"Garrett,
Walter" wrote:
I have a six-year old borate treated white pine log structure
by Appalachian Log Structures, Inc. I have been using clear WeatherSeal,
the last application about two years ago. This summer I have had a lot of
mold/mildew which I have removed twice using the directions in your guide.
We have had more rain than usual this year (SC) and the building is surrounded
by pine trees. ALSI recommends that I go to a darker shade of WeatherSeal.
Any suggestions?
Thanks,
Walter Garrett
Dear Walter,
The discoloration may
be a combination of both mold & mildew and tree pollen. In fact tree pollen
is a food for mold and mildew. If tree pollen particles are on the surface
of your logs, then mold can certainly attack it. Continental has never recommended
our clear WeatherSeal due to the fact that it does not have the UV resistance
that our colors have. Because the Clear WeatherSeal will break down more
quickly due to the effects of the sun's rays, it's overall effectiveness
against mold, mildew and overall weather resistance will be reduced. Many
log homeowners have the misguided notion that somehow a clear coating will
preserve the fresh cut look of their logs. There is no clear Exterior wood
coating technology capable of maintaining the fresh cut wood look. Using
one of our colors will certainly help. I suggest you switch to our Natural
Pine or Sunlite color. These colors are very pleasing and natural looking.
We provide liquid samples at no charge should you like to evaluate the colors.
Also, you might consider incorporating into the WeatherSeal a fungicidal
additive found @ some paint stores called M-1.
Michael McArthur
The Continental
Products Co.
Bill,
I have a few questions to ask regarding the mildew growth.
How many coats of WeatherSeal did you apply? Was the log surface free of
fungus prior to coating? Where are you located? Is the mildew on all sides
of the house or in certain sections? If in sections, is it southern, western,
eastern, and northern? Are you located by a lake? Could the mold be something
other than mold but is mistaken for mold? Have you tried cleaning the discoloration
off? If not, try a solution of 1 qt. fresh bleach, 3 quarts water, 1-cup
trisodium phosphate(found at paint, hardware or home improvement stores).
Mix it together and either spray it on with a hand pump garden sprayer or
slop it on with a soft bristle brush. Gently brush the bleach solution with
a soft bristle brush and rinse thoroughly with fresh water. At this point,
I would stick with WeatherSeal. I need to know your situation better before
further recommendations.
Dear Continental,
We have a screened in porch that
has a pine plank board flooring in it. We live in Cincinnati, Oh. Would
this be a good product to use on the floor or do you recommend something
else? We have used other wood protectors but have never been real happy
with their finish when they go on. How safe is your product? We have small
children and two dogs.
Thanks,
Steve Snider
Steve,
The product to chose
will depend on the floor's exposure to water & moisture and also the type
of appearance you want. You can go with floor enamel in a solid color or
a polyurethane or modified polyurethane clear floor coating if outdoor moisture
and exposure is kept to a minimum. Otherwise a deck coating will suffice.
WeatherSeal, a log home stain we manufacture, performs very well on outdoor
decks. We also make transparent polyurethane/acrylic floor coatings (water
based). What you use will depend on appearance and function. If used according
to directions, all of our log home coatings are safe to use. In fact PolySeal
emits the least amount of noxious fumes of any transparent water-based varnish
that we are aware of. PolySeal's V.O.C.'s (volatile organic compounds) are,
within its product category, the lowest in the entire Industry.
Michael McArthur
Continental Products Co.
