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Washing cabin exterior on lakefront
Hi all,
This is a question related to my family's summer cabin near Tobermory, Ontario. It is a log cabin built in the 1950's or so, literally with log siding. The wood is looking really dark and cruddy from algae, moss, mildew (?) and I was advised that washing it with bleach would help. I have tried a bleach/water/TSP (TSP substitute, it's phosphate-free) solution that works REALLY well for getting mildew off of the siding of my own house. But I'm worried about using this solution on the cabin because the runoff will flow straight into the Georgian Bay off of Lake Huron. Won't this be dangerous to fish, plants, etc? I'm wondering if this will be OK or if there is a better, more ecologically safe alternative.
Thanks!!
-Carrie
Views: 46
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by valerie crossman on -
Could you just power wash it? It's amazing what a good job that does and you wouldn't need to worry about the water.I would be concerned with the run off of bleach or any chemicals.I think you need to be pretty careful with the pressure but I think I'd start there. Good Luck-sounds like a great place!
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Permalink Reply by Red Queen on -
Good idea, Valerie, thanks! Turns out when I went up north my uncle had already cleaned the whole cabin. However, the washer broke down and we had a totally unexpected project...trying to replace the washer, when the door to the laundry room is only 24" wide!!!
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Permalink Reply by valerie crossman on
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Yikes! What did you do? We did that with a refrigertor once and my husband had to take the whole door and jam out while two large angry delivery guys watched. You live-you learn!
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Permalink Reply by Red Queen on
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We had to do the same thing...take off the door and the jamb! The door hinges were bolted on in a really tricky way (to deter "theives" from doing exactly what we were trying to do...given that the laundry room opens to the outside, is separate from the cabin, and attached to the garage). We also had to buy a "portable" washer, which is smaller than standard size (and costs twice as much, go figure)!!
Since we were only at the cabin for a week, we had to buy the floor model for the washer b/c we wouldn't have been around for any delivery guys. And then I had to borrow my cousin's Chevy Suburban to drive all the way to Sears (which is several hours away from our remote cabin) to pick it up. What a "vacation"!!!
Sometimes I wonder what my grandparents were thinking when they designed the laundry room - there is plenty of space for a normal sized washer INSIDE the room, but you would never be able to get it through that door!
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Permalink Reply by jane on -
maybe a round tub machine? second hand from the main house when a new washer was delivered there? I remember lots of stuff going from houses to summer cabins in the '50s - old ranges and sinks, tubs, building materials, furniture, dishes. Why not an old clothes washer? better than laundry by hand!
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Permalink Reply by Red Queen on
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They had an old "portable" washer in there, the one that broke. The brand was (get this): "Lady Kenmore"!! I almost die laughing every time I see the set. We still have the "Lady Kenmore" dryer on a stand over the new washer. Who in their right mind would decide to add the prefix "Lady" to any appliance smaller than standard size? :D
By the way, the replacement "portable" washer we got was another Kenmore, sans the ridiculous prefix. :D
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Permalink Reply by Atlantic GreenPro on
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You might want to look into either Walnut Shell media blasting or crushed glass media blasting. I perform the process down in the Philadelphia area with our Farrow System http://www.atlanticgreenpro.com The wood will look like it originally did when it came from the mill and then you can re-seal it with any one of the quality wood sealant's available on the market.
Dale
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