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Sometimes, beautiful houses can be ruined instantly when proper care is not observed. One of the many things that can cause damage and destruction even to beautiful homes are mildew and molds. Specifically, log homes not properly maintained can be prone to these pestering problems.
Causes of Mildew and MoldShady, warm and moist areas are most conducive to growth and development of mildew and molds. These must be properly eliminated in the periphery of homes and even inside the home to free it of its attack. The home or building needs proper ventilation and sunlight so prune trees that can block sunlight. Rain gutters and drainage must also be maintained well to ensure free flow of stagnant water. When the condition is altered, the reappearance of mildew is less to occur.
Symptoms of Mold and Mildew GrowthThe appearance of dark brown or greenish color on your logs could indicate that mold or mildew has developed. This is the result when the wood is too damp under the sealant or plainly became too damp. When logs are not treated properly when the logs were initially debarked, blue mold fungus can develop and this proves to be very hard to remove.
Mildew Problems in Log HomesLog homes containing fair amount of moisture are likely to experience the growth of mold and mildew. Sometimes, moisture still exists in the logs or it has penetrated the dry wood due to rain or the damp condition outside. Due to length of time, log homes also will have the same level of relative humidity as its surrounding areas enabling it to trap more moisture.
Here are some quick guides on how to remove mold and mildew in your home:
Using a mixture of 1 gallon water and 1 cup of bleach, scrub the surfaces using a medium scrub brush. If the mildew proves to be stubborn, add a quart of bleach to the solution. When the area is mildew free, rinse it with a direct stream of water and allow the surface to dry.
For painted surfaces, use a mixture of 1 gallon water, ¼ cup baking soda and ½ cup of vinegar. Use a sponge or other soft cleaning tool to clean, then rinse afterwards. Leave the area to air dry.
Eliminate some of the moisture by spreading book page on the surface. Use corn starch or talcum powder to absorb more moisture if necessary, then, wipe the portion afterwards with a soft, clean cloth.
For upholstered pieces in the home, vacuum and air out fabrics or mattresses in the sun. Use fungicidal spray if mildew is too severe to be removed.
Treating your Log Homes for Mold and MildewCheck your home for presence of mold or mildew.
Use a good power washing or corn blasting in cleaning away mold or mildew.
Before staining your log home, check on its moisture level. If the moisture level is above 18% along the log siding, you may be trapping some moisture in your logs when applying stains. This will likely induce mold and mildew to form again.
Choose the proper sealant to stain your log home for proper protection.
Mold and mildew pester your home so there’s a need to treat it right away. Keeping a beautiful log home also requires you to free it of small problems which can cause destruction on it later on.
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