anyone have experience with log siding

[raceu4it]

i constructed my new shop and house with log siding as shown in first photo and did the stain application as told which was two coats per side prior to install, and did a re-coat a year later, and now as per second photo the south and west walls are taking a beating from sun and elements and now stain is looking bad, unfortunately the stain was in 5 gallon pails as a special blend, so i don't know which to use and the sales guy is mia. so question to anyone in that log biz is what are my options as i do like the log look and should have gone with sikkens even though i was advised agains it. Thought?

 

[AZ800]

Yeah, shoulda used Sikkens! Built my mom's house in 2000, used spruce log siding. Used Sikkens Cetol 123 (? I think). Prety harsh environmnet, northern WI. I never did the 3rd coat, did 1 coat/backprime on the siding and 2nd coat after it was up. 9years later, most of the house still looks great. She had it re-coated in '07 as a few areas were turning dark due to not getting the 2nd coat on before winter set in (never did get the 2nd coat on it).
Whatever stain you use, just try a couple samples first for color match, but you'll likely re-coat with a much lighter tint than the first time, as the wood has darkened from weather and the tint of the first stain. ie: if you were to use the same tint again this time, it would be way darker than the original product. Just re-did my decks and I used "clear" Sikkens SRD (1 coat) and it looks about the same shade as the original "cedar" colored stain applied 3 yrs ago.

 

[Jeff C]

I have a buddy that used Sikkens on his log sided cabin, and 10 years later it still looks like he just put it on.

I am sold on that stuff.......

 

[Blu Du]

i have sikkens on mine. it's looks like new after 2 years

 

[raceu4it]

live and learn, thanks for the feedback. well i guess i'll start experimenting with some sikkens as i have a few square feet to re-do before next winter.