Background: Perched on top of Andesite Ridge, this custom log home sits exposed to the strongest elements Big Sky has to offer. In fact, during our first few days of work here in late June, this house was hit with a windy storm that blasted it with hail and snow. These custom wooden sash windows hadn't been stained since they were installed likely 15-20 years ago. All the logs on the home were stained the year before, but the windows remained dried out, porous, and in need of a facelift to help them add contrast to the home. We presented a collection of color and product recommendations to the owners and settled on using one of the highest quality oil-based products money can buy in a custom pigmented cherry red to add some contrast to the home.

​

Prep:  The harsh Montana elements stripped these windows of much of their protective coating and were chipping, peeling, and water-damaged. In order to remove this layer of damage in order to have a fresh surface to work with, we started by carefully scuff sanding every square inch of the by hand first with medium grit sandpaper to strip off the damaged layer. Our crew then moved to using higher grit sandpaper to create a smooth and grippy surface for the fresh coat of stain to lay on. Once they were all thoroughly stripped, we cleaned every square inch to ensure a clean and seamless finish.

​

Staining and Sealing: A job like this can only be done one way... With a small brush and a steady, patient, and skilled hand. Our crew meticulously worked pane by pane cutting each edge and smoothening brush strokes on each face. After getting two complete coats on all the windows with sufficient dry time, we applied a third coat to any area that was raw when we began to help with its color and sheen uniformity and also its longevity. We then waited for a warm, calm, sunny day to open up the windows and doors so we could finish staining all of the seams and bases.