Andrews

Scott Andrews

Kathy

Victor
Original Author

missyrichter

Kathy

Kathy

decoenthusiaste

Mackay Painting and Finishing

loriewpg

Mackay Painting and Finishing

Mackay Painting and Finishing

Victor
Original Author

tjw319

Log Home Finishing LLC Thomas Elliott

TruLog Siding

Thomas Elliott

TruLog Siding

S&E Cabin Log Home Services

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Log cabin sand blasting

Comments (25)

Related Discussions

VictorOriginal Author

VictorOriginal Author

VictorOriginal Author

VictorOriginal Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Victor
Original Author

Victor
Original Author

Victor
Original Author

Victor
Original Author