Even tightly fit logs require chinking to seal the cracks that develop between the logs.
Chinking is the material placed between logs in a log structure to seal any cracks or gaps between the logs and provide a more weather tight exterior to the home. Chinking can weather and decay and may require replacement from time to time. Historically, chinking was a mud and straw mixture. Modern chinking material is often synthetic and in some ways resembles caulk used to seal gaps around windows and doors. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Determine the chinking to use. There are several commercial chinking products available. The products vary in formula and color. Acrylic chinking can be cleaned up with water. Log home owners can choose a color of chinking that either matches or contrasts the color of the logs.
2. Remove any cracked or loose chinking from the walls. In some cases the chinking might be removed to the backer rod. The backer rod is a piece of wood placed between courses of logs and serves as a stop for the chinking that is applied on both the interior and exterior of the wall. If the exterior chinking has been bad for a period of time the backer rod may have deteriorated and need to be replaced.
3. Apply chinking by hand. Use a plastic or metal spatula to apply the chinking from the bulk bucket or transfer some of the chinking to a smaller bucket for easier handling. Another option is to place the chinking in a grout bag and manually squeeze chinking into the crevices between logs. This method works best for smaller jobs but has the advantage of low cost and few tools.
4. Choose to apply chinking with a caulking gun. Caulking guns can be used to apply chinking from prepackaged tubes or from bulk with the chinking transferred to the gun. Caulking guns are generally available in either a 10.5 ounce size or a quart size and operate with a variety of mechanisms. Chinking with a caulking gun works well on larger projects where specialized power equipment is not available. Costs would be similar to chinking by hand but more time efficient than hand chinking.
5. Apply chinking with power equipment. Power chinking equipment may be available for rent in areas where log homes are common. These devices force bulk chinking material down a hose into a caulking gun type of device for delivery into the cracks between the logs. This method has the disadvantages of a higher cost and the lack of equipment availability in some areas. It will, however, complete a large job in a short amount of time.
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