Three Easy-To-Do Chinking Steps for Your Log Homes

Why do you think log cabins need restoration through chinking? If they don’t have proper maintenance, do you think they will last long? Sooner, these things will happen - fading, log rot and joint seal failure; even to the best log homes or luxury lodging houses.

What will you do if the chinking technique was not discovered? You cannot imagine what could possibly happen to your homes after a few years. Now, you don’t have to worry because they can be protected and restored.

Three Steps in Chinking Log Homes

For an easier process, it is broken down into three easy steps:

Step 1: Recipe
1) Mix 1 part of cement with 2 parts of fine masonry sand and ½ part of lime masonry. Pour water to attain a firm consistency, not too wet but not too hard.
2) If you want to stain the mixture, check the stain’s product label for instructions.

Step 2: Preparation
1) Before the application, the logs must be clean, dry and free from dirt.
2) If you can see large cracks, fill these with wood chips, small stones, twigs or moss mixed with mud. Push them into the cracks using a putty knife.

Step 3: Application
1) Apply the chinking product with the use of a trowel or putty knife. You need to fill the large cracks and open spaces in between logs.
2) Smoothen the surface and leave it to dry. If the applied mixture shrinks before it dries up you can apply a second coating, even a third one if required.

After going through the process of log home chinking, the logs will look like brand new. So if anyone else needs a log cabin restoration, try to recommend the three steps.

Advantages of Chinking on Log Homes

Using log homes in making a house is gaining popularity especially because of its advantages. One of the things that you can see when having a log home is the gap between them. That’s where you apply chinking. This can be done by a professional or by yourself. But most homeowners ask for someone since applying it can be a bit tricky.

Log homes are now favored more in building a house since it can give the owners a nice free heating inside. This happens because chinking is applied on both the inside and outside surface of the gaps of your home, blocking any possible means for air ways.

It is also important to have a good sealing process with your log homes to avoid any fungi from entering your house as well as some unwanted insects that could pester your homes. One thing that you can benefit from using log homes is the natural design that you can get without using any artificial element. By simply looking at the log patterns, you can see that there are already log markings that you can use to make your home creatively beautiful. Also, right chinking helps in enhancing such markings.

You can also choose what type of log you want to use for your home. Other logs make your house last for several decades. With the right application of chinking, you can ensure long life for your log homes. Other logs are not that susceptible to insects compared to other logs. It’s really a matter of choosing the right log and making sure that you have appropriately applied a good chinking material.

If you are not sure what chinking and logs to use and what methods you need to do, you can inquire online and make your log home comfortable to live in.

Chinking Details You Ought to Know

Chinking is popularly known as a sealant for houses that are made of logs. It is a synthetic water based sealant that has a mortar like texture, flexible and elastic. Its primary composition includes lime, clay and sand. And nowadays, it is combined with synthetic materials.

These sealants are solely made for the purpose of people with homes made up of logs in any form. Such homes have some known issues regarding gaps, cracks, moisture, not to mention some growing moss, water leak and some insect infestations. It solves those kinds of house problems. Not to mention helping in preserving your home and keeping it together in order to stand the test of time. It is a very good bargain. For people with such problems, you might need to invest than suffer the slow decay without it.

This material protects the gaps of your wood for it not to be infiltrated by moisture that would result to moss fill up. It seals the gap so that water and even insects will not go into your home through the gaps or cracks in your log home.

Chinking is used by applying a moderate amount of sealant into the wood surface. You can apply it thru a metal spatula or by using a grout bag. Now, if you’re having a hard time then you might want to consider hiring some professionals to help you to do it.


Chinking materials are of different assorted colors to choose from to better contrast the color of your log for it to look good and also to give you certain options to personalize the way you caulk your home with it. And it has two types, the homemade and the commercially prepared chinking.

Get Ready for a Chinking Project, Four Hints to Prepare your Log Homes

When and how to know the right time your cabins need chinking? As you’re looking at a tired and worn out log home, you come to realize you have ignored the maintenance for many years now.

Four Hints on How a Log Chink Preparation is Done

Part of your preparation must be the four things listed below. These are hints to help you check on your cabins and to prepare what you need for repairs.

1) All Around Inspection

The first thing to do is to inspect your log cabins. Take a walk around to have a closer look at the logs and watch for checks and large cracks. As the wood gets older it also gets dryer; checks are visible this time. They can be caulked using a good quality caulk. It’s available in different colors so it matches the log stain. For large cracks, they accumulate dust and allow drops of rain to set right in logs.

2) Check for Discolorations

Discolorations are caused by mold or mildew, these can be cleaned using soft scrubs and a cleaning mixture. Wash off with water and let the wood dry before going on with repairs.

3) Check for Stains or Dark Spots

Rain drops that drips or splashes onto your logs will wear the log finish and water will soak in the wood. If this isn’t treated, it will turn to mold and might weaken the wood. Ensure resolution by installing gutters to redirect water away.

4) Check for any other Damages

Visible damages on wood can be cut out and replaced; alternatively you can use a “dutchman”. While damage with the entire log is quite difficult so you need a professional to do the job.

You log home is your legacy, later it will be passed down to the next generation. Not only does it represent an important investment. The commitment in building and the satisfaction in chinking can’t be measured with any amount of money.

Simple Tips to do the Staining Perfectly before Chinking your Log Homes

A perfect way to protect and preserve your wooden homes is by chinking; although it will not be done right away. Prior to this is the application of the log stain. This will help protect the wood by sealing the log so it will not absorb wetness and block harmful sun rays.

Before you start staining the wood surface, get help from these tips to make sure you will be doing the rest of the steps continuously, thus saving your time.


Tips for Staining before Log Chinking

• Once you’ve applied the first coating, you need to do a back-brushing. In this way, it will force the stain inside the cracks and holes of the logs.

• Preferably, you need to stay away from direct sun heat. The stain dries up quickly therefore you’ll not have a wet edge.

• It’s important to keep the edges of the logs wet as these will catch the drips coming from the upper logs. So it’s better to work only with three to four logs at the same time.

• Always start at the bottom so the drips will just blend on the lower log that’s already applied with stain. If you start from the top, the drips will be visible on the lower part.

• Apply two coatings as much as possible; even three coatings are better. You may think once is enough, but it will not give sufficient protection from heat and weather damages.

• You need to remember the first coating must dry up before applying the second one. However, if it dried up too long, it’s also not good because dirt may have come in contact already. Probably, one day is enough for drying.

• It’s also better to be prepared by having enough supply of stain during the process. It would be difficult if you ran out of stock especially if you’re in the midst of doing the job.

If you have started the staining successfully, the next process that follows will also be done smoothly. So you will be able to finish chinking and have a better restored log home.

Checking Weather Conditions When Chinking Log Homes

To those of us completely unfamiliar with the term, chinking is the process of having a narrow space filled, and the first things that come to mind when this is mentioned are log cabin building and maintenance. When chinking log homes, there are several things that you must remember.

The first step would be to check the weather forecast before you apply the chinking. The weather must, as much as possible, be dry in order to allow the chinking to harden. Simply put, what you’re doing is gluing your log cabin together, and the weather conditions affect the quality of your log chink very much.

Those trying to do some log cabin chinking in the tropics are in for a few more difficulties, since chinking does not respond well to high temperatures. Blisters can form on the chinking when it is under direct sunlight for a prolonged period of time. This is definitely something that you would want to avoid, since blister formation can damage your log cabin when left unchecked.

In areas with high humidity, it is best to check the wood you’re going to apply the chinking to. Some types of wood are more susceptible to rot than others, and this can have an adverse effect on your log chink. In this case, use products that can restore your wood, or at the very least hold it together until you can replace it with a new one.

The weather can greatly influence the quality and durability of your chinking. Hence, it is important to make sure that the weather conditions are suitable to your work. Make sure that you do your chinking on a dry day, and not under direct sunlight whenever possible. Also check whenever your wood is damaged from extreme humidity, since this can also determine the quality of your log chink.