Mold in the groove - green logs for log cabin

[Iommi]

Hi guys,

I did search in old topics, but I couldn't find my answer.

I started building walls for my scandinavian log camp, with spruce trees I just fell and debarked a few weeks ago.

The appearance of the exterior of the walls are nice, but when I took out a log that was sitting on the walls since 2 weeks, I noticed mold on the surface of contact between the top log and the bottom one.

In other words, there was was already mold where the logs were touching each other. The humidity of the green logs where prabably trapped there, resulting in mold.

My question is: is there anything I can do to prevent molds ? I'm asking for the other logs that I will soon fall and debark ? (I know how to treat the mold, but I'm looking for a method to prevent it, cause I won't be able to remove it since it's in the groove, mold will stays inside the wall forever)

I don't have time to stack and dry the logs, and I'm aware that green logs will attract mold, but maybe there's a way to prevent it. I also know that falling trees in spring/summer is not the best, but it's my situation.

Thanks a lot, it's really appreciated.

[barbender]

Borates help, but mold in the long grooves is tough to prevent from what I've heard. Out of sight out of mind😊

[Stephen1]

I ws told by a local builder to spray lots of javex in the corners and along the groove when i built my cabin. I also sprayed lots of Borax. 
I built my cabin over 3 years in my bck yard, and took it apart to move it, so no mold. 

[Iommi]

I ws told by a local builder to spray lots of javex in the corners and along the groove when i built my cabin. I also sprayed lots of Borax.
I built my cabin over 3 years in my bck yard, and took it apart to move it, so no mold.

You sprayed  it during  the construction,  just before  putting the upper log above ?

[barbender]

Borax will wash off in the rain, so I sprayed it in the groove and the top of the log beneath it, just before rolling the log into place. Just good ol' 20 Mule Team Borax, dissolved in water (it dissolves better in hot water) does the trick. Spray it on with a hand pump.

[kantuckid]

Along with the theme of this thread, I have some peeled pine, log ceiling joists in storage outside that will need to be cleaned eventually for use.
 I'd never heard of Javex so did some searching. It's 12% bleach and Lowe's doesn't sell it nor Walmart either-they do have the 8.25% version called Pro that I've used before. As I looked it seems that 12% is not so common and even the bleach sold as hospital strength is still just the more common 8%, strong version.
 What google did find is that liquid pool shock is 12% but lots more money too @ ~ $20 a jug.
 
The looming question is: Which is the better choice to not ruin the wood, economical and effective wise to clean a peeled log in storage for use or after it's in a wall? 

FWIW, lacking a pressure washer (I know full well about pressure washers and wood fibers) in past years I've used a garden hose to follow up a bucket of cleaner applied with what's called a dairy parlor brush on a long broom handle. And I still have my dairy brush after 40 years. Plastic oval head with stiff nylon bristles.  

[Iommi]

Borax will wash off in the rain, so I sprayed it in the groove and the top of the log beneath it, just before rolling the log into place. Just good ol' 20 Mule Team Borax, dissolved in water (it dissolves better in hot water) does the trick. Spray it on with a hand pump.

Tanks for the trick ! About what proportion do  you  dissolve  it ? 50-50 ?

[barbender]

I just kept adding it until it wouldn't dissolve anymore.

[Iommi]

I ws told by a local builder to spray lots of javex in the corners and along the groove when i built my cabin. I also sprayed lots of Borax.
I built my cabin over 3 years in my bck yard, and took it apart to move it, so no mold.

You sprayed  it during  the construction,  just before  putting the upper log above ?

I don t want to be annoying but just to make sure, you put both the javex solution and the borax solution are just one of them ? Thanks  !

[Stephen1]

I ws told by a local builder to spray lots of javex in the corners and along the groove when i built my cabin. I also sprayed lots of Borax.
I built my cabin over 3 years in my bck yard, and took it apart to move it, so no mold.

You sprayed  it during  the construction,  just before  putting the upper log above ?

I don t want to be annoying but just to make sure, you put both the javex solution and the borax solution are just one of them ? Thanks  !

I would spray them on seperate. 

[Don P]

I'm not a real fan of using chlorine bleach on wood. It tends to pulp the surface and doesn't get to the root of the problem. I found this quick description;
Don't Clean your Wood Deck with Bleach! | Angi [Angie's List]

[Stephen1]

I'm not a real fan of using chlorine bleach on wood. It tends to pulp the surface and doesn't get to the root of the problem. I found this quick description;
Don't Clean your Wood Deck with Bleach! | Angi [Angie's List]

I like that article. I will stay away from the bleach from now on. 

[kantuckid]

I bought a bulk amount of sodium percarbonate on ebay before I cleaned my log home in ~ 2015. It is "100% good stuff" and the main active ingredient in the magical Oxy-Clean featured in TV ads for years.
 As I recall Oxy-Clean has 10% of it as the goodie part, so this is, or can be far more powerful as a cleaner. It's not for kids no matter how much in solution. I have the ratio on my containers but forget it for now. 
I must admit that I'd forgotten that I still have quite a bit left to clean my peeled logs with as mentioned earlier. 
It goes a long ways in solution with hot water, so less expensive than most any other choices. 

It IS! the active ingredient in the link Don gives here. BTW, we don't have Angies list where I live :D It's every man for himself or find an old fart who still works. 

[cabindoc]

I bought a bulk amount of sodium percarbonate on ebay before I cleaned my log home in ~ 2015. It is "100% good stuff" and the main active ingredient in the magical Oxy-Clean featured in TV ads for years.
As I recall Oxy-Clean has 10% of it as the goodie part, so this is, or can be far more powerful as a cleaner. It's not for kids no matter how much in solution. I have the ratio on my containers but forget it for now.
I must admit that I'd forgotten that I still have quite a bit left to clean my peeled logs with as mentioned earlier.
It goes a long ways in solution with hot water, so less expensive than most any other choices.

It IS! the active ingredient in the link Don gives here. BTW, we don't have Angies list where I live :D It's every man for himself or find an old fart who still works.

Using that on raw wood works well as brightening agent and cleans.  Not for use on house with stain unless you mix very light.  On raw wood where a house is being treated or readied for stain, we will clean with ...whatever...then apply borate solution while house/wall is still wet.  The water soaked wood draws the borate solution in.  then let dry for at least 2 days and then you can apply stain.  DO NOT over apply borate.  More is NOT better.  It will crystalize and leach out kill any stain you apply.

[kantuckid]

Good info! Thanks