Services
Energy Audit
An energy audit is a tool to analyze your home and pinpoint areas that can have an impact on your home’s durability, health and safety, comfort and energy efficiency. An audit includes a short interview, exterior inspection, interior inspection, inspection of your CAZ (combustion appliance zone), a calibrated blower door test , an infrared inspection if conditions allow, pressure diagnostics if applicable, analysis of utility bills and a written report.
Typical items that are addressed include moisture issues, rooms that are difficult to heat or cool, drafts, excessive dust and outside noise, excessive insects such as ladybugs, stink bugs and wasps and high utility bills.
Some of the recommendations you may choose to handle yourself. If you like, you may hire us to perform some or all of the recommended work; or you can hire someone else. The important thing is to act on the suggestions after you receive the report.
Log Replacement
Log replacement is the act of replacing rotted logs with new, sound logs. This is a labor intensive process that involves the use of various types of saws, planners, grinders and hand tools. Fortunately, most homes do not need such a service. However, if yours is one of them, we have the tools and knowledge to get the job done.
Power Washing
Power washing is a method that can remove dirt, pollen, mold, mildew, mill glaze and grey wood. Before any house can be stained, it must be cleaned, even if it is brand new. We use a power washer and various chemicals to get this job done. If your home’s stain is in good condition, then we need to perform a maintenance cleaning which involves a mild cleaner, brushes and a lot of water with very little pressure. If your house has been sitting for awhile with no stain or a failed stain, chances are you are going to need a more aggressive power washing. Either way, or in between, PLS can take care of you.
Cob/Media Blasting
Media blasting is a method that removes the existing finish down to bare wood. We can take a home that is almost black with 20 years of stain and weather and make it look brand new. It requires a lot of skill and specialized equipment. This is one process that should be left to the professionals.
Media blasting will change the texture of the wood. The degree of texturing depends on the species of wood and toughness of finish being removed. Some people are afraid that the texturing will ruin the appearance of their logs however, some reputable stain manufacturers recommend media blasting as the preferred method to prepare the logs for their stains since it opens up the pores of the wood and allows for better penetration. Once the whole house is blasted and stained, most people will assume that is how the logs were meant to look. One huge advantage to media blasting is that it creates an excellent opportunity to treat your logs with borates. Once the logs have been stained, it is too late to apply borate treatments. Another advantage to media blasting is that no water is used, so stain can be applied immediately after.
Borate Treatment
Borates are applied to bare wood to help fight against rot, fungi and insects. This is a step that should never be overlooked.
Staining
Stain is your homes first defense against the weather, not to mention the fact that it is often what gives your home its beauty. Expect to pay $55.00 to $75.00 a gallon for a quality log home stain. Applying the stain takes some skill and attention to detail. You want an even distribution over the entire house. Runs and lap marks are two blemishes that you want to avoid. PLS applies stains with an airless sprayer and vigorous back brushing.
Caulking/Chinking
Caulk and chink are used to seal the gaps between logs, doors, windows and corners. Generally, caulk is used for lines which are less than an inch in width while chinking is for widths of an inch and over. Typically, caulk is designed to blend in with the finish where chinking is designed to stand out.
Miscellaneous
PLS installations Inc. offers many other services on a case by case basis. We build decks, install replacement windows and wrap facia and rake boards in metal. We can power wash other items such as driveways and fences. Our blasting pot handles many different medias such as crushed glass, walnut shells and soda. This allows us to blast other items such as automobiles and lawn furniture. Soda blasting does not warp metal and is also good for removing soot from fire damaged buildings. If you have any needs not listed here, feel free to give us a call. If we are unable to help you, chances are, we know someone who can.
