Brad Siler walks into every project with a simple promise: deliver quality at any cost. He runs Pencil Log Pros, a log home restoration company serving Western Colorado, Utah, and the Rocky Mountain region. His team restores, protects, and maintains cabins that take a beating from altitude, sun, snow, and wind. This interview shows how Brad thinks, how his crews operate, and why homeowners trust them with legacy properties.
The Origin Story: A Broken Cabin and a Market Gap
Brad Siler and his wife bought a worn cabin near Ridgway, Colorado. He called 25–30 contractors. Two called back. One gave a bad estimate. One never showed. The message was clear: the niche was starving for a reliable, skilled, responsive partner. Brad did the first restoration himself, learned the craft, and later launched Pencil Log Pros. The company grew from zero to a multi-seven-figure operation through discipline, consistency, and word of mouth.
The One-Line Promise
“We deliver quality.” That’s the line. Clients hand over their dream home. Brad Siler treats it like a classic car restoration. He and his crews own the outcome. They bring systems, precision, and a finish that holds up in the Rockies. Not the cheapest. The safest choice.
Why They’re Booked Out
- Reviews from real owners who watch their homes come back to life.
- Clear photos and job updates that remove guesswork.
- Organic search visibility built on consistent delivery.
- Referrals from owners, vendors, and property managers.
Growth came from doing the work right, not chasing quick hits. That discipline created a healthy pipeline and steady demand.
Military Discipline Meets Mountain Work
Brad’s background in the Navy shaped his approach. Show up. Perform. Take responsibility. Train constantly. His crews meet weekly. Foremen lead on site. Everyone knows the standard. The goal is consistent results in harsh conditions. That mindset turns chaos into a plan you can trust.
Hire for Character, Train for Skill
Brad Siler hires people he’d want to spend 25 hours with on a job. He looks for humility, effort, and team fit. New hires get a packet, a 90-day runway, and clear checkpoints. The company invests in training, promotes from within, and builds leaders who can solve problems when Brad isn’t there. Low attrition says the culture works.
Pencil Log Pros Trust and Reputation
Brad stakes the business on honesty. He will not tolerate poor character. No hidden charges. No surprise invoices. If something slips, it gets fixed. The language of business is trust. That shows up in the work and the reviews.
Expectation Management: Communication That Prevents Problems
Most contractor pain comes from silence. Pencil Log Pros goes the other way. Clients get job-site photos, videos, and progress PDFs. They see hurdles early. They see solutions early. They see the plan for the next week. That rhythm drops stress, protects budgets, and keeps projects on schedule.
Prep Work Wins the Job
“If I have five hours to cut a tree, I’ll spend four sharpening the axe.” That’s how Brad Siler talks about prep. The team builds clean, uniform surfaces that take stain the right way. Targets matter: clean removal, consistent tooth, and even porosity. That’s the difference between a finish that flakes in two years and a system that rides out the next decade.
Media Blasting vs. Sanding
For full-scale removal, blasting is the workhorse. Pencil Log Pros spent years dialing in pots, media, and technique to strip coatings while preserving the wood. Sanding still has a role for furring, detail work, or blending. The goal is a uniform “60-grit” surface before coatings. No blotchy spots. No guesswork.
Why Paint Fails on Log Homes
Paint traps moisture. Logs move every day with heat and cold. Paint can’t flex with that movement, so it cracks and peels. Moisture gets trapped. Rot follows. Owners who get talked into latex paint often call a year or two later for a full strip and redo. Pencil Log Pros replaces paint with breathable stain systems that protect, flex, and release moisture.
Checks: Seal or Let Them Breathe?
Logs want to breathe. Pencil Log Pros seals strategic checks that invite pests or direct water. He avoids broad exterior caulking on south and west faces where sun and weather punish sealants. The aim is smart sealing, not suffocating the wall. That approach extends life and avoids expensive failure cycles.
Stain Systems That Survive Altitude
High elevation brings brutal UV, wind, and snow. Brad Siler leans toward oil-based systems that highlight grain and deliver a deep, durable finish. He references Sashco’s Transformations as a field-proven option and will use acrylic systems where they make sense. The constant is layered application done right. One-coat miracle claims don’t belong on mountain cabins.
DIY Support Without the Sales Pitch
Brad Siler invites DIY owners to the yard for a 30-minute walk-through. He covers products, tools, sequencing, and pitfalls. Many will still call later for professional work. That’s fine. “Value first” builds goodwill and raises the bar for the entire category.
Cost Reality: Catch-Up, Then Cruise
Many cabins carry decades of deferred maintenance. The first cycle can be a real investment: blasting, rot repair, log replacement, multiple coats, chinking, and sealing. Once the system is established, ongoing care is straightforward. Schedule inspections. Touch up exposed walls. Add maintenance coats at the right interval. Treat it like tires and oil changes. Planned care costs less than emergencies.
Three Red Flags for Buyers
- Rot at the base: Often on north and east walls. Probe lower courses and corners.
- Grey, uncared-for logs: Could be cosmetic. Could signal deeper failure. Price the fix.
- Roof and drainage issues: Soffit and fascia stains, interior spotting, or ice damage mean water ingress. Fix the roof first or nothing else lasts.
Bring a log specialist before closing. A standard home inspection often misses log-specific risks.
Services That Move the Needle
Pencil Log Pros runs full-stack restoration and maintenance for cabins and mountain homes:
- Complete restorations and refinishing
- Media blasting and targeted sanding
- Log rot repair, epoxy rebuilds, and log replacement
- Staining, sealing, and UV/water protection systems
- Chinking and strategic caulking
- Deck repair and rebuilds (substructure, composite, or wood)
- Soffit and fascia repair and ventilation fixes
- Beam and post restoration
- Pest exclusion and sealing
- Maintenance plans and scheduled inspections
- Pre-purchase inspections for buyers
- Commercial projects for resorts, lodges, and HOAs
What a Professional Process Looks Like
Here’s how a typical project runs when you hire a true specialist:
1) Assessment and scope: Site visit, moisture checks, photos, and a written plan. You see the issues and the path forward.
2) Prep plan: Protection for windows, landscaping, stone, and metal. Blasting targets, containment, cleanup. Surface standards defined before stain hits the wall.
3) Repairs: Rot removal, scarf joints, epoxy rebuilds. Replacement logs sourced to match grain and size. Seams disappear after finish.
4) Coating system: Stain choice for altitude and exposure. Layer count set by field conditions. Wet-edge application for uniformity. Gloss checks in raking light.
5) Chinking and sealing: Gaps sealed for drafts, pests, and water paths. Breathability preserved where needed.
6) Final detail and walkthrough: Punch list, close-ups, and maintenance calendar. Owners leave with photos and a plan.
Vendor Relationships That Protect the Owner
Brad Siler endorses only what survives the Rockies. He field-tests products before he puts his name behind them. When issues arise, he can reach the engineers by phone. That feedback loop matters. It speeds solutions and keeps standards high.
Decks, Structure, and Commercial Work
The team now runs a dedicated deck crew for rebuilds and resurfacing. They take on structural challenges in older cabins and handle ornamental logs on high-end commercial properties. Resorts and ski towns call because the finishes look right and last.
Leadership That Lifts the Work
Brad Siler keeps a tight personal routine: eight hours of sleep, regular training, and a clear mind. He quit alcohol and saw productivity jump. He shares that with the crew because leaders go first. The result is energy on site and clarity in decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should I stain a log home at altitude?
Plan for 3–5 years, depending on exposure. South and west walls often need attention sooner. A light maintenance coat beats a full redo every time.
Can I spot-fix one wall this season?
Yes, with the right system and prep. You still need uniform surface prep and proper layering. Quick patch jobs fail fast.
Should I seal every check?
No. Seal checks that invite pests or channel water. Leave others to breathe. Smart selection protects wood and reduces failure.
Why avoid one-coat products?
Mountain exposure overwhelms thin systems. Layered applications give you film build, UV defense, and real longevity.
Do you work through winter?
Some scopes can run in cold weather. Coating and cure windows are more limited. Schedule early so you land the right season for your finish.
Before and After: What Owners See
Grey, tired logs regain warmth and depth. Rot disappears. Decks feel solid again. That “glazed donut” uniform gloss reads clean from every angle. The house looks newer. More important, it performs better. You get fewer issues, fewer surprises, and a simpler maintenance rhythm next year.
What Sets Pencil Log Pros Apart
- Responsiveness: They call back. They show up. They finish.
- Prep discipline: Surfaces meet a defined standard before stain ever goes on.
- System thinking: The product stack fits the altitude, the wall, and the exposure.
- Transparent updates: Videos, photos, and written reports keep you in the loop.
- Field-proven materials: Endorsed only after real-world results.
- Culture and training: Low churn, high standards, steady output.
Who Calls Brad Siler?
Second-home owners who want reliability. Full-time residents who got burned by paint. Buyers walking 1990s cabins that need triage and a plan. HOAs and resort operators who need a specialist, not guesses. If you want the work done once and done right, you call Pencil Log Pros.
What You Can Do Today
- Walk your cabin. Look for rot at lower courses, sun-blasted faces, and moisture stains under eaves.
- Probe suspect logs. Soft wood means action now, not later.
- Check the roof first. Fix leaks or ice damage before you spend a dollar on finish.
- Pull old project records. Know what was used and when.
- Book a pre-purchase or maintenance inspection with a log specialist.
A Final Word from Brad Siler
Do hard things. Every cabin is different. Every job brings surprises. The standard stays the same: prep it right, use the right system, and stand behind the result. That mindset built the brand and keeps clients coming back.
If you own a log home—or plan to buy one—don’t leave its care to chance. A mountain cabin can last for generations when you use the right process and the right partner. Schedule a consultation with Pencil Log Pros today. Protect your investment. Preserve your dream. Work with a team that delivers the finish you want and the longevity you need. Ask for Brad Siler and get a plan you can trust.
