Avoid Norimaki Logs

Norimaki Logs

loghome31.jpg“Norimaki (のりまき): A style of sushi where you wrap white rice in seaweed. When you cut a norimaki roll in two you see a white center with a dark green or black wrapping.”**

It’s the time of year we get a lot of calls for fungicides both for logs and k.d. select decking and occasionally bare wood windows and doors. It seems each builder comes up with a situation just a bit unique from the previous ones we’ve heard. Being located in the heart of “green log” country we’ll explain here what many of the better builders that we deal with are doing.

Upon delivery of a load of green logs (usually douglas fir) the builders will properly deck the logs off the ground usually in a single layer then tag each log. Next they apply a sealer to the log ends to lessen moisture loss. This is not as important in the winter however many do it throughout the year. Upon removing the bark (either drawknife pressure washing spud peeling or a combination) a fungicide is applied by spray or brush. A periodic inspection of the logs both in the decks and on the house is done to ensure there are not untreated spots of insufficient application. While building any finished cut surface such as a scarf cut for a saddle type notch is coated with a water-based latex sealer to lessen checking in this area. If the building is to be moved many put another coat of fungicide on the log shell – this is particularly true if you’re shipping to Japan. Upon application of final finishes the conditions on site determine whether to apply fungicide after clean up and prior to finish purchase a finish with some fungicide in it or add fungicide to the finish yourself. Many homeowners while being concerned about their log homes have some mold strain are equally concerned with not living in a home that has been drenched with toxic chemicals.

** “When I went to Japan several years ago to re-erect our first log home in Japan I kept hearing people ask why the house logs weren’t “Norimaki Logs”. It was explained to me that the Japanese had coined the term “Norimaki Logs” to describe the moldy logs they were used to receiving from North American log house builders.” – Gary Pendergrass president A Place in the Sun Log Homes Inc.