Working on the Porch

We're getting our front porch worked on this summer. The agenda for the porch renovations are as follows:
1. Paint all trim, including the windows, front doors, and porch ceiling
2. Power wash all wood, including the logs
3. Re-do the chinking
4. Replace the rotted log on the front door right side
5. Stain all wood and seal
6. Fix dry rot on porch columns and treat along with rest of wood

When we had the guys come out to give us a quote on this job, we found out some interesting things. Things like the chinking we have is actually just drywall plaster and not really meant to be an exterior chinking on a log home. We could fix it, but it would be more prudent to just replace it. We also found that instead of removing the entire rotted log, they could shave off the front of the rotted one and replace it with a shaving from a new old log and voila! Good as new.

The before picture

Front doors right-before

Front doors left before

The rotted out log that we put a temporary patch on. When we bought the house, it contained a foam insulation filling. It was ugly and it was really bad for the log. It was just soaking up water and making the old (and treated) insect damage worse.

One of our porch posts. It also sports some old insect activity and rot. So, it will be treated to prevent more rot, then the rotted part will be taken off and replaced with a filler that will look like the old wood and be good as new.

Scoring the log to prepare taking off the outer layer of dry rotted wood. It will next be replaced with a sliver of "new" old log and will give the appearance of a perfectly sound log. Pretty neat, eh? So, basically, they took off the front of the old log, then fitted it with a piece from another log they had to create a facing that once it's nailed in place and chinked around, you'll never know we had it done. The alternative to this, was taking out the entire log and replacing the whole thing-not cool. I was glad it worked out this way.

Removing the old log facing and pulling out chinking and insulation in preparation for the new

"Don't mind me as my eyes bore holes in your back."

"hi"

The log facing ready to be placed on the old log

placing the log facing

Freshly washed and drying. Just waiting for the stain and sealing. You can see the wire mesh and the interior chinking between the logs.

closeup of the new board facing-the bottom shows the new board and just above it you can see the old rotted log that has been treated to prevent anymore dry rot. Once the chinking is in place, you'll never know that old rotted log was there.

The finished board facing awaiting staining and sealing