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Do It Yourself

Welcome to Perma-Chink Systems' Do-It-Yourself section! Here is where you'll find our Tech Tips, Videos, Instructions, and general How-To guides regarding our family of products. We hope you find this information useful.

If you're new to the log home care world, we have workshops available at our branch locations, and the ability for web/phone support

If you have any questions not answered in the DIY section, feel free to contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 800-548-3554 and talk to one of our knowledgeable customer service representatives. We're open 8:00AM to 8:00PM EST to serve our coast-to-coast customers.

1. Perma-Chink & Sealants

2. Finishes & Stains

3. Wood Cleaners

4. Preservatives

5. Wood Restoration

6. Pests

7. DIY Videos

Perma-Chink Systems namesake product, Perma-Chink, is the leading sealant for log homes. We've extended the same performance and quality of Perma-Chink in our other sealants, Energy Seal and Woodsman.

Below are our Tech Tips for all our sealants, including our Chink Paint, which provides an excellent solution to refresh old, but sealed, chinking.

Sealants Application Guide

Application Guide

 Sealants - Tech Tips

Tech Tips For Perma-Chink | Energy Seal | Check Mate 2 | Woodsman

Tech Tip

PDF

Tech Tip

PDF

Repairing Perma-Chink pdf small Protecting Uncured Chinking pdf small
How to Apply Energy Seal And Woodsman pdf small Why Use Backing Materials pdf small
About Bulk Loading Guns pdf small The Color of Check Mate 2 pdf small
Chink Paint Versus Chinking pdf small Removing Old Caulk pdf small 
Sealing with Log Gap Caps and Energy Seal pdf small Drying and Curing Times pdf small 
How to Seal Checks In Logs & Siding pdf small The Thermal Efficiency of Chink Joints pdf small

 

Tech Tips For Chink Paint

Tech Tip

PDF

Tech Tip

PDF

Chink Paint Versus Chinking pdf small Chink Paint (Textured & Smooth) pdf small

 

Tech Tips For Product Application

Tech Tip

PDF

Tech Tip

PDF

Calculating Linear Feet pdf small Calculating Square Footage pdf small
Application Temperatures pdf small Sealing Log Siding pdf small
Energy Audit pdf small  Finding Air Leaks pdf small 
Freeze-Thaw Stability pdf small  Hot Weather Applications pdf small 

Perma-Chink Systems have the best stains for log and timber homes. While we tend to call our stains "finishes," most consumers are used to the phrasing of "wood stain." Why the difference? The quick answer is that stains permeate the wood, while finishes form a film over the surface, protecting the wood. If you want to know more about the difference, our tips below can answer your questions.

The Tech Tips are grouped below by how our system works. Like most things in life, success is determined by a strong foundation. So the first section contains information on getting your log or timber home ready for the finish of your choosing. Following the surface prep section, we've consolidated information about our finishes for both exterior and interior. The final section is dedicated to known issues with log and timber homes that all homeowners have to deal with, regardless of which finish they choose.

Wood Finishes Application Guide

applicationguide singular

 

Stains & Finishes

Tips For Surface Prepping, Cleaning, & Washing

TECH TIP

PDF

TECH TIP

PDF

Buying the System pdf small Avoiding Metallic Contamination pdf small
About Sealers, Stains, and Topcoats pdf small The Use of Steel Wool or Wire Brush pdf small
Application Temperatures pdf small Calculating Square Footage pdf small
About Osborn Brushes pdf small  About Linseed Oil pdf small
Sanding Tips pdf small  Coating Shakes & Shingles pdf small 
Cleaning Guidelines pdf small  Hot Weather Applications pdf small 
About Spot Cleaning & Stripping pdf small  How to Clean Bare Wood Surfaces Using Wood Renew & Log Wash pdf small
Media Blasting Versus Chemical Stripping pdf small About Pressure Washing pdf small 
Washing Media Blasted Surfaces pdf small About Pressure Washers pdf small
How to Remove Existing Finishes pdf small  The Dynamics of Weathering pdf small
Freeze-Thaw Stability pdf small  Why Log Homes Need a Pigmented Finish pdf small 

 

Tech Tips About Stains & Finishes

TECH TIP

PDF

TECH TIP

PDF

What is a Breathable Finish pdf small About Back-Brushing pdf small
Maintenance Coats of Finishes pdf small About Using Quality Brushes pdf small
Peeling Issues on Logs & Siding pdf small How to Repair Peeled Spots pdf small 
Removing Dried Finishes, Sealants, Borates, and Cleaners From Surfaces pdf small About VOCs pdf small
Mixing & Boxing Stains & Topcoats pdf small  About Log End Seal pdf small 
Oil Based Stains Versus Lifeline Water Based Stains pdf small Sealing Grayed Wood pdf small 
Penetration of Film Forming Stains pdf small  Beading Water pdf small 
About Handrails pdf small     

 

Tech Tips For Exterior Finishes

TECH TIP

PDF

TECH TIP

PDF

How to Apply Lifeline Exterior pdf small  Applying Lifeline Over Oil-Based Stains pdf small 
How to Use Defense Products - Log & Timber/Deck pdf small  About VOCs pdf small
Applying Lifeline Over Existing Stains pdf small About UV Boost pdf small 
About Clear Exterior Finishes pdf small Stain and Topcoat Additives to Lifeline Finishes pdf small
About Prelude Clear Primer pdf small  Sealing Log Siding pdf small
The Role of Advance Exterior Topcoat pdf small Mixing Advance Satin pdf small
Coating Shakes & Shingles pdf small     

 

Tech Tips For Interior Finishes

TECH TIP

PDF

TECH TIP

PDF

How to Apply Lifeline Interior pdf small Applying Sure Shine pdf small
Interior Color Coats & Topcoats pdf small  Finishing Floors pdf small

 

Tech Tips For Moisture, Mold, & Wood Issues

TECH TIP

PDF

TECH TIP

PDF

What is Mill Glaze? pdf small About Water Stains pdf small 
About pH pdf small About Moisture Content pdf small 
About Moisture Meters pdf small About Mold & Mildew pdf small 
About Resin Bleed pdf small  Preventing Mold Growth pdf small

 

Perma-Chink Systems offers wood preservatives designed to protect your home from insects and wood rot. Below are our Tech Tips for our preservatives, along with some general product knowledge on storing procedures.

 

Tech Tip

PDF

Tech Tip

PDF

How Borates Work To Protect Wood pdf small How to Apply Borates pdf small 
Washing & Staining After Borate Treatments pdf small  Storing Borate Solutions pdf small 
Removing Dried Finishes, Sealants, Borates, and Cleaners From Surfaces pdf small Application Temperatures pdf small
Freeze-Thaw Stability pdf small  Hot Weather Applications pdf small 
All About Wood Decay pdf small     

Despite our best efforts, sometimes problems develop in wood that requires some more serious work than just stripping the finish or applying a new topcoat. Wood decay does happen, and it can be repaired if caught early enough. Perma-Chink Systems offers two-part epoxy products, M-Balm and E-Wood, to repair damaged logs.

If you're looking to restore your home's beauty through taking the wood down to bare wood and applying a new finish, we can help you with that, too. We offer S-100 and StripIt, environmentally-friendly water-based strippers.

 

Tech Tip

PDF

Tech Tip

PDF

About M-Balm & E-Wood Epoxies pdf small  Drying and Curing Times pdf small 
How to Repair Large Voids in Logs pdf small Inspecting Your Log Home pdf small
How to Use M-Balm & E-Wood pdf small  Log Home Inspection Checklist pdf small
Media Blasting Versus Chemical Stripping pdf small Washing Media Blasted Surfaces pdf small
About Pressure Washers pdf small About Pressure Washing pdf small 
Applying Finish Removers Using Airless Sprayers pdf small  About Handrails pdf small 

All homes have pests. Log and Timber frame homes have specific pests that like to chew up wood, or burrow inside. For many pests, Perma-Chink Systems offers specific products to treat the wood, aimed at preventing damage from pests.

 

Tech Tip

PDF

Tech Tip

PDF

Pest proofing your home pdf small Woodpeckers pdf small
Carpenter ants pdf small Ladybugs and boxelder pdf small
Carpenter bees pdf small Parasitic wasps pdf small
Wood boring beetles pdf small  Wildlife damage pdf small