Log Home Chinking & Caulking
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Some buildings are designed to be chinked or caulked and for some, it becomes necessary over time.
Basically what we are doing when we chink or caulk is filling the gaps between the logs or between logs and windows, doors, foundations, roof lines and other areas where we want to prevent air and water from making its way into the log building or cabin. Chinking and caulking both rely on latex polymers for adhesion. The basic difference between caulk and chink is that chinking has fine sand particles added to it. |
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This sand makes the appearance of the chinking dull or "flat”, and in the same way that aggregate adds strength to a concrete slab - the sand adds strength to the chinking material.
Chinking is the best way to seal the joints between the logs on any log home. This material adheres much better than traditional caulking. Chinking can be used in lines that are from 1/2" to 6" or more wide. If the lines we want to seal are less than 1/2" in width, we usually recommend traditional caulking.
We use PermaChink brand chink as our preferred chinking and Big Stretch by Sashco as our preferred caulking. Over the years, we have found that these two products are the best and most cost effective.
The other reason to fill these cavities is that critters (bats, bees and mice) love these areas and find it a fitting home or way to get into your house. Chinking comes in about eight different colors - from white to a rich grey (like mortar) and from light tan to dark brown (like brownie mix). The choice of color is mainly a personal choice of the homeowner. In general, if the logs are small (calling for many lines in between them) it is best to stick to a color of chinking that best matches the stain color on the logs. Mortar was widely used from the 1940's to the 1970's and because of this, people often associate this color with “chinking". If this is the look you want, the best color choice is grey. Chinking is installed with either a bulk loading caulk gun or an electric powered chink pump. Once a line of chinking is laid, we use trowels and other methods to push the chinking in and make a seal between the log surfaces - top and bottom - and to smooth the line so it looks uniform. Contact us regarding chinking or caulking your log home or cabin. Learn more about finishing and staining your logs. If you need your rotted logs repaired, contact us or call us toll free at 877-378-4403. If you don’t know if you have rotted logs, see log home common problems to diagnose your specific problem areas. If you have small holes in your logs and dust piles forming on the surface of the logs, see problems with insects. To learn about the benefits of treating with borates to prevent rot, click here. To learn about why logs rot - click here. Edmunds & Company can repair all types of log home problems. Contact us to find out how we do it or call our toll free number 1-877-378-4403. |
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An often over-looked area as far as chinking goes is the transition between the windows and the back side of the trim of the windows. If left un-sealed, these cavities become places where water and air can make its way into the home.