How to cover the inside of a log house, and is it necessary to do it at all? Manufacturers of logs and timber often claim that wooden houses do not require interior finishing at all, but this is not entirely true.
Wood really looks very beautiful, and covering it with any materials is not the best solution, but it needs protection from various damaging factors, so it is impossible to do without treatment at all. Its purpose is not only a decorative, but also a protective coating, which, moreover, will preserve the natural texture of the wood.
Why do you need to paint the outside of a wooden bathhouse?
- For protection against weather conditions. Sun, precipitation, wind - all this does not improve the tree;
- To protect against temperature changes emanating from inside the bath, which also affect the durability of the material;
- For protection from various biological lesions;
- For a more aesthetic appearance.
Points 1, 2 and 3 serve to extend the life of the wood base, and this is the main thing. And point 4, for some, is a controversial point. Someone will say, how can the color of paint be better than the texture of natural wood...
Painting of the log house must be preceded by the application of a primer coating, an antiseptic and a fire retardant compound (pyrine retardant). It is important. The antiseptic will create protection against wood insects, fungal mold, rotting and other things, antipyrine, and increase the fire resistance of the structure. Both substances can be chosen either in the form of a colorless substance or an enriched color.
By the way, there are some paints that contain antiseptic and water-repellent impregnations. According to many experts (who always play it safe), it is better to perform priming as a separate process.
And after sanding (when the wood loses its roughened layer and becomes easily accessible to all kinds of biological damage), this must be done immediately.
Before treating with protective substances, you need to check the quality of the log caulk and, if necessary, bring it into compliance. It is worth considering that the ends of the log house absorb moisture more strongly and therefore it is recommended to apply two or three additional layers to them.
Why and from what wood needs to be protected
The outer layer of wood, devoid of bark, is completely defenseless both from the destructive effects of wind and sudden fluctuations in humidity, and from insect pests. The risk increases if the house is located in a rural or wooded area. This is explained as follows:
- As a result of complete cleaning of the wood surface from bark, it is easier for wood-boring beetles to access it.
- Under the influence of constantly changing relative humidity levels throughout the year, mold appears on wooden houses over time (usually in inconspicuous places, where it is most difficult to remove).
- Moisture stains remaining on an unprotected surface provoke the development of fungal diseases on the wood.
- With constant weathering, the surface of the building changes its natural color, becoming dull brown, which is why a wooden house loses its aesthetic appearance.
Based on this, when a wooden house is ready, it should be subjected to surface sanding, antiseptic treatment, and then painting.
Painting logs on the outside has a number of advantages:
- paint and varnish materials prevent destruction, dampness and rotting;
- antiseptic treatment protects the log house from pests, fungal mold and corrosion;
- Exterior painting provides an opportunity to create a façade that fits perfectly into the architecture of the house and landscape solutions.
How to prime the log house?
Of “our” “priming” products on the market, I would like to highlight Neomid. What distinguishes it is good quality and reasonable price. The line of products for wood allows you to “close” almost all needs: Fire protection, bio-antiseptic, moisture protection, etc. Reviews for the brand are good.
Another Russian manufacturer, the Senezh company, which produces a rich line of products. The assortment includes several protective compounds for different purposes (I mean, intended specifically for outdoor woodwork). In addition to primers, there are varnishes and paints on an organic and synthetic basis (acrylate, oil, etc.).
Mistakes when painting a house yourself
Many people who decide to paint a wooden house themselves are perplexed as to why the coating turned out unsightly, and after a short time it peeled off and they have to repaint it again. Some blame it all on low-quality dye, but even the best paint cannot produce high-quality and beautiful paint when non-professionals take on the job.
Home builders often make many mistakes:
- due attention is not paid to home preparation,
- Grinding is carried out incorrectly,
- the painting process is disrupted,
- the temperature regime is not maintained during operation,
- wet lumber is painted,
- materials that are incompatible with each other are selected.
All these errors affect the final result, which causes confusion.
How to paint a log house?
The lower crowns are treated with waste oil.
Let's divide the materials into two types: folk and modern. First, I will give a few folk recipes. What if someone wants...
Waste machine or transformer oil
Yes, the smell is not very good, but it will disappear after a while, but the impregnation will remain and will create a waterproof layer. Although dust sticks to it “freshly”. Apply the oil with a rough brush and rub in thoroughly.
Turpentine and wax
Mix in equal proportions. In addition to protecting against moisture, this composition provides good protection against wood insects and gives the walls of the log house a certain gloss of “well-kept antiquity.” Particularly suitable for painting baths “in years”.
Oak bark decoction
A nice darkened background, however, the wood pattern is clearly visible through it. An old and forgotten method.
It is better not to make coloring compositions from onion broth (these are not eggs for Easter). Yes, they give the logs a pleasant shade, but as an “undesirable bonus” they have a smell that attracts insects.
My opinion is that you shouldn’t get carried away with environmental products. In a number of ways, it is no longer easy for them to compete with the products of the chemical industry. But if you are a principled supporter of natural raw materials, then, without a doubt, go ahead!
Professional
A wooden house will be painted efficiently and beautifully if you use the services of our company. All our craftsmen are specialists with extensive experience, have specialized education, and master the intricacies of working with wood. Do you need to paint a small country house or a huge country mansion? This is for us! We will complete all stages of work of any volume in the shortest possible time, with consistently high quality, at an affordable cost. You can submit a request to call a specialist directly on the website if you visit the “Contacts” section.
Calculate the cost of painting and insulating your home right now
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Now I turn to modern materials
I will talk about those that are intended specifically for wooden buildings.
Belinka
The Belinka brand has long proven itself well. The range includes not only paints, but also varnishes, various impregnations, and glazing compounds. The range of shades of varnish and paint is very colorful, allowing you to preserve the texture of the wood, emphasizing it with a decorative background. Belinka polyacrylate paints create a film on the surface of wood that, on the one hand, has water-repellent properties and, on the other, is vapor-permeable.
Tex
Professionals speak positively about the Russian manufacturer Tex. In addition to paint, the company has several types of antiseptics, including ground and glaze, drying oils, fire retardant impregnations and wax-based compounds.
A separate point that is often not paid due attention: the protection of metal parts. Heads of nails and screws, hinges, corners, etc. are susceptible to corrosion. For protection, special compounds are used. The same Neomid has them.
Tikkurila
If finances allow, contact the Tikkurila brand, respected in Russia. The paints of this Finnish manufacturer have been tested in the harsh conditions of the northern climate. They contain components containing various additives that prevent the formation of rot, moisture absorption, and protect against ultraviolet radiation.
You can choose from acrylate paint called Pica-Techo, oil Techo, polyacrylate, Ultra-Classic. This brand, in addition to its relatively high price, has another drawback - names that are difficult to remember. Here they are.
And of course, the Finnish company has all EU certificates confirming environmental friendliness.
By the way, if the coating of the log house was done with oil paint, then the next coating (for example, after 3-5 years) should also be done with oil paint.
In general, recommendations for painting a log bathhouse boil down to what needs to be taken into account:
- Firstly: the better (that is, more famous) the manufacturer, the better and more durable its primer and topcoats;
- Secondly: use special-purpose compounds, in our case, intended for external wooden walls. If you find among well-known manufacturers special paints for facades made of rounded logs, it will be even better, but, unfortunately, I don’t know such paints.
Saikos
Finally, let’s touch on the German manufacturer SAICOS. The catchphrase - “True German quality” is very relevant to this day. The main feature of this product is that the base is only natural oils and waxes. The conclusions here are simple: such wood impregnation will preserve your structure for many, many years. In a word - I recommend it. I think that professionals will understand me...
The process of applying antiseptics and primers to sanded walls
After sanding the walls of the house, you need to treat them both inside and outside. The work is complex and requires material investments. Not everyone has the patience to finish it to the end.
Before applying the main layers, you should pay attention to the caulking of the log house walls. If cracks appear, re-caulk.
To seal cracks, special sealants are produced that cover the caulk and protect it from the harmful effects of the environment. If the caulking was made with natural flax fiber, then it is necessary to protect it from moisture. You can use, for example, Neomid or Remmins sealants. Only after complete caulking around the entire perimeter and its processing can you begin painting the walls.
End finishing
When processing the surface of the log house walls after grinding, you should pay special attention to the ends of the log or timber. Wood capillaries are located from top to bottom for better penetration of liquid to the crown. When sawing, these channels are exposed, and moisture from the environment easily enters them. If you treat the ends with a simple sealant or antiseptic, this will not bring the desired result. This means that over time the walls will crack and darken. Finnish manufacturers recommend using acrylic moisture-resistant product TEKNOL JRM. After such painting, the permeability of moisture into the ends is reduced by 15-20 times. This product costs from 350 rubles/3 liters.
Liquid glass treatment works in a similar way, but it contains toxic substances. But it is cheap.
Any of the selected products should be applied in two layers, carefully covering all joints. Before applying the second, the first is allowed to dry.
Wall treatment
The walls are treated in the warm season at above-zero temperatures, immediately after sanding and caulking, immediately after the construction of a house made of profiled timber is completed. Grinding is best done using a grinding tool with a P80 disc. After this, the dust is removed from the logs and the first layer of antiseptic is applied, for example colorless Teknol Aqua 1410-01. Painting should be done with a brush or electric spray gun. The primer is applied in two layers.
The next step is to process the walls again using a sanding machine with P220 or 240 discs. After applying the primer, hairiness appears, which is better to remove. Sanding will take a long time and requires expensive and powerful equipment. So a high-quality grinding machine costs from 2,000 rubles. And with high power, sanding a 30 cm wall takes about half an hour. Of course, you can skip this step, since it does not affect the protective characteristics.
The next step is painting with glazing compounds. You can use a covering antiseptic. The compositions must be applied in the same way, using a brush or spray bottle.
To save money, instead of glazing compounds, you can use simple acrylic paint for facades. But the wood texture will be hidden. For example, acrylic paint for Tikkuril facades tolerates temperature changes well and has many shades and colors. The cost of this product is from 1,500 per 10 liters.
With high-quality processing and caulking, wooden walls will serve the owners for more than 50 years. But painting should be done at least once every 3-4 years. It's nice to be in a wooden house that not only looks good, but also breathes. And this can be achieved only by painting the external walls after sanding with natural and high-quality materials.
Neomid Biocolor Aqua for painting the inside of the house
For interior painting of a log house, Biocolor Aqua from Neomid is perfect. This is a glazing acrylic composition that has not only decorative properties, but also protective ones. The paint penetrates deeply into the wood of the log house, beautifully highlighting its structure. After painting, a semi-matte, translucent layer is formed on the surface. It protects the frame from fading, moisture and cracking. Also, in the future, insects, molds, and fungi will not appear on the walls of the log house. It is important that the aroma of the wood is preserved; the composition itself has practically no odor. Biocolor Aqua is also an environmentally friendly and safe product. There are 7 primary colors in the paint arsenal. If desired, you can tint it with special pastes.
