Purchasing a cabin is undoubtedly an exciting process; however, you may find yourself full of cabin maintenance questions. What do I need to do to my Knotty Pine Cabin once it's been built? How do I best protect my investment? We're here to answer the top 5 cabin maintenance questions we get asked on a regular basis!
1. Do I need to treat the exterior of my Knotty Pine Cabin?
We strongly recommend treating the tongue and groove pine siding on your Knotty Pine Cabin for a few reasons:
1) It will prevent the pine from turning grey with prolonged UV exposure.
2) It will protect the pine from water and insects, thereby prolonging the lifespan of your siding.
3) It keeps your cabin looking brand new!
2. What do you recommend treating the exterior pine with?
There are several different products that you could use to treat your pine siding.
If you’d like to keep the natural wood look, we’d recommend treating your Knotty Pine Cabin with a high quality wood sealant formula. There are many wood protection formulas on the market but for best results, always select a high-quality stain that penetrates the pine, otherwise you may end up with a finish that peels and flakes off quickly. Be sure to choose a product that offers deeper wood penetration vs a formula that just sits on the surface of the wood. This will give your cabin the best UV and weather protection and keep you from having to re-apply the sealant more frequently.
There are several high quality stain and sealant brands on the market, carried at a variety of paint or hardware stores that a person could go with to treat the exterior of their Knotty Pine Cabin. One brand that we recommend often to our clients is Sansin because of their high quality pigment penetration, wide range of colors and premium wood protection finish. To find a store that carries Sansin products nearest to you, click here.
The key to getting the best UV and weather protection for your cabin exterior really comes down to using a high quality stain and sealant to work deep in the wood's surface and hold up to the elements for several years at a time before needing any touch ups. Sealant formulas can be applied by with a 5" staining brush.
If you’d prefer to add a bit of color to your Knotty Pine Cabin, check out these sample ideas! There are many options to choose from with a variety of colors and coverage options, from semi-transparent to solid hide.
3. How often will I need to re-treat the exterior pine?
The frequency of reapplication will be dependent on several factors including the product used to treat the pine and the sun exposure. With a high quality exterior sealant and stain, reapplication is roughly every 5-7 years, on average. To prep the wood for fresh sealant, we recommend pressure washing the dust and dirt off the siding and then apply the fresh sealant on the clean, dry wood. 2 coats of fresh sealant will give even more protection!
4. Do I need to treat my deck & railings?
Though we build our decks & railings out of pressure treated lumber, we still recommend treating the wood after it’s been installed. Though pressure treated lumber is treated with a chemical that helps protect the wood from water and insects, staining or sealing your deck provides an extra layer of protection and is thought to reduce surface cracking.
5. Do I need to treat the interior of my Knotty Pine Cabin?
While the interior pine does not need to be treated, you may choose to stain, paint, or white wash some of your interior walls.
If you’re wanting to add a bit of contrast to your Knotty Pine Cabin without going overboard, staining your trim and handrails is always a great option. Tip: Choose a color that matches your kitchen cabinets to keep your cabin looking uniform.
Have a question that we haven’t answered? Feel free to give us a call toll free at 1-877-854-2224 – we’d love to hear from you!