The best rule for owning a log home is preventative maintenance, and that starts in the planning stage. A well thought through design will help you to enjoy living in you log home as apposed to working on maintaining it. Wrap around porches are one way traditionally built log homes and cabins protected the logs before the invention of fancy stains and sealants.
Overhangs are another maintenance saver. Bumping you overhang up from 2′-3′ you will keep any homes exterior protected with little or no additional cost up front.
Stone up a couple of feet and start your log stack on top of that knee wall. This will make wiring a breeze while keeping the splashing water from you deck off the bottom course of logs. This is another idea doesn’t cost much and you will really see the difference 10 years down the road.
Flashing is your friend! In this day and age of multiple roof lines valleys and dormers using an 8 or 10 inch flashing instead of a 4-6 inch flashing will again keep the bottom course of logs looking good.