Hi. Just
had a question. I've been reading that to coat the interior of the log home
you need to use a product that allows the logs to "breathe" and I thought
a polyurethane product would not allow the logs to do that? I was wondering
if you could give me some idea of the cost of your product. Most interested
in polyseal wall for interior finishes. I would appreciate a brochure also
if it can give me some more info that your web site already does.
Patti Arndt
Patti,
If you desire to have a coating on your log walls that are easy to clean
and dust, then it must be able to fill the wood pores and form a film on
the log walls. Once dry and cured, the coating should be hard enough to
allow for easy cleaning. Can a polyurethane coating be used on an interior
log wall? Of course. But it is normally a good idea to wait a year and go
through a heating season before applying it on the interior log walls. Otherwise
moisture related coating problems could occur. All coatings allow water
vapor to migrate through them. The density or tightness of the coating determines
the rate at which the water vapor can pass through it. However, no film
forming coating can handle a high volume of moisture passing through it
without problems occurring. Problems such as mildew growing under the coating,
peeling of the coating, and in some cases chemical staining or coffee stains
that accumulate underneath the coating barrier. That is why it is so important
to make sure that the logs are dry (16% - 18%). I would ask the manufacturer
of your logs their opinion regarding a time frame to varnish the interior.
PolySeal is formulated with a combination of Polyurethane/Acrylic resins.
It is very low in fumes and it is higher in solids that similar water based
varnishes. PolySeal does dry much faster than conventional solvent based
varnishes so it requires that the applicator works fast and not over brush
it.
Thanks for your interest
Michael McArthur
The Continental Products Co.
DEAR CONTINENTAL PRODUCTS,
WE HAVE BUILT A JIM BARNA LOG HOME. THE PRODUCT SIKKENS CAME WITH THE PACKAGE
TO FINISH THE EXTERIOR. WE ARE BEING TOLD NOT TO USE ANY POLYURETHANE ON
THE INSIDE, JUST STAIN, SO THAT THE LOGS MAY "BREATH". WHAT WOULD YOUR COMPANYRECOMMEND
AND/OR DO YOU HAVE THE SAME THOUGHTS ON LOGS BREATHING? THEY SAID THE LOGS
WILL TURN BLACK IF WE SEAL THEM OFF COMPLETELY. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW
ONE WOULD CLEAN THE INSIDE FROM DUST AND GREASE. PLEASE E-MAIL BACK A.S.A.P.
FOR WE WOULD LIKE TO FINISH BEFORE THE HOLIDAYS.
REGARDS,
SALLIE COX
Dear Sallie,
The reason Jim Barna does not recommend a polyurethane coating
on their interior Log walls is because their logs have a lot of moisture
in them. In other words they are "green" and it will take a year or two
after the home is built before the log's moisture will equalize with the
surrounding environment. If a homeowner seals the log interior with multiple
coats of a clear varnish, then there probably will be moisture related coating
problems such as black mold growing under the clear film. A clear varnish,
whether polyurethane or a combination polyurethane/acrylic can be applied
on the interior of any log home. However, the logs need to be dry (18% moisture
content) before coating. We always recommend waiting through a heating season
and a year after being built before coating with a varnish. You should quiz
Jim Barn regarding their total ban on the use of clear polyurethane varnishes
on their log walls. My guess is they have encountered problems with customers
applying such coatings before the logs had adequately dried. From experience,
I have talked to many log homeowners and have visited a number of homes
where clear polyurethane varnishes had been applied on the interior log
walls without evidence of any problems.
Michael McArthur
The Continental Products Co.
