4 Services to Run Yearly on Your Cabin Home

[Lizzie Weakley]

Feeling close to the outdoors is easy when you're in your cabin home. To avoid having major problems that could result in major headaches, though, there are some unique maintenance items that you need to take on every year to keep your cabin home in tip-top shape. Once you get into the habit of performing these services on an annual basis, you will be able to do them quickly so that you can get back to relaxing.

Touch-Up the Stain

Since your cabin home isn't protected by bricks or siding, it depends on the stain to prevent damage from moisture. Although exterior stain is quite durable, it can still wear out in certain places as the seasons change. Therefore, it's important to look over your home's exterior at least once a year to see if there are any places where the stain has worn off. If there are, it's important to touch them up with a matching stain as quickly as you can.

Winterize

If you don't use your cabin year-round, you will need to winterize the residential plumbing system to ensure it doesn't suffer any damage over the winter. After turning off the main water source, be sure to drain as much water as possible and then add RV antifreeze to the pipes to prevent any water that remains from freezing. You'll also want to make sure to leave all of your plumbing fixtures in the "on" position to allow for proper air circulation.

Repair Cracked Logs

Although there's little to no drywall inside a cabin home, that doesn't mean that a cabin is immune from interior cracks caused by settling. To help prevent these cracks from growing too large, it's a good idea to check all of your logs every year so that you can repair any new cracks that have formed. Fortunately, taking care of these cracks is as simple as using caulk to fill the crack and then wiping away the excess caulk.

Check for Proper Ventilation

Since they are more absorbent than other building materials, the logs in a cabin are especially susceptible to mold. If you notice patches of mold growing in your cabin home, it's important to do a thorough check of your ventilation systems. In many cases, these systems may not be operating as designed due to a buildup of dust or rust. By cleaning the vents that lead to the outside, you can enjoy lower humidity levels and less mold growth.

While all cabin homes will require some level of maintenance, there are changes you can make to your home to help reduce your maintenance needs. Something as simple as adding an awning to your home can help with moisture and UV exposure to reduce the maintenance that you have to do to your home's exterior logs. Plus, if you rent your home during the times you're not there, you can ensure that the ongoing maintenance that's performed after the guests leave reduces the amount of work that you have to do while you're staying there.