Log Home Inspection Services
Comprehensive inspections for buyers and sellers. Thomas Elliott brings 20+ years of hands-on log home expertise to every inspection.
Why Every Log Home Needs a Specialized Inspection
Log homes are unique structures that require specialized knowledge to properly evaluate. Unlike conventional homes, log structures have distinct maintenance needs related to chinking, staining, and wood preservation that standard home inspectors often overlook or misunderstand.
Whether you're buying your dream log cabin in the Colorado mountains, selling a beloved family retreat, or simply wanting to understand your home's current condition, a professional log home inspection by an experienced specialist is essential.
Thomas Elliott of Log Home Finishing LLC has inspected hundreds of log homes throughout Colorado over his 20+ year career. His hands-on experience with log home restoration, chinking, staining, and structural repair gives him unique insight into what to look for and how to accurately assess log home condition.
of log home inspection expertise in Colorado
Inspections for Buyers & Sellers
Whether you're purchasing or selling a log home, our specialized inspection provides the information you need for a successful transaction.
For Buyers
Pre-Purchase Inspection
Buying a log home is exciting, but it's crucial to understand what you're getting into. Our pre-purchase inspection reveals the true condition of the home's log-specific elements, helping you make an informed decision and negotiate effectively.
- Identify hidden problems before closing
- Negotiate repairs or price reductions
- Understand true maintenance costs
- Avoid costly surprises after purchase
- Get professional repair estimates
- Make informed buying decisions
For Sellers
Pre-Sale Inspection
Getting a pre-sale inspection puts you in control. By understanding your log home's condition before listing, you can address issues proactively, set a realistic price, and avoid surprises that could derail your sale.
- Address issues before listing
- Set a fair and accurate price
- Reduce buyer objections
- Speed up the closing process
- Demonstrate property care
- Avoid last-minute negotiations
Homes Under Contract
If you have a log home under contract, time is critical. We understand the urgency of real estate transactions and can often schedule inspections within days. Our detailed reports are designed to meet the needs of buyers, sellers, real estate agents, and lenders involved in the transaction.
Comprehensive Inspection Areas
Our thorough inspection covers all critical aspects of log home construction and maintenance.
Chinking & Caulking Assessment
Thorough evaluation of all chinking joints, caulking seals, and gap coverage. We identify cracking, separation, adhesion failure, and areas where moisture intrusion is likely.
- Joint integrity testing
- Caulking adhesion evaluation
- Gap and crack identification
- Moisture intrusion risk assessment
Stain & Finish Evaluation
Complete analysis of exterior and interior stain condition, UV degradation, moisture damage, and remaining protective life of all wood finishes.
- UV degradation analysis
- Moisture absorption testing
- Finish adhesion check
- Color fade assessment
Structural Log Assessment
Detailed inspection of log condition including rot detection, insect damage identification, checking and cracking analysis, and overall structural integrity.
- Rot and decay detection
- Insect damage identification
- Log checking evaluation
- Load-bearing assessment
Weatherproofing Review
Evaluation of overall weatherproofing including roof-log intersections, window and door seals, deck connections, and drainage patterns around the foundation.
- Roof-log junction inspection
- Window and door seal check
- Foundation drainage review
- Deck attachment evaluation
Common Issues We Identify
Our trained eye spots problems that standard inspectors often miss.
Stain Condition
Evaluating finish integrity and protection levels
Chinking Integrity
Checking joints for separation and failure
Structural Health
Identifying rot, decay, and log damage
Thomas Elliott: 20+ Years of Log Home Expertise
When you schedule an inspection with Log Home Finishing, you're getting Thomas Elliott himself—not a technician or trainee. Thomas has dedicated his career to understanding every aspect of log home construction, maintenance, and restoration.
His unique perspective comes from actually performing the work. Having applied thousands of feet of chinking, stained hundreds of log homes, and completed numerous structural repairs, Thomas knows exactly what to look for and what each issue truly means for the homeowner.
This hands-on expertise translates into inspection reports that go beyond simple checklists. You'll receive practical insights, accurate cost estimates, and prioritized recommendations based on real-world experience.
Why Log Home Inspections Matter
The value of expert inspection goes far beyond the inspection fee.
Protect Your Investment
A log home is a significant investment. Knowing the true condition of chinking, staining, and structural elements before you buy or sell protects you from unexpected costs that can reach tens of thousands of dollars.
Accurate Cost Projections
Our detailed inspection reports include realistic cost estimates for any needed repairs or maintenance. This information is invaluable for negotiating purchase price or setting a fair sale price.
Professional Documentation
Receive a comprehensive written report with photographs documenting every aspect of the inspection. This professional documentation is accepted by lenders, insurance companies, and real estate agents.
Maintenance Timeline
Understand what maintenance will be needed and when. Our reports include prioritized recommendations and timeline estimates so you can budget and plan accordingly.
Understanding Log Home Inspection: A Complete Guide
What Makes Log Homes Different?
Log homes are fundamentally different from conventional stick-built homes. The logs themselves are both the structural framework and the exterior finish, meaning any deterioration directly affects the home's integrity. Colorado's extreme weather—intense UV radiation at altitude, dramatic temperature swings, heavy snow loads, and dry conditions—creates unique stresses on log structures.
Standard home inspectors, while excellent at evaluating conventional construction, typically lack the specialized training to properly assess log-specific elements. They may note obvious problems like major rot, but often miss early warning signs of chinking failure, stain breakdown, or moisture intrusion that a log home specialist immediately recognizes.
Chinking Inspection: The Critical First Line of Defense
Chinking is the flexible sealant applied between logs to prevent air and water infiltration. When chinking fails, moisture enters the wall system and becomes trapped, creating conditions for rot, mold, and insect infestation. Our inspection thoroughly evaluates:
- Adhesion: Is the chinking properly bonded to the log surfaces, or are there gaps where it's pulling away?
- Flexibility: Has the chinking hardened and cracked, or does it still move with the logs as they expand and contract?
- Coverage: Are all joints properly sealed, or are there areas where chinking was never applied or has deteriorated away?
- Product Quality: Was a quality, appropriate chinking product used, or is this a substandard or incorrect material?
Chinking repair or replacement can cost anywhere from $3,000 for spot repairs to $30,000 or more for a complete re-chinking of a large home. Knowing the chinking condition before purchase is essential for accurate budgeting.
Stain Assessment: Protection and Aesthetics
Log home stains do more than provide color—they protect the wood from UV damage, moisture penetration, and biological attack. Colorado's intense high-altitude sun is particularly hard on exterior finishes, and south-facing walls can show significant degradation within just a few years.
Our stain inspection evaluates:
- UV Degradation: How much protective pigment remains, and how much has been bleached away by sun exposure?
- Film Integrity: For film-forming stains, is the finish still intact or is it peeling, flaking, or cracking?
- Water Repellency: Does water still bead on the surface, or has the finish lost its water-repelling properties?
- Mill Glaze: On newer homes, was mill glaze properly removed before staining, or is the finish likely to fail prematurely?
- Previous Coatings: What products have been used previously, and are they compatible with recoating?
A complete restaining project typically costs between $8,000 and $25,000 depending on home size, accessibility, and preparation requirements. If the existing finish is peeling, media blasting may be required first, adding $5,000-$15,000 to the project.
Structural Log Evaluation
While most log homes are structurally sound, damage from rot, insects, or settling can compromise safety and require significant repairs. Our structural assessment includes:
- Rot Detection: Using moisture meters and physical probing to identify decay that may not be visible
- Insect Damage: Looking for signs of powder post beetles, carpenter ants, or termites
- Log Checking: Evaluating cracks in the logs to determine if they're aesthetic issues or structural concerns
- Settlement: Assessing whether the home has settled properly and uniformly
- Previous Repairs: Evaluating the quality of any previous repair work
The Inspection Report
Following your inspection, you'll receive a comprehensive written report that includes:
- Detailed photographs of all areas of concern
- Clear explanations of each issue identified
- Severity ratings to help prioritize repairs
- Estimated costs for recommended repairs
- Timeline recommendations for maintenance
- Product recommendations when applicable
Our reports are designed to be understood by homeowners while providing the professional documentation required by lenders, insurance companies, and real estate professionals.
Schedule Your Log Home Inspection
Whether you're buying, selling, or just want to understand your home's condition, Thomas Elliott is ready to help with a thorough, professional inspection.
Serving all of Colorado's mountain communities
Related Services
After your inspection, we can help with any maintenance or restoration needs identified. Our services include: