Is it better to seal a log cabin before or after treatments?

It's always best to apply sealant to bare, untreated wood. However, in practice, this is often not possible because most homes have already been treated in some way. Therefore, there are a few pieces of advice and information that will help you determine whether the surface is suitable or not. If the wood has been treated against pests with substances like (bochemit, lignofix, borax, etc.), the surface will remain adhesive, and you can seal it. If the sealant has been treated with natural oil or a thin-layer wood stain that exhibits deep penetration into the wood, then generally, these treatments should not interfere with the sealant. If you plan to paint the wood, it's better to seal it before painting. If it's already painted, it's advisable to wait at least a few months after painting. This allows the treatments to penetrate the wood. Weather conditions and partial roughening of the wood surface (sun, rain) will complete the process. It's not suitable to seal on thick layers of waxes, varnishes, and similar substances that prevent the sealant from making contact with the wood. If you're unsure, it's always better to conduct a test on some gaps and try to separate the sealant after about 3 weeks. This will help you assess how well the wood surface adheres to the sealant. If it can be easily separated from the wood, you will need to clean the gaps down to the wood. Do not apply sealant on top of other sealants that do not adhere in the gaps. It's necessary to clean before sealing.