Log homes are gaining popularity once again, and many people are drawn towards living in log homes. These homes are beautiful and have an outdoor, adventurous and stress-free feeling to them. However, log homes also come with their maintenance issues. In this article, you will find out more about the importance of log home chinking.
Chinking is the material that is used for filling the gaps between the wood logs in log homes. Backing rods or backer rods are first placed between the logs, and chinking is used for filling the space around the rods as well as between the logs. It is a caulk like a sealant that can be utilized for covering areas up to seven inches and more.
Benefits of Chinking
One of the biggest advantages of log home chinking is that it protects the log home from outside invaders such as bugs. Keep in mind that there is space between wooden logs and this space needs to be filled with something to ensure nothing from outside gets in. Filling up this space is critical for log homes as the wooden logs are susceptible to damage when not properly cared for. Clinking effectively seals the house, and keeps the insects and rodents outside.
Another significant benefit of chinking is that it helps in keeping the cooling and heating bills in check by increasing the energy efficiency of your home. If there are any crevices or places from where the outside cold air can come in during the winter months, your heating bill will shoot up significantly. By making sure that the crevices are properly sealed, you can save a lot of money on your heating and cooling bills.
A properly done chinking job will also help you a lot during the rainy season. Properly done chinking job will completely seal your home and keep rainwater from entering into your home. Water damage is a real threat to a log home, and you must take steps to ensure safety from water damage. Rotting logs are not only a hassle to deal with, but also cost a lot of money. A nicely done chinking job will help in preventing water damage.
Chinking not only makes your home more energy efficient but it also enhances the aesthetics of your home. Many people find chinking to be quite good regarding looks. It also helps in defining the natural angles of a log home.
Common Chinking Myths
One of the most common myths associated with chinking is that it is available only in white color. This was true a few decades earlier, but these days, it is available in a variety of color options. You can easily choose a color that will match the color of your logs. In fact, some tinting products are also offered by manufacturers for creating vibrant color options.
Another common myth associated with synthetic chinking is that it can’t be applied over old mortar chinking. The chinking available today can be used everywhere including old mortar. Also, chinking available today is durable. It’s true that the chinking available some decades earlier wasn’t long-lasting as it was made from a cement based material that had little bond strength, and no elasticity.
However, a lot of technological advances have ensured that the materials used for making chinking today are more flexible. Flexible chinking is less likely to come away are tear away from the log wall as the home settles. It is estimated that properly done chinking should last anywhere up to 5 decades.
You will always have some logs that will move much more as compared to other woods. This may result in loose chinking. Therefore, you should take a close look at the chinking during the first two or three years after your home has been built. Thankfully, you can quickly fix any chinking that pulls away from the logs. You just need to clean the area where the chinking has moved away from the logs, and reapply new chinking.
Keep in mind that chinking is not there just for the aesthetics. It can significantly enhance the energy efficiency of a home by reducing heat loss. Therefore, you should take it seriously and use high-quality chinking material.