• Lets assume that this coating is an oil based, semi-transparent stain. Solvents quickly evaporate. The oils evaporate more slowly, leaving behind little more than pigments on the wood surface. Gone is any protection from moisture. As the pigments weather away, the finish becomes uneven and the owner realizes that refinishing is necessary. When he re-finishes with another coat of this type of stain, he deposits another layer of pigments on the walls. After two coats of this kind of stain, wood grain no longer shows. At this point most houses with semi-transparent stain are painted. Unfortunately for the owner, this type of stain fails to maintain an acceptable appearance.

• If this coating is an oil-based film-forming product, a different process takes place. This non-breathable film is subject to blistering as moisture tries to escape from logs. It contains oils that yellow with exposure to UV sunlight. It lasts a number of years as the yellowing deepens. When the film has suffered enough weather damage, failure begins as cracking, then peeling. Refinishing is necessary. Film that hasn't peeled must be stripped using a paint remover. Since the peeled areas are grayer than unpeeled areas, wood surface must be repaired using some kind of wood restorer. Now the house is ready for refinishing. After experiencing the difficulty of stripping the failed stain, the work required for restoration, and the long period with a yellowed finish on the home, it is difficult to decide to go with the same finish. Unfortunately for the owner, this type of finish has failed to maintain protection and appearance at a reasonable cost and effort.

• If this coating is LIFELINE™, yet another process takes place. The breathable LIFELINE™ film allows the moisture content of the logs to equalize with the surrounding climate. The finish highlights wood grain and texture, As LIFELINE™ weathers, an annual check of subtle changes in the finish is all that is required to determine when it should be renewed. As LIFELINE™ wears, the pigments in the thin film also weather away, and the wood behind begins to show. When the film begins to fade, dull, gray, or show signs that it is no longer water repellent, it is time to re-coat that wall. Since the wear rate varies with the wall's exposure to severe weather, it is best to watch each wall individually and to renew the finish only as required. In so doing, you provide the maximum protection for the beauty of the wood (your investment) at a minimum total cost. The log home always looks new. You avoid costly stripping and wood restoration. As the walls are re-finished, there is no build-up of pigments to hide the wood grain. You maintain both protection and appearance at a minimum cost, and with a minimum amount of effort.