Sometimes, we see mortar chinking that needs to go.
Log home repair and re-chinking are services that we specialize in. There’s something charming about older log homes built with materials available at the time. When it comes to log homes, however, just because something is “old” doesn’t necessarily mean it is good.
Mortar is a substance whose time has passed. In the last week, we have had the opportunity to work on two log cabins with mortar chinking between the logs.
The problem with mortar chinking is that it holds moisture against the logs and, under the right circumstances, can cause the logs to rot out.
We are restoring two buildings with such old chinking. One is in Mercer, WI, and the other is in Wakefield, MI. Both of these cabins were built in the early 20th century. At that time, the material used to fill gaps between logs was most likely wood, mud, straw, or rope. Sometimes, a combination of these materials was used to chink log homes.
Using mortar for chinking came along a little later in the 1940s and 1950s. Mortar prevented air leaks better than mud and straw. However, it created its own problems.
Fast forward to today. There has been a huge improvement in the material now used as chink. Now it is made of pure acrylic that adheres to logs and stretches to maintain a tight seal. It can really make a difference.
Here is a link about this type of chinking and why it should be a thing of the past for the health of your log cabin and home.
If your log home is chinked with mortar, call us, and we can help you decide whether it is worth removing. It could save you money in the long run. Call 715-373-5744.
