Chinking vs. Caulking
At Log Home Rescue we understand the many benefits to chinking and caulking your log home. It helps to keep unwanted insects out, as well as water from penetrating the gaps. This helps to avoid product failure and wood decay. The biggest benefit is energy savings, which will in-turn help you save money heating and cooling your log home. The cost of simply keeping your home protected from insects and weather damage greatly outweighs the cost of replacing logs down the road.
What is the difference between chinking and caulking? The answer is the material itself. Any gaps larger than ¾” we would use chinking, gaps smaller than ¾” you would use caulking. Both products are very similar, as they are designed to help seal your log home so that it is weather tight. Chinking is used for larger gaps, like a traditional mortar. Chinking colors are often more noticeable. They are highly visible compared to caulking colors which are usually designed to match the log stain color. Caulking is like an elastic band that will stretch when the logs shrink or swell. It can be less noticeable than chinking by selecting a color that blends in with the log stain.
The common misconception with caulking or chinking is that many log home builders feel they do not need caulking because the builder applied a foam gasket tape and a sealant between each log on the tongue and groove. At Log Home Rescue, we know that those products will certainly help reduce any drafts in your home, but when it comes to stopping water and insects, the chinking or caulking barrier on the exterior is just as important. For large gaps in the logs, we also recommend using a backer rod that will help insulate while allowing us to maintain the manufacturers approved caulking application thickness.
When it comes to selecting a log home chinking or caulking material you want to select one of the few brands specifically designed for log homes instead of a caulking material that is used for multiple purposes. Yes, there are many brands of caulking and chinking that you will find at big box stores, but none of those caulking products will last or hold up on the demands of a log home. At Log Home Rescue we often see silicone products fail because they don’t allow any stain to soak into the logs. Acrylic painters caulk fails because it will pull away from one side of the log. When it comes to selecting a product that is designed specifically for log homes, your options are limited. Choosing the wrong product will cost you more money down the road. Those products will have to be removed before the correct product can be applied and the job done correctly.
At Log Home Rescue, we know that the caulking goes hand in hand with the stain. If you only caulked your log home, and did not maintain the stain coating; water could penetrate into the log, through the bare wood, get behind the caulking, and cause the caulking to fail. If there was no caulking water can easily find its way through gaps in the logs, getting behind the stain and causing the product failure. The chinking and caulking are not a permanent or lifetime guarantee but they will last longer if they are properly maintained by keeping up with your stain applications every 3-7 years. At Log Home Rescue, we advise that you can also help to extend the life of your investment by doing an annual check of your log home for any gaps that may open up and repairing them as needed.