When inspecting a log home, the finish/coating gets evaluated for protection (water repellency, UV resistance, and adhesion), not just appearance.​

What to look for​

  • Loss of water repellency: Spray or splash water on several representative areas; a sound finish beads and runs off, while water soaking in indicates failure and exposed wood.​

  • Fading and sheen loss: Heavily sun-exposed south and west walls often show dull, faded stain first; this typically means it’s due for a maintenance coat if other failures are not present.​

  • Color unevenness on each log: Round logs commonly weather more on the upper half; pronounced shade difference (bleached top, darker bottom) is a red flag for UV and moisture exposure on the top radius.​

  • Cracking, peeling, blistering: Any flaking, blistering, or obvious peeling of the stain/clear coat is considered failure and typically requires stripping and full refinishing, not just a maintenance coat.​

  • Loss of adhesion: Do a simple scratch test with a fingernail or masking tape; if the coating scratches off easily or comes off on the tape, adhesion is compromised and the finish is failing.​

  • Gray or dark discoloration of wood: Gray, weathered wood or darkening when wet points to UV degradation and loss of protection, often needing cleaning, surface prep, and new finish.​

  • Biological growth and contamination: Note mold, mildew, algae, moss, or heavy dirt on log surfaces; these often occur where finish has thinned or failed and where moisture persists.​

  • Film-build issues: Thick, non-breathable “plastic-like” films are more prone to blistering and peeling if moisture is trapped behind them; penetrating stains tend to erode rather than peel but still need periodic re-coating.​

Practical field tests​

  • Water-bead test: Lightly spray several sun-exposed and shaded elevations; if most of the test areas absorb water quickly, note “finish has largely lost water repellency; refinishing is recommended.”​

  • Tape adhesion test: Apply painter’s/masking tape to representative spots, press firmly, then remove; finish coming off on the tape indicates poor adhesion or impending peeling.​

  • Fingernail/scratch test: On visually “okay” areas, scratch with a fingernail; if you can easily lift or powder the stain, treat it as failed even if it only looks dulled.​

Typical reporting points​

  • Describe location and extent: Elevation, wall, and height where failure is observed (e.g., upper halves of south-facing logs, log ends, splash zones near grade).​

  • Describe condition in plain terms: Note fading, loss of bead, gray/weathered wood, peeling or blistering, biological growth, and any bare wood exposed.​

  • Recommend action, not product: Suggest evaluation and maintenance/refinishing by a qualified log-home finishing/restoration contractor, and advise regular annual inspections and cleaning thereafter.