Maintaining a log home is easy.......but ignoring the maintenance requirements can pose many problems that could have been prevented. I am currently restoring a log home that needed attention for sometime. Fortunatly only a few logs needed replacing. Most of the time only the face of the log needs to be removed and a replacement half log is sized and fitted into place. The old finish (ABOVE) is removed with a sand blaster type of equipment using glass beads or even corncob media (BELOW). If the wood is badly weathered as the case here, the logs will need to be sanded with an angle grinder with an 80 to 100 grit sanding disc. It's a slow, messy, dusty job, but to achive the proper finish you have to prepare the surface first. Remember a paint job is only as good as the prep work. The same is true here. Check back later when I'll cover in more detail surface prep and caulking.
We are back with more photos showing the results of what the weather elements can cause. The media blasting has removed the softer weathered wood leaving the log surface very irregular along with the old caulking. Notice the log ends. These will be sanded down to a smooth surface as well as the knots. All of this can be easily prevented with observation and a little maintenance. The windows can be ordered with a special depth sill or modified on the job to drain water away from the log surface to avoid decay problems. 
