Power-washing logs

[BillnChristi]

Ok, so we have seen pictures of members that have power-washed their logs, once erected, both inside and out. I'm assuming this is to remove the remaining cambrium (if desired) and to basically clean the logs so they are ready to accept whatever treatment the owner desires (if any).

But, my husband was curious about how you do that if you have a sub-floor in already. Also, in our neck of the woods, basements are customary, so we will have a basement below that sub-floor. So, you have all that water on your wooden floor and probably leaking down into your basement...is there a better way to do this? Or is it even necessary? Just wondering.

Thanks,

Christi (and Bill)

[rocklock]

Do not wait until the logs are stacked to power wash them... Do as much work on the ground as possible. It saves time and the effort to prevent everything getting wet.

[BillnChristi]

Thanks, Dave. That makes alot of sense. We sometimes can't see the forest for the trees (pun fully intended - however lame lol) Guess it just confused us when we saw photos of others doing that.

[loghousenut]

Or you could stack 'em and then power wash 'em before you put the floor in. It's not often I get to through out an opinion that is counter to rocklock so I thought I'd better jump on it. You'll get a better handle on all this in class.

[BillnChristi]

LOL thanks LHN

[drmjmule]

When you power wash them arent you worried about causing rot by intentionally exposing them to water?

Also is the idea to: power wash them and then spay them right behind that with Both the Boracare & Moldcare?

I've heard other members recomend using Boracare & Moldcare, in a 5:1 mix ratio, so that 1 gallon yields 6 gallons for your sprayer.
Blane (building in NC) said that he used 24 gallons of a combined mixture (Boracare & Moldcare) to cover 80 logs (most 35' and 8 were 45') while they were on the ground....
...And said that he was told to treat them again once under roof with a 1:1 mix ratio (just on the outside) and 5:1 on the inside to be bug and mold free for life.
Any thoughts or acomments on the: Power Washing and rott concerns as well as the Boracare & Moldcare comments?

[dazedandconfused]

Well my site I will not have running water, so how do you power wash them then? Do you have to at all?

[rocklock]

Logs and rot Hummm...
In general, rot is caused by prolonged humidity. It takes both water and air over a period of time. IMHO, borates should be applied when the logs are green. On the other side there are home brewed borate recipe formulations... I think our recipe are better that the commercial products...
If you don't like the clean log look, then of course having a little cambium on the log does not harm it at all.
You can rent a trailer that has a large water tank and sprayer all together. Or you can just do it your self. The have large water containers that you can put on a pickup, and drag it you your property and use your own sprayer. The sprayer only use about 2 1/2 gal a minute so a 250 gallon tank last along time. Another cleaning system is corn cob abrasive.

[BillnChristi]

Good info, all. Thank you.