Splashing rainwater, leaking roof valleys, and soil contact around foundation lines can cause severe fungal rot inside exterior log walls. When structural timber weakens, it threatens the load-bearing capacity of the entire residence. Our skilled log craftsmen execute surgical half-log and full-log replacements, utilize 20-ton hydraulic jacking rams to support wall loads safely, and blend new treated timbers seamlessly into existing walls.
Replacing load-bearing logs requires temporarily transferring multi-story building deadweights. We construct engineered temporary shoring towers and utilize synchronized 20-ton hydraulic bottle jacks to take structural pressure off deteriorated logs before cutting commences.
When decay is limited to the outer 2 to 4 inches of a log, complete removal is unnecessary. We cut away rotted wood with precision chainsaws and chisels, treat the remaining sound timber with concentrated borate preservatives, and custom-scribe a half-log Dutchman splice glued with structural polyurethane adhesive.
Baseline sill logs resting on concrete foundations are the most common victims of water rot. We extract damaged sill sections, pour concrete leveling pads if needed, install copper drip flashing and capillary break gaskets, and seat new borate-pressure-treated white pine logs.
Preserving architectural authenticity is critical. Our timber framers hand-hew replacement corner notches (dovetail, saddle notch, or butt-and-pass) to match the existing profile exactly, followed by hand-planing and multi-coat staining to blend new logs invisibly into original walls.
Tap the log firmly with a rubber mallet. A sharp, solid ring indicates healthy timber, while a dull, hollow thud suggests internal fungal decay. You can also press an awl into suspicious areas to test wood hardness.
We source kiln-dried, slow-growth Eastern white pine and Douglas fir logs milled to match your home's exact diameter, profile, and moisture content specifications.
Borate treatments kill wood-rotting fungi and prevent future decay; however, if structural wood fibers have already softened and lost their load-bearing capacity, the rotted section must be physically replaced.