Refinishing is necessary only if the current stain system is reaching the end of its life cycle. This is a normal event. Over time, as coats of stain are applied and build up, the logs no longer breathe properly. The stain system may crack, peel, or darken, meaning it is reaching the point of ‘diminishing returns.’

We understand that refinishing is a costly and involved process, and we’re careful only to recommend it when we feel it is necessary. If you plan to own your home for the long term, refinishing and converting to the right stain can save you time, maintenance, and hassle.

The stains we use have stood up to the test of time, and we only recommend products we would use on our own homes.

Every log home is different, so we take into account a range of factors when we make a recommendation about refinishing and converting to a new stain system.

We appreciate the following:

1. Clean up any pet droppings in the areas where we’ll be working.

2. Remove exterior window screens if possible.

3. Make sure your exterior hose bib is on and working, or that we have access to turn it on.

4. Make sure we have access to at least three exterior power outlets.

5. Provide access to your electrical breaker/panel so we can reset it in the event that an outlet trips.

6. Let us know whether we will have access to a restroom. If not, we will plan accordingly.

We are happy to perform the following tasks as part of the restoration process:

1. Trim back bushes or trees as needed to gain better access to the walls of the home.

2. Move heavy patio furniture and other items away from the home.

3. Remove exterior lights if owner prefers.

4. Leave the premises neat and clean.

5. Clean the exterior windows at the end of the job.

6. Be courteous, friendly and respectful.

7. Answer your questions and communicate as the project unfolds.

There are a variety of media that can be used to remove coatings from surfaces. Sand blasting is the most common. Crushed glass is our preferred media for wood surfaces. It is inorganic, gentle, and non-toxic.

Yes. The process is dusty and noisy on the outside of the home. To minimize the mess, we lay tarps, protect your windows and metal surfaces, and recollect 95% of the used glass. At your discretion, we will either haul the used glass media away at the end of the prep phase or dispose of it if you have a suitable area on site. We also rinse your home, roof, and concrete areas at the end of the prep phase to leave everything clean.

No. The process is meant to remove the outer stain layer. The wood will have an ‘orange peel’ texture after blasting. Most customers choose to have us lightly sand or buff the wood surface after blasting to make it smoother in preparation for stain.

Unless you have a full log home, the chances of getting dust inside are minimal, and are usually limited to windowsill areas. We are happy to help clean up any interior dust that results from the work. If you own a full log home, there’s a good chance that dust will intrude, and that we’ll need to plan for a more complete cleaning process.

We do everything we can to protect the interior of your home from the mess, but we’ve found that planning to clean at the end is the best approach.

No. It feels like beach sand to the touch and is not sharp or harmful to humans or animals.

Most stain systems have a life cycle of 15-25 years, no matter how well you maintain your home. As you build up the coats of stain, the product tends to breathe less, darken, and eventually peel (penetrating oil stains will not fail in this way, and can be maintained in perpetuity). There ARE things you can do to extend the life of your stain, including:

1. Cutting back bushes and landscaping so the home dries out properly after rain and snow.

2. Installing (and then maintaining) gutters and downspouts.

3. Rinsing the exterior of your home every 1-2 years to remove dust, mildew, and pollen.

4. Touching up the caulking on the home every 1-2 years in areas where it pulls away from logs.

This is a complicated question. A range of factors can affect how certain stains perform, including geography, climate, wood type, UV exposure, maintenance, elevation, etc. We have found that penetrating oil stains require the least maintenance over time and have the lowest rate of failure.

Some customers prefer a ‘glossy’ or ‘shiny’ look on the home exterior. In that case, we can offer a waterborne, film-forming system that requires clearcoat maintenance every 2-3 years.

Looking at stain colors on websites and in photographs is helpful. We’re happy to also give you a list of homes we’ve refinished so you can look at them in person to get a sense of the range of stain colors available. When it’s time to choose a color, we apply samples to your wood.

No two homes are the same.

In fact, no two batches of wood are the same, meaning it’s critical that you view samples on your home so you can get an accurate picture of what the stain will look like. We recommend you look at these samples in person when possible (versus looking at photos of the samples).

We serve a number of states in the Midwest, with particular focus on the Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan and Minnesota region. If you are unsure if we service your area, please reach out through our contact from or visit Our Story page to review a map.

Our hours are Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm. Holiday hours may vary, so please call us for details.

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Lake Country Log and Cedar is both lead paint and Sashco certified.