Evidence of water intrusion was discovered in the dining room, kitchen and bedrooms at a recent home inspection in Friday Harbor on San Juan Island. Log homes are tricky because they need to be meticulously well maintained at the exterior to prevent (potentially costly) water/insect damage. Logs exhibit characteristic cracks as they move over time, which is normal, but these cracks- known as “checks”- need to be well sealed to prevent water intrusion. Oftentimes, evidence of water intrusion isn’t visible until deterioration is substantial. Log homes are expensive to repair, so maintenance is everything. In this case, I recommended further evaluation by a qualified log home contractor to sound logs where water intrusion was presenting, make necessary repairs, and ensure that all exterior elements are properly sealed.