What’s the Difference Between Caulking and Log Chinking?

High-quality sealants help older cabins last for generations and give newer ones the rustic good looks many desire. Our sealants provide protection that will let them carry their historic styles far into the future. But when it comes to the language surrounding the sealant between logs, many people call chinking “log caulk.” Log caulk and log chinking are often used interchangeably, but these sealants are completely different. In fact, you should never, ever caulk a log home.

Guest post by Seth Murphy, papadiy.com

A home is more than just a shelter; it serves as our intimate sanctuary. The atmosphere within its walls profoundly influences our emotions, efficiency, and overall well-being. Central to cultivating a calm home atmosphere is the principle of tidiness.

Through consistent cleanliness and organization, we carve out a peaceful niche that rejuvenates our soul. By embracing straightforward daily practices, our living spaces can evolve into serene havens. In this article, which is shared courtesy of Perma-Chink Systems, we will explore straightforward routines that offer both a structured environment and mental clarity.

In loving memory of our late president Rich Dunstan.

In The Beginning

In 1980 my neighbor told me about building a log home in Eastern Washington. He said that he loved the home and the lifestyle but was disappointed wind constantly blew and cold, harsh winters meant there was no real effective way to seal the gaps between the logs. The house leaked air and heat and wind-driven rain came right through the walls.

He tried various caulking materials with little success. Caulking around a bathtub or sink was significantly different from ‘caulking’ literally miles of seams between logs in a log house.  After a number of conversations and experiments, we discovered there was no readily available product that could seal the gaps, look like authentic chinking, and last more than a few months.

After months of trial and error it became apparent that if we were going to design a material that would be acceptable to our criteria, we would have to design it ourselves.

The product we were designing was to be a replacement for what was known in the Log Home Industry as “chinking” – the sealant that historically provided the seal between the logs.  A chink is a gap – as in Biblical Times, “A chink in his armor’. Therefore, chinking is a material to fill a gap. Throughout the centuries of constructing dwellings out of logs, numerous methods were used to seal in between them. Early builders used pretty much anything they could get their hands on to seal the gaps – mud, straw and mud, cow manure, or mixtures of cement and mortar.

This Michigan log home was completed by the homeowners over 2 years in 2016-2017. Red pine logs were regionally sourced from Wisconsin and northern Michigan. The homeowners peeled, sanded, stained, and sealed the log home themselves, making this home a beautiful labor of love.

The exterior is finished with Lifeline Ultra-2 Sequoia with Advance Gloss, and log gaps sealed with Perma-Chink Stone. Interior logs and beams were finished with Lifeline Ultra-2 Dark Natural and Advance Gloss topcoat for the rest. Gaps were filled with Energy Seal - Dark Natural for interior, Dark Walnut for exterior gaps.

"Using your products was so effortless with easy application, no odor, and easy clean up. We have recommended Perma-Chink to others who have log homes in the area." - Roger & Diane G.

How do I know what color your stain will be on my house?

Transparent stains develop color differently, depending primarily upon the wood species, the surface preparation, the application method and the kind of light illuminating it. Even photos can be edited in a way that alters the true color.

The only way you will really know how the stain will look is to try it on your wood. We will provide complimentary samples of Lifeline for you to try on your own wood before purchasing product.

Not just Beautiful, but also Durable!

In addition to building a strong home, you want to build a beautiful home, too, which is why the finished appearance of your logs is so important. No doubt that high-quality finishes will save you time and money in the long run. Longer lasting finishes equates to less labor expense over the life of the finish.

Q: How do I know what color the stain will be on my house?

A: Transparent stains develop color differently, depending primarily upon the wood species, the surface preparation, the application method and the kind of light illuminating it. Even photos can be edited in a way that alters the true color. The only way you will really know how the stain will look is to try it on your wood. We provide complimentary samples of LIFELINE for you to try on your own wood before purchasing product.

Q: Where do I use LIFELINE Acrylic clear finish on log homes?

A: Acrylic Gloss or Satin is an interior furniture-grade finish. Use it on log walls, ceilings, or any other vertical wood surface. Unlike the solvent-based finishes, it will never yellow and has no fumes. You can apply the clear finish by multiple methods - spray it, brush it, or wipe it on with a rag. It is available in Gloss or Satin sheen. 

Hi there, sports fans! Can you believe it is November? Seems to me I was just getting used to summer! Cold weather is coming and it pays to get serious about closing those last few orders and thinking about comfort and home protection over the winter. 

You can assure customers by suggesting they've spent their last winter with drafts, cool air, and high energy costs with a properly sealed home. They will be much more comfortable, increase their home value, and protect their log home investment by chinking now, before the winter cold sets in.

If the logs themselves could use some additional protection, suggest LIFELINE natural wood finish, which is specifically designed for log homes. LIFELINE is easy to apply, enhances the natural beauty of the logs, and provides premium protection against the ravages of the coming winter.

And for sure note that if you apply LIFELINE finishes to the home now, we assure compatibility with Perma-Chink chinking for later applications. Works great the other way around, too - chink now with Perma-Chink or Energy Seal and follow up with LIFELINE for a dynamite sealant system. 

Q: I am always pressed for time, how soon after LIFELINE application can I apply Perma-Chink?

A: LIFELINE will dry to the touch in an hour or so, and Perma-Chink can easily be applied the following day. 

The Difference is Clear, but it’s NOT What You Think.

It makes sense that the more your product costs, the higher the quality of ingredients.

To prove this point, the professionals in the industry performed a careful analysis that shows that in the long run, it’s less expensive to apply the very best quality stain, despite its higher initial cost.

How Does a Low-Cost Option Cost More?

Field tests show that while low-quality finishes last two years or less, top-quality, 100-percent acrylic polymer finishes such as the Lifeline™ Ultra family from Perma-Chink Systems last five years or more when applied to a properly prepared surface and maintained on a regular basis.

Looking For Stain and Sealant In One?

Perma-Chink Systems® has extended our finish options for our customers with Log and Timber Defense™. Unlike our traditional Lifeline wood finishes, Log and Timber Defense penetrates your wood much like an oil coating. Once Log and Timber Defense penetrates the wood surface, it forms a strong lattice network within the wood, reinforcing and strengthening the entire system from the inside out. This mechanism greatly reduces the chances of peeling and flaking by leaving the system breathable to water vapor. Many traditional oil-based finishes can also form a network, but are often so high in solids that they can easily blister and peel. Vapor pressure builds up behind the thick, unbreathable solid film and pushes the film away from the wood. This leads to an unfortunate situation requiring removal of the compromised coating down to bare wood.

Honeybee after honeybee painted on buildings around the world -- each one is handcrafted by artist Matthew Willey, founder of the Good of the Hive.https://www.thegoodofthehive.com/

Photo Anna Walker/Courtesy The Good of the Hive 

Painter Matt Willey is creating a mural at the Rifle Branch Library. The project will include events every Sunday through Sept. 9 — the scheduled day for mural completion.

Honeybees within the hive ‘think’ collectively. They are hard-wired to understand that their immune system is collective. Their health is based on the health of the hive, not the individual bee. A personal experience with a honeybee in 2008 sparked a paradigm shift for Matt Willey. He realized that human and planetary health are collective, although we rarely act like it. COVID was a reminder that we are truly all connected more deeply than we realize. The global hive Matt is painting is a metaphor for the connectedness of all things. Bees are a symbol for humans, trees, animals, pollinators, water, soil and everything in between…