Old Wood House Maintenance Tips Needed

[FACTOR]

We live in a beautiful wooden house we built from old wood we salvaged from some old wooden farm houses; the wood is about 60 years old, including 12 beautiful hand cut posts.

 

I'd like to keep it in good shape. Can anyone give me a few basic tips on maintenance? E.g.

 

how can I give the outside walls a good cleaning -- simple soapy water and a soft cloth?

 

What about refinishing the outside walls? Do I need to strip, remove, the current finish and reapply new finish? What kind of finish do you recommend? 

 

Thanks.

[melvinmelvin]

11 hours ago, Arjen said:

Depending on the kind of wood you can clean it with water.

 

We "paint" our wooden house, every few years with a mixture from old engine oil and diesel. It smells awfull,  and you should not smoke a cigaret. But it looks very nice.

 

Our house is over 80 years old. Initial it was on wooden poles, but around 30 years back the wooden poles where replaced by concrete ones.

 

Arjen.

 

I would also suggest that various oil products would fare better than paint.

Once painted its a major task to convert to oiling.

 

Washing with hot water/soap and brushes sounds good to me.

 

 Dunno what its called in English but where I originate from we have some oil baed stuff which is not paint,

it has colours, but it penetrates the wood deeply. Good for the wood.

 

I also live in an 80 years old wooden house, two of the sides are getting too much sunshine. Maintaining those two sides is a challenge.

 

 

[FACTOR]

Thanks for the replies. I might just use a simple soapy water solution. 

 

Arjen, out of curiosity, what led to the wooden poles needing to be replaced by concrete ones on your house? I ask because I sometimes wonder how long my poles (posts) will last.

[eyecatcher]

I also live in an old wooden house carried on eight 16 inch diameter tree posts.

 

the property was stained/treated prior to our arrival and in 3 years it has needed no  attention at all, other than the infrequent clean due to dust finding its way into the cladding laps.

 

I have since given it a further coat of traditional walnut stain and honeslty I cant see it being needed again for 3/4 years hence.

 

despite everyones fears about wooden houses, we havent had one termite anywhere near (though i have never checked inside the roof!) but ants seem to like living here andI ma convinced they eat my diy jobs...tiling grout, plasterboard.

i have about 30 jingjoks every night so I dont think theres any chance those flying termites are going to last long. 

 

so i put the maintenance down to the woodstain and jingjoks