Log cabins are probably the hottest trend in real estate today. People are in love with these beautiful homes, especially as the McMansions that are so common continue to spread across the country. Who wants to live in something this cheap, especially when it looks exactly like every other boring house on the block?

But one of the drawbacks of log cabins is that they require more maintenance. It’s worth it, especially when you consider the value and permanence. After all, a log cabin can last for generations, while a cheap house can fall apart before the mortgage is paid off.

Here are five things to do with a log cabin in winter to keep it in top condition.

inspect the outside

The outside of your cabin is where problems are most likely to occur. The weather can seriously wear down the condition of the exterior and in areas where the weather is more extreme it is worse. Humidity is especially bad for wood, which can rot or warp, although sunlight can cause cracks and dryness in logs.

Every new season it is important that you do an inspection to make sure there are no impending problems that could cause problems. For example, you may notice a thumb-sized area on one of your walls softening and pressing inward. This is a sign of rot and once it has started it can quickly grow out of control. Or maybe you see a board that has bulged. This is warping of wood, usually caused by moisture behind the wood causing it to expand outwards.

Catching these things before the snow falls makes it easier to replace or repair whatever needs to be. It also gives you a chance to repaint, something you should do to the wood every three to five years.

inspect inside

Once the outside is secure, it’s time to go inside to see what can be done there. A log cabin is pretty solid and cozy, so I hope you won’t have any problems. But there are some that it is possible to find, so you should always be vigilant in your inspections.

The first problem to look out for is signs of pests. As the weather gets colder, different creatures will seek shelter from the cold. Mice, bugs, spiders, and even small mammals like raccoons could be trying to find a way into your home as you read this. Once they get inside, they can wreak havoc, especially those that have burrowed into the wood like termites. They can cause damage to your home through scratching, biting, digging, and debris.

Look for any sign of these critters. Go to the smallest areas of the house, such as dark corners, unused rooms, closets, basements, attics, or crawl spaces. Put a couple of barrier methods around your house to prevent anything from getting in the way.

If you find signs of an infestation, bomb the bugs or spray yourself, or contact an exterminator who can set traps or spray for you. The earlier in the season you do it, the better.

pre-spring cleaning

We’ve all heard of spring cleaning, but pre-spring cleaning can be even more crucial. If your home isn’t ready for winter, it’s not ready for you to settle in and get comfortable during the frigid months ahead.

This includes removing all dust, mold, and grime from inside your home, refreshing rooms that aren’t used as often, cleaning carpets or polishing hardwood floors, stocking items for the warmer months, and cleaning/preparing items that they are used for the colder months and opening the flue to your chimney and making sure it is clean and ready to go.

This may seem like a lot of work, but it will ensure that your winter is a wonderland and not a nightmare.

Clean and cover gutters

Your gutters are going to be a major source of problems if you don’t clean them regularly. When they accumulate debris, it allows rain and snow to accumulate and overflow, or to remain stagnant and rot the wood of your log cabin until it is cleaned. You want to make sure that never happens and so clean them every few months.

For winter you don’t want to climb a ladder and risk falling into the ice. So you should clean them early in the season and make sure there are no leaves left on nearby trees where they could fall.

To prevent further debris, you can get gutter covers. These little wonders allow you to snap them on top, some magnetically and some using little snaps. This keeps things outside and protects them during the winter.

You can also add an extender to the drain pipe. It will send water farther away from your home and prevent water from pooling like the bottom of your log cabin where it can damage the wood and foundation.

Weatherstrip Your Log Cabin

Do you want to stay comfortable as the weather gets colder and colder? Stopping leaks and drafts is a good way to do this. Weather stripping will trap hot air in your home and prevent it from escaping through cracks under doors, around windows, and even through your chimney, attic, or basement.

You can hire someone to do it for you and it may be worth the extra cost to actually seal things up. But weather stripping is also a DIY project that’s pretty basic for most homeowners. You can find supplies and kits online or at your local hardware store. The average cost is around $200 to $300 for an entire house. This can be more or less expensive, depending on whether you do it yourself or hire someone to weatherize your log cabin for you.

All in all, it’s worth the effort to make sure your log cabin is well-protected throughout the years. Especially during the winter when the wood can be damaged more.