Let's get Chinking!!
Step 4- Chinking or Sealing your Log Home
You have reached the final step in your finishing or restoration project. Now it's time to make sure the water, wind and bugs stay on the outside of the home. It's also very important to make sure large checks are sealed up to prevent water from causing rot. Speak with a specialist to help decide on the best size joint for your home as well as different options you may have to make the job simpler and less expensive.
WARNING: Ensure Stain Compatibility with other Coatings/Chinking/Caulking
Did you know that some coatings that you use may contain non-drying oils or waxes and may prevent you from using chinking and caulking in the future? If you are not certain, ask a specialist about our compatibility testing, database of various stains and chemical ingredient review service.
CAUTION: Only use Log Products on Log Homes
We receive phone calls daily from people disappointed they bought a deck/fence /wood stain at a big box or hardware store and it failed early. Log's Ain't Wood and they behave much differently. You don't treat a 2x4 the same you way treat a log. You want a product specifically engineered to perform properly for your home. Would you rather save a hundred dollars on product? Or do the job twice as often??
Log Jam Chinking Canada
REQUEST FREE SAMPLES (click here)
Chinking Calculator & More Info
Sashco Conceal Caulking
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**5 gallon pails are a special order. Sealant Calculator & More Info
Sashco Log Builder Caulking
Log Builder sealant is specifically formulated to absorb most log movement.
In the 1970s, log home owners everywhere were discovering that logs are in constant dynamic motion. They came to Sashco for help, and a few years later, Log Builder® sealant was born. It’s the sealant specifically formulated to absorb most log movement. For over 20 years, Log Builder® has been the trusted sealant included in many manufacturer’s log home kits and packages. Its superior elasticity creates a tight seal that keeps out water, dust, bugs, and wind. **5 gallon pails are a special orderREQUEST FREE SAMPLES (click here)
Sealant Calculator & More Info
Perma-Chink Chinking
REQUEST FREE SAMPLES (click here)
Sealant Calculator & More Info
Energy Seal Textured Log Caulking
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Caulking Calculator & More Info
Chink Paint
Textured Latex Paint for Perma-Chink Log Chinking
Chink-Paint is an elastomeric, textured coating for renewing or changing the color of chinking. This makes it ideal for giving a facelift to your home by brightening the appearance of old, dirty chinking or altering the color of existing chinking. Chink-Paint’s elasticity enables it to expand and contract with Perma-Chink or Energy Seal without cracking or peeling. Chink Paint can't freeze. Please contact us directly to figure out winter shippingREQUEST FREE SAMPLES (click here)
Sealant Calculator & More Info
Check Mate 2
Log Check Sealant
Check Mate 2 is an outstanding water resistant sealant that prevents water and air infiltration through pronounced cracks (called checks) in logs, timbers and wood siding. Caulking is an obvious solution to this problem, but caulking does not work because of limits in adhesion and weatherability.REQUEST FREE SAMPLES (click here)
Chinking Calculator & More Info
Bulk Loading Guns
Bulk Loading Gun Follow Plate
Albion® slip-on follow plate makes loading the bulk loading guns easier. No threading makes for easy on and off Threaded rod makes removing the follow plate easy. Rubber gasket at outside rim works with both straight-sided and tapered pails.
Milwaukee M18 Quart (30oz) Carriage Conversion Kit
Backer Rod
Grip Strip
Grip Strip is a bond breaker used to make sure that your caulking makes a 2 point connection (to the top and bottom of the check). This is very important to allow the caulking to stretch. If you don't use Grip Strip, it makes a 3 point connection and creates an anchor point where the caulking will tear when the logs move. It also prevents you from using too much caulking or chink and keeps your costs way down.
**Grip Strip is a special order and may have a short lead time** Want less than a case? Call (855) 915-4405
Log Gap Cap
Bulk Loading Gun Loader
Chink Pump Machine
Spatulas
- Comfortable curved handles
- Use to create proper concave joint profile & ensure good adhesion to substrates
- Precision ground for optimum flexibility for perfectly finished joints
- No plastic components for easy solvent clean-up
- Premium grade stainless steel, ground and tapered for optimum flex
- Rounded tips for standard applications, yet easy to modify for unique applications
- Spatula tip widths from 3/8” to 1-1/2”
Bulk Loading Gun Nozzles
Bulk Loading Gun Ring Cap
Bulk Loading Gun Pull Hook
Caulking Guns
Albion Bulk Gun Loading Cleaning Brush
Albion Bulk Loading Gun Repair Kit-Leather
Bulk Loading Gun Sleeve
GATHER TOOLS
01.
One of the chinking/sealants listed above:
- A bond breaker such as Backer Rod, Grip Strip or packing tape
- Bulk Loading Gun and Follow Plate or Loading Sleeve if you are using the 5 gallon pails.
- Utility knife & caulking gun to open if you are using Tubes
- Foam brushes or trowels for smoothing the chinking
- Denatured alcohol if chinking during hot temps (above 27⁰C)
- Damp rags for clean up
- Some flannel to help you feel very Daniel Boone-ish
PRO TIP
We often get asked the difference between the three chinking/caulking products. In many cases, they can be used interchangeably.
Log Jam Chinking– Mortar like finish. Often used as a contrasting colour look, but can be blended as well.
Perma-Chink Chinking– Mortar like finish. Often used as a contrasting colour look, but can be blended as well.
Conceal Textured Log Caulking– Wood grain finish. Often used when you don’t want to see the caulking. Good for joints up to 2″
Energy Seal Textured Log Caulking– Wood grain finish. Often used when you don’t want to see the caulking. Good for joints up to 2″
Log Builder Caulking– Smooth silicone like finish.
Check Mate2 Caulking– Smooth silicone like finish.
CLEAN THE JOINTS
02.
If chinking for the first time
- Make sure the logs are stained with a compatible finish. All of Canada’s Log Home Store’s stains work with our chinking.
- Clean off any dust, pollen, bird poo, etc. The chinking needs to be applied to a clean surface in order to adhere properly and last for years to come.
If repairing or replacing old chinking
- Remove any crumbling or cracked mortar. Mortar that’s still intact can stay as long as it looks good and there’s no rot under it.
- Sand down the joints to remove loose, unsound wood fibers. Those wood fibers will interfere with adhesion of other products (stains and chinking) that are applied.
- Stain the joints with a compatible finish. Again, all of our stains work with our chinking. (We were thinking ahead!)
USE A BOND BREAKER
03.
Why? Because your chinking job will last longer and you’ll use less chinking. (We’re sure your hands and wallet will thank us.)
- In joints 1/2” deep or more, use Backer Rod or Grip Strip
- In going over top of existing mortar, you can use clear packing tape in the back of the joint.
- For joints less than 1/4”, do not use caulking. Instead, be sure to back brush the stain into the check. This will provide better water protection than chink or caulking will for joints less than 1/4″
PRO TIP
A bond breaker allows the chink or caulking to make a 2 point connection and stretch properly. If you don’t use it, a 3 point connection gets made with an anchor point at the intersection of the logs. Then when it should stretch as designed, instead you may get tearing.
APPLYING THE CHINKING
04.
If chinking for the first time
- A steady hand is imperative, so lay off the caffeine for a bit. Apply no more than 2-3 feet at a time. On wider joints, apply 3 separate beads – one on either side of the joint, and one down the middle – or use a ribbon nozzle to apply one wide bead at a time.
SMOOTH (TOOL) THE CHINKING
05.
Tool it in
- As you go along, use a damp foam brush or a spray bottle with a trowel to smooth (tool) the chinking. This ensures proper adhesion and long-term performance. Don’t apply too much at a time! You don’t want the chinking to skin over before you get a chance to smooth it. In hotter temps (above 80⁰), a 25% denatured alcohol/water mixture will help slow down the drying to give you more time to smooth the chinking.
PRO TIP
We recommend not chinking or caulking a raw log. The water that runs down the wall when you tool it stains a raw log and you have to sand it out. If you stain/clear first, you just wipe away with a rag instead of sanding.
For more general info on chink please visit our chinking page
SIMPLE WATER CLEAN UP
