There’s something iconic about staying in glulam log cabins over winter. The rooftops, delicately covered by the snow, warm, crackling fire inside, keeping us warm. That’s the ideal image we all have when we think of contemporary log cabins in winter. That’s also what we think about when we are going to our log home suppliers and out in the bespoke log cabin order. We are striving for a fantasy we have in our heads and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that.
Once you achieve your fantasy, it’s important to keep it alive. That way, you will be able to experience those beautiful winter mornings in bespoke timber houses of your dreams. The harshest season for all log homes is winter. It’s cold, damp, most often without any sunshine to speak off. We also tend to stay indoors longer and watch over the garden and exterior of the log cabin less. That is why, in order to take care of the log cabin properly, it’s important to prepare for winter. In this post, we will cover some basic steps on preparing your log cabin for winter that will save you a lot of trouble.
First step: spruce up the exterior
Before the snow and cold over the land around your log cabin, make sure your glulam beams house is clean and spruced up. Use a high pressure cleaner to remove a layer of dust, dirt and grime from the walls. This will keep the walls clean and won’t let the grime freeze over and further penetrate into the walls. While you’re cleaning, also check for stains and mould. If you find any indication of staining, apply a fresh layer of topcoat before temperatures drop.
Additionally, take a good look at the foundation and the roof of your glulam log cabins. Animals such as racoons or squirrels tend to spend winters in warm attics or basements. Make sure these creatures don’t wreak havoc inside your abode. Your roof might also become a sanctuary for birds that spend winters locally. Make sure they don’t make nests where it could damage the structure of your roof or cause littering.
Finally, clean your downpours and gutters. These are very important in keeping your bespoke log cabins an orderly haven. All the twigs, pebbles and other debris are a prime candidate to freeze over and become serious ice dams that can cause serious damage once water builds up.
Second step: take care of the interior
First things first, in keeping your contemporary residential log cabins safe for winter, it’s important to check and clean your chimney. Built up soot can cause a lot of issues: the build up of CO2 and creosote. CO2 itself can obviously hard your health, while creosote is extremely flammable. Build up of creosote greatly increases the possibility of it catching fire even from a smallest spark.
Next on the list is the fireplace dampener. To keep your bespoke log homes warm and cozy, make sure the dampener closes tightly. If it doesn’t, the heat from the fireplace will travel up into the chimney and not into your log cabin.
Additionally, you should regularly service your carbon monoxide and smoke detectors. Usually, glulam beam house plans include evenly dispersed smoke detectors, which need to be serviced and inspected regularly. To keep yourself, your family and your lovely bespoke homes, make sure you don’t skip this service, especially before winter when the fireplace is used much more often. A simple rule to follow: change the CO detector batteries whenever daylight savings time ends.
Finally, insulate your plumbing. Wherever the pipes reach outside or are placed in non-heated area, make sure to insulate them properly. It’s also prudent to know the location of your water’s main source. If the winter gets so cold that it freezes over, knowing the location will allow you to turn it off whenever there’s an emergency buildup of ice.
Final thoughts
Whether it’s your first winter spent in your own glulam beams houses, or you’re a veteran log cabins owner, it never hurts to prepare. Go through the same checklist every year, starting from early to mid-autumn. That way, you will keep your bespoke log homes in top condition for many winters to come.