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Schutt Log Homes & Mill Works

Understanding Gray Wood: What It Means for Your Log Home At Schutt Log Homes and Mill Works, we’re very familiar with gray wood and how to handle it properly. When any type of wood is left exposed to the elements, it naturally weathers to a silvery gray. This is a normal process that affects all wood species and is purely surface-level. The gray appearance will remain until the outer layer is cut, sanded, or planed away. This weathering is caused by a combination of UV exposure, wind, moisture, dust, pollen, and biological factors. Sunlight plays a major role—its ultraviolet rays accelerate the graying process. In some environments, wood can begin to gray within just a few weeks, while in others it may take years. It’s important to understand that grayed wood is not old, rotten, or unusable. With oak logs, the gray layer is only skin-deep. Once the logs are planed, their natural beauty—grain, color, and texture—returns immediately. Some customers love the rustic, aged appearance of naturally weathered wood. Others prefer the fresh-cut look. Whichever you choose, proper sealing is essential. Applying a quality wood preservative and sealer soon after planing helps retain the desired look while protecting the wood’s strength and durability. Products with UV blockers are especially effective at slowing future graying from sun exposure. At Schutt Log Homes, our oak logs are rough-sawn. After the walls of your log cabin are built, the entire exterior is planed with an electric planer to reveal the wood’s natural grain and color. We strongly recommend treating the wood immediately after planing to prevent moisture absorption and UV damage. Modern wood treatments are safe for both the environment and the people applying them. We’d be happy to share our recommended products—just give us a call. We do not recommend varnishes, lacquers, or other clear, film-forming finishes. These cantrap moisture, degrade under UV exposure, and are prone to cracking and peeling over time.

Understanding Gray Wood: What It Means for Your Log Home

At Schutt Log Homes and Mill Works, we’re very familiar with gray wood and how to handle it properly. When any type of wood is left exposed to the elements, it naturally weathers to a silvery gray. This is a normal process that affects all wood species and is purely surface-level. The gray appearance will remain until the outer layer is cut, sanded, or planed away.

This weathering is caused by a combination of UV exposure, wind, moisture, dust, pollen, and biological factors. Sunlight plays a major role—its ultraviolet rays accelerate the graying process. In some environments, wood can begin to gray within just a few weeks, while in others it may take years.

It’s important to understand that grayed wood is not old, rotten, or unusable. With oak logs, the gray layer is only skin-deep. Once the logs are planed, their natural beauty—grain, color, and texture—returns immediately.

Some customers love the rustic, aged appearance of naturally weathered wood. Others prefer the fresh-cut look. Whichever you choose, proper sealing is essential. Applying a quality wood preservative and sealer soon after planing helps retain the desired look while protecting the wood’s strength and durability. Products with UV blockers are especially effective at slowing future graying from sun exposure.

At Schutt Log Homes, our oak logs are rough-sawn. After the walls of your log cabin are built, the entire exterior is planed with an electric planer to reveal the wood’s natural grain and color. We strongly recommend treating the wood immediately after planing to prevent moisture absorption and UV damage.