Do I Need Chinking?

Chinking for log homes can be used for aesthetic reasons or can be done to ensure the elements stay outside. Some homeowners like the look of chinking while others do not want to see any chinking on their home. Chinking can be installed by professionals or homeowners. It takes a lot of patience, time and energy to get the job done properly. Below you will find coverage rates, installation tips and available colors.

Available Chinking Colors:
Buff, Tan, White White, Mortar White, Woodtone Cedar, Light Gray, Khaki and Pecan

Chinking Installation Tips:

1. Start with dry logs. Their moisture content should be below 20%.
2. Apply log stains before installing the chinking material.
3. Clean your logs prior to applying any chinking material. Any loose debris, dirt, dust or grease could adversely affect the adhesion of your chinking.
4. Install backer rod before applying any chinking products. Backer rod is available in closed cell and open cell forms.
5. Select a chinking material that is going to be compatible with your log home stain. If you are unsure about the compatibility of your log chinking and your log home stain then speak with the manufacturers of both products.
6. Do not apply Log Jam or Chinker’s Edge in direct sunlight. This could lead to blisters in the material.
7. Apply 2 to 3 feet of material at a time and then work the material with a foam brush or trowel.
8. Use a spray bottle to mist the chinking if it dries too quickly.
9. Do not get Log Jam or Chinker’s Edge too wet because it will become more difficult to tool.
10. Clean as you go. Soap and water can be used if the material has not dried.
11. Chinking should be installed to a depth of at least a 1/4” and no more than 1/2”.
12. Have fun and remember that the more chinking that you install the better you will become at applying it.

Coverage Rates per 5 Gallon Bucket of Chinking:
½” x 1” Wide Chinking Joint= 195 Lineal Feet
½” x 2” Wide Chinking Joint= 95 Lineal Feet
½” x 3” Wide Chinking Joint= 65 Lineal Feet
½” x 4” Wide Chinking Joint= 45 Lineal Feet

Product Coverage Rates per Case of 29oz Tubes of Chinking:
¼” x ½” Wide Chinking Joint= 308 Lineal Feet
¼” x ¾” Wide Chinking Joint= 231 Lineal Feet
½” x 1” Wide Chinking Joint= 154 Lineal Feet

For more information about chinking material, product warranties, application tools or contractor referrals contact Mountain Home Building Products toll free at 800-490-3695.

Log stains, chinking and cabin caulking are staples for the preservation of your log home. Eventually, you will find yourself applying at least one of these materials if you own a log home. It is always best to consult with your builder or application contractor before making a purchase. Chinking, caulking and stain are available in a number of colors, consistencies and performance ratings. Below you will find info to help guide you through the maze of log home products.

1. Chinking is designed to stand out from your wood.
2. Caulking is designed to blend in with your logs.
3. Chinking material can be used in joint sizes ranging from 1/4” up to 6”.
4. Chinking can be done by professionals and homeowners.
5. Log home products are typically higher performing products as compared to stick built products.
6. Purchase a stain material from a reliable manufacturer and a reliable source.
7. Not all oil based stains are the same.
8. Not all water based stains are the same.
9. The staining process is typically done first followed by chinking or caulking.
10. All log home stains will need a maintenance coat in 4-5 years.
11. More prep work is critical for the success of water based log home stains as compared to oil based stain products.
12. Oil based stains have a stronger odor than water based stains.
13. Most chinking materials are water based.
14. Installing backer rod behind chinking or caulking will help these materials to expand and contract.
15. Backer rod is available in a number of different profiles such as full round, D shaped or trapezoidal shaped
16. Borate treatments need to be applied before the application of log stain materials.
17. Impel rods work very well in areas of high moisture content.
18. Log checks facing upwards should be filled if they are greater than a 1/4”.
19. Surface preparation is the key to success for applying any stain.
20. It is ok to use a different color stain on the inside of your log home.
21. Applying an interior clear finish to the inside of your log home will make cleaning much easier.
22. Corn cob blasting is effective in the removal of stains, dirt, grease or grime.

In conclusion, there a number of choices on how to preserve your dream home but as a consumer you need to ensure that you are asking the right questions.

For more information about chinking material, application tools or contractor referrals contact Mountain Home Building Products toll free at 800-490-3695.

Chinking a log home requires patience and an artistic touch. It is typically done by professional chinking contractors but can be accomplished by homeowners. Follow the guidelines below for a successful job.

1. Start with clean, dry and sound wood. The moisture content of your wood should be below 20% and rain should not be in the forecast for at least 7 days prior to your start date.

2. Check with the chinking and stain manufacturers to ensure that your finishing products are compatible with each other. It is always a good idea to use a stain and chinking from the same manufacturer in order to avoid any unnecessary problems down the road.

3. Install some form of backing material before applying the chinking material. This will allow the chinking material to expand and contract like a rubber band. Also, it will save you money in chinking material costs.

4. If the width of your chinking joint is greater than 1” it is recommended to use a bulk loading gun. If the width of your chinking joint is smaller than 1” it is recommended to use quart size tubes.

5. Do not apply chinking material in direct sunlight. For more information regarding this problem see our “Chinking Blisters” article.

6. Chinking material should be applied between 40-90 degrees.

7. Start by gunning out a 3′ section of chinking material.

8. Work the chinking material into place with a putty knife, trowel or foam brush. Do not gun out too much chinking material because it will skin over rather quickly and become difficult to tool.

9. If the chinking material does skin over, lightly mist it with water. This will help in spreading the material.

10. Make sure to get good adhesion to the top and bottom of the chinking joint. This can be accomplished by using the right amount of pressure with your tooling instrument.

11. Make sure to get the correct depth of material when applying the chinking. A good rule of thumb is a 1/2”.

12. Have fun with your chinking project. The more chinking material that you apply the better you will become at chinking.

For more information about chinking material, chinking application tools or chinking contractor referrals contact Mountain Home Building Products toll free at 800-490-3695.

Before or after buying your log home there are certain things every log homeowner should know. Some things might be open for debate but one thing is for sure, your log home will require attention. This doesn’t mean that you will spend all of your waking hours staining, caulking, sealing, chinking, re-caulking, re-chinking and re-sealing. It does mean that you will need to pay attention to your log home like you might pay attention to your car. Below you will find some helpful tips and information to guide you through owning a log home.

1. Have realistic expectations for the maintenance on your log home. There will be some.
2. Set up a routine log home maintenance schedule.
3. Follow a routine log home maintenance schedule.
4. Apply log stain when your log home needs it. Remember you get what you pay for most of the time. Good log home stains are not cheap but you will save you money in the long run.
5. Good log home stains will offer about 3 years of protection on the southern exposure of your log home and 4 years of protection on the other sides of your home. These figures are just estimates and will vary depending on a number of factors.
6. Expect to caulk or chink your log home at some point.
7. Some log homes require more chinking, caulking and stain than others
8. Almost all log homes require some chinking or caulking whether it be in the horizontal log joints, the corners of the logs or around your window bucks.
9. As we mentioned earlier, the better the log stain material the less stain maintenance your logs will require.
10. Design your log home with maintenance in mind. Remember the less exposure your logs take the less maintenance they will require.
11. Square logs weather better than round logs.
12. Log home chinking can be used for aesthetic purposes or as a weather-tite barrier.
13. Log home caulking should typically blend in with your logs. Conceal caulking by Sashco sets itself apart from all competitors.
14. Some water based log stain materials are very good while others are very bad.
15. Some oil based log stain materials are very bad while others are very good.
16. Your log home stains should be compatible with your log chinking and your log home caulking materials.
17. The preferred time to maintain your log structure is typically during the summer.
18. Remember you log home is a dream home. Don’t forget to treat it like one.

For more information about log home caulking , chinking, log home stains or contractor referrals contact Mountain Home Building Products toll free at 800-490-3695.

Chinking material has been around for centuries. It has seen many changes over time. Typically chinking material is designed to keep the elements outside of a log structure. Also, it can be used solely for aesthetic purposes.

Who makes chinking? Well, there are 3 main chinking manufacturers that supply the majority of the chinking for the current log home industry. These companies are Sashco, Weatherall and Permachink.

Sashco is located in Brighton, Colorado. Sashco has been in business for over 75 years. Permachink is located in Redmond, Washington while Weatherall is located in Charlestown, Indiana. It is unclear and widely disputed who first introduced synthetic chinking to the log home industry. At this point it doesn’t really matter. What does matter is finding the right company that is going to stand behind their chinking material. Additionally, all three companies manufacture log home stains. I mention this because your log home stain and chinking must be compatible to avoid any adhesion problems. Typically, if a company manufacturers both chinking and caulking then it is a pretty safe bet that their products are going to be compatible with each other. Check with each product manufacturer before applying either material.

Chinking for log homes can be purchased in 5 gallon buckets of quart size tubes. Chinking colors range from white white, mortar white, buff, tan, woodtone cedar, gray, light gray, khaki and pecan. Chinking material is typically purchased by contractors but is available for sale to homeowners. We recommend using Log Jam chinking for the following reasons.

• It is the only chinking that has a 1 hour UL fire rating.
• It is the only chinking material that is freeze thaw stable.
• It is the only chinking material that offers a lifetime warranty.
• It is highly elastic and outperforms almost any other product on the market.
• It is the choice of most chinking contractors.
• It is available in 7 standard colors and any custom color can be created.

For more information about chinking material, chinking application tools or chinking contractor referrals contact Mountain Home Building Products toll free at 800-490-3695.