I have a log cabin in Indiana…I used Cabot brand natural stain that did not have any sheen to it about 7 years ago…it is now faded and black and I need to clean and redo it. I was recently in MN and saw lots of cabins with what appeared to be a polyurethane finish that I really liked…do you have suggestions for that?
You will need to strip and start over. It should be Osborne brushed after blasting to give a smoother finish for that shinny look. DO NOT use poly! I recommend Life Line Ultra 2 with two coats of the Advanced clear coat gloss on top of it to achieve that look. Sikkens log and siding will give you that look, but not a fan of the oil based stain.