Log Home Restoration in Ottawa Done Right
Most log homes we see around Ottawa, Carp, Arnprior, and Perth are dealing with the same short list of problems: UV damage that's faded the finish to gray, checking (the natural cracks that open along a log's face), failed chinking, and water intrusion from ice dams, roof leaks, or poor drainage. Left alone, that moisture creeps deep into the logs and turns into wood rot — which is when a cosmetic problem becomes a structural integrity problem. Whether you've got hand-hewn logs, round log homes, or square log homes, the fix follows the same logic: get it clean, get it dry, repair what's damaged, then seal it so it stays that way. We handle log home restoration, cottage restoration, and timber frame restoration across the region, and we've been doing it for more than 30 years.
Our Ottawa Log Home Restoration Process — Step by Step
1. Log Home Inspection and Quote
We start with a full log home inspection — walking every wall, checking chinking lines, probing suspect areas for soft spots, and looking for insect infestation and wood movement. You get a written scope and a real restoration cost, not a guess. Most whole-home projects land somewhere between $12,000 and $40,000 depending on size, condition, and access; smaller jobs run less. All quotes are plus HST.
2. Media Blasting and Stain Stripping
Old paint and dead finish have to come off before anything else. We use media blasting to strip logs back to clean, bright wood — usually corn cob blasting for softer surfaces and delicate profiles, and crushed glass blasting where the old coating is stubborn. This is the safest form of stain stripping for the wood itself. One Ottawa-area homeowner came to us with "terrible red paint on the exterior from a previous owner" — we removed every trace of it "without any damage at all to the wood," and brought the natural grain back. We understand power washing risks and never blast a home dry when a soft wash approach protects the logs better; each surface gets the right method.
3. Log Wash, Rot Repair, and Log Replacement
After blasting, we do a full log wash to neutralize the surface and lift out embedded dirt — a proper log wash also brightens the wood and preps it to hold stain. Then we tackle repairs. Minor damage gets patched with structural epoxy filler; deeper decay gets cut out and rebuilt. Where a log is too far gone, we do full log replacement, matching the profile so it disappears into the wall. This log repair stage is where we protect your home's structural integrity for the long haul.
4. Chinking, Caulking, and Staining
With the shell sound and clean, we seal it. Log chinking and log caulking with Sashco products — backed by proper backer rod where the gaps are wide — gives you flexible, weatherproof joints that move with the logs instead of cracking. We use Sashco's chinking and Energy Seal for tighter checks and joints because they flex with seasonal wood movement. Then comes log home staining: a breathable stain like Sikkens Cetol or a comparable low VOC stain that lets the logs release moisture while blocking UV damage and water. We finish with a protective coating that handles the restain interval most Ottawa homes need — roughly every 5 to 8 years on sun-exposed walls. The before and after on a full weatherproofing job is the part homeowners never forget.
Why Ottawa Homeowners Choose True North Restoration
30+ Years and 300+ Log Homes
We've restored and perfected more than 300 log homes across Ontario and Canada. That's not a marketing line — it's why we can look at a checked, gray wall in Perth and tell you within an hour whether it's a stain job or a rot problem.
The Right Products, Not the Cheapest
We stand behind Sashco chinking, Energy Seal, and Sikkens Cetol because we've watched them hold up through Ottawa winters. A breathable stain that traps no moisture is the single biggest factor in log home lifespan.
We Live On-Site and Treat Your Home Like Ours
On bigger projects our crew stays through the work and protects the property daily. One customer put it plainly: "they stayed at my house throughout the process and they took great care of it." You don't manage subcontractors — we run the whole job.
Honest Scopes and Real Advice
We'll tell you what needs doing now and what can wait, and give straight guidance on colours and products — the same advice that customer said made all the difference. See real before and after work before you commit.
Serving Ottawa & Eastern Ontario
We work throughout Ottawa and the surrounding rural communities — Carp, Arnprior, Perth, and the cottage country beyond — plus Eastern Ontario. We know how ice dams form on north-facing roofs here, how spring melt pools against poorly drained foundations, and why the south wall always fades first. Beyond full log home restoration we also handle cedar siding restoration and board and batten restoration on mixed-material homes and outbuildings. If you're within our service radius, we'll come look at your logs and give you a real plan.
Ready to Restore Your Log Home? Call True North Restoration
Your logs aren't getting any drier waiting. The sooner we strip, repair, and seal, the less rot you'll pay to cut out later. Call True North Restoration at 519-379-4931 to book a log home inspection in Ottawa, or reach out through our contact page. Thirty years of experience, more than 300 homes restored, and a finish built to last through Ottawa winters — let's bring your log home back.
