Hi! How are you? So glad you could make it for another chat. Recently, our office has had some questions about the restoration process and what can be expected. I thought I would take this opportunity to explain what goes on, what you can do to prepare and what to expect in the way of clean up.
It is a good idea to prepare yourself for the whole restoration process. Yes! get excited. Yes! dream big. And Yes! prepare for a temporary mess. We have talked about this before in Expectations-What to Expect During a Build. Here, I would like to go into a bit more detail. Firstly, let's discuss the different projects that can go on during a restoration. Depending on the condition of your home, restoration may begin with removal and replacement of rotted logs. Restoration may also entail media blasting, staining, rejuvenating and updating the look of the home, or a porch or roofline extension. Media blasting has proven to be the most thorough process in preparing your home for the application of stain/clear coat.
Montana Specialty Log Construction uses recycled glass media for preparing your log surface. This process will create dust, both outside and, in some cases, inside your home. You may want to cover some of your furniture with sheets or drop clothes before the media blasting begins. It will also be helpful to know that the spent media will accumulate around the base of your home. Crushed glass is safe for the environment and is not a threat to our pets or plants. MSLC will make every effort to recover the bulk of the spent media, but please understand that there will be some material left on the ground.
"For every ton of glass that is recycled to make new glass products 693 pounds of carbon dioxide is saved."
If the logs have never been stained, media blasting is not usually needed. Applying a product like Sashco's CPR, and then pressure washing, is another effective way to prepare your home for staining. In this case, you can expect some water to accumulate around the perimeter of your home. Also, when we inspect the home's chinking and find any place where it has degraded, there may need to be special precautions taken against water being introduced into the living space of the home. As the homeowner, you will probably already know where the worst offenders are and can tape over the area or if it is a really bad spot, hang a sheet.
Staining preserves and protects logs from weather, moisture, sun bleaching, insects, etc. It comes in many different colors. When restoring logs, we use Sashco's staining and chinking products. We believe they provide long-lasting protection and we don't see the cracking and peeling as with some other brands. If your home has been previously stained with another product, you may find that it will "fail" during the power washing process. This will leave a patchy look that you may not be happy with. It will be up to you to decide how you want to proceed. Depending on the severity of the failure, we may suggest to proceed with media blasting & a new application of stain. We will offer a two year hassle free warranty on Sashco chink and stain if you decide that is the route you want to take.
Just For Fun!
Character Design....Nature's Artwork

Meet the Team
I'd like to introduce
Aaron:
Tell us a little about yourself.
“I grew up in Fishtale, south-central Montana....about 7 hours from here. My dad's been a carpenter for 30+ years, so I helped him with a lot of houses and framing...I do rustic furniture on the side, so I love the craftsmanship of log home building. I've always thought I'd want to do log home building, and then my cousins talked me into coming up here to join MSLC. I moved here with my family-- my wife and my two-year-old little boy, Gideon".
What do you appreciate about MSLC?
"I like the atmosphere of MSLC and the people here. Have an awesome boss, easy going, laid back, always willing to help you out. It makes such a difference when you both love what you're doing and you have a good boss".
What's your strongest contribution?
“When I start something I want to finish it right and do a good job."
Jesse, his co-worker, adds for Aaron: “Aaron is the most steady out of all of us. He sticks with it. Even the hardest tasks."
I'd like to introduce
Aaron:
Tell us a little about yourself.
“I grew up in Fishtale, south-central Montana....about 7 hours from here. My dad's been a carpenter for 30+ years, so I helped him with a lot of houses and framing...I do rustic furniture on the side, so I love the craftsmanship of log home building. I've always thought I'd want to do log home building, and then my cousins talked me into coming up here to join MSLC. I moved here with my family-- my wife and my two-year-old little boy, Gideon".
What do you appreciate about MSLC?
"I like the atmosphere of MSLC and the people here. Have an awesome boss, easy going, laid back, always willing to help you out. It makes such a difference when you both love what you're doing and you have a good boss".
What's your strongest contribution?
“When I start something I want to finish it right and do a good job."
Jesse, his co-worker, adds for Aaron: “Aaron is the most steady out of all of us. He sticks with it. Even the hardest tasks."
I hope that this information has painted a helpful picture for what to expect during a restoration project. Knowing some of the procedures can help you prepare and be ready for the adventure and help to prevent any surprises. Our goal is to have happy customers and we hope you will be totally thrilled with your finished project. We also hope that arming you with information will help us achieve a positive relationship with you, our customer. Please feel free to contact us with any further questions. We'd love to hear from you. (406) 847-2316 / mtspecialty@gmail.com