Would you expose the logs of an old home?

[farmwife]

We are enclosing a porch and underneath clapboard is logs. We are thinking of exposing them, but some relatives and the person who helped build the addition doesn't go for it.

It seems to be an older person thing. We are young and like the old homestead appeal. We may take some of the clapboard off to see what the logs look like. They would be on an inside wall now, so insulation wouldn't be a factor.

[plowjockey]

If I understand, the logs would not be visible from outside, when finished?

If it is visible, would the logs look like part of the overall "design", or just an area where the siding was ripped off?

It's your house.

[renee o'neill]

we did and love it.The main part of our house in over 200 yrs old so we took off the layers of siding and let the logs show.They needed some new chincking and we oiled the logs very heavey.We also found an old window and door.

[nathan104]

I would. A whole inside wall of logs would be pretty cool. Might want to think about electric wire and plumbing which may be behind the facer board over the logs if there is any. If you do it, post a picture, Id love to see it.

[Common Tator]

I have heard that a lot of old colonial era homes were first built of log, and at some later point, covered with siding.

Here in California, the City of Placentia hired a crew to tear down an old house. The crew took off the wood siding and found adobe bricks. They proceeded to tear the whole thing down without mentioning it to anyone. As it was told to me, no one consulted anyone about the history of the place before ordering the demolition. It turned out to be the oldest structure in Orange County, dating to 1841. That may not be too old by East Coast Standards, but a real historic treasure by California Standards. It had been built on a land grant from 1837 from the King of Spain to Juan Pacifico Ontiveras, and was known as Rancho San Juan Cajon de Santa Ana.



All that is left is a single adobe brick from the structure that someone grabbed to preserve the history, in a plexiglass cube at the Historical Society.

I love history, and I love rustic old structures. I say expose the bricks and let it shine through. If it is on the porch, I would use rustic logs for the rails and other parts! Something like this.

[glenn amolenaar]

farmwife,
Do it but be sure to put at the very least a good U/V sealer on the exposed logs. If you go on line there are many places with log restoring information. We use Ben/Moore clear satin lo-luster it protects and barely changes the appearance of logs. Go for it enjoy the beauty of real wood. Feel free to PM me.
Glenn