Chinking material in Australia

[Jfleming]

Hello All,

So I am new to the forum, and new to log homes. I recently purchased a log home here in Australia (built about 15 years ago). Sadly the previous owner who build the house, didn't take good care of it. Well, maybe fortunate for me, as I got it very cheap. But now I have the task of maintenance, and doing all the things he didn't. First and foremost, chinking, both inside and out.

So down here, we don't seem to have access to stuff like PermaChink or LogJam that I can find. So I am using another flexible caulking material available down here called Sellys No More Gaps. BUT... am looking for any advice that you can give me. Maybe a different product that I can get down here. The stuff I used seems hard to work with than what I see you guys using over there.

I did a trial run in one of the spare rooms, and for my first go, I am OK with it, but not happy with how it turned out. Will probably need to go over it and smooth it out more.

I used the cake knife method.

Cant seem to insert pictures I would post one up

Cheers
John

[loghousenut]

Go to Imgur.com and use the BB code to insert photos. We want to see what you are up against.

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[Shark]

What type of material is the current chinking?

[Jfleming]

Hi Guys, There is NO chinking done at all. Most of the logs fit snug, but for some reason the top ones seem to be half logs, and not sure why. I will see if I can post some pics.

[Jfleming]

Here are some pics of the place when I inspected it.


You will see that most of the logs that are full round, fit nicely. But near the top, they don't, and he tried to use some expanding foam rubbish to fill the gaps. I will try to get some better pics for you today to show that some of the gaps are quite large.

https://imgur.com/a/WaLMaNo

[Jfleming]

Here is my first attempt!

https://imgur.com/a/6FDf1lJ

[loghousenut]

John, that is a complete different animal from the way we build here. Your style of log building is called scribed and coped. The logs are carved so that gravity makes them fit tightly together, requiring no chinking. In fact it is called chinkless on purpose.

As you have noticed, the wind still comes in and out wherever it wants to as the logs settle and twist. The common cure is to caulk the seams.

Go to Permachink or Sashco and nose around looking for videos that show your problem and their cure. They both put out a top product at a top price but you can afford it.

Tons of colors and they will send samples. Some folks like to match the log color and some folks like to contrast.

One last thing. If it is time to restain, you should probably do that first.


PS... Congratulations on your new place. If you outgrow it, consider building your own like we do it here. It is a blast!



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[rreidnauer]

Yep, definitely not meant to be chinked. But if its sealing off drafts that you're after, a very fine nozzle followed by some sort of stiff, rubber tool to pack in any gap and scrape off and excess from surfaces, with a paintable latex or paintable combination silicone/latex caulk. (easy water cleanup) would be the route that I would go. Also, I would probably limit myself from doing this to only one side, either the interior or exterior of the home, to always allow moisture an escape path.

There's a good chance that a draft baffle was installed between the logs already, in the form of fiberglass batting, that you simply can't see. Is there draft issues, or is this an aesthetic concern of yours?

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[Jfleming]

Yep, definitely not meant to be chinked. But if its sealing off drafts that you're after, a very fine nozzle followed by some sort of stiff, rubber tool to pack in any gap and scrape off and excess from surfaces, with a paintable latex or paintable combination silicone/latex caulk. (easy water cleanup) would be the route that I would go. Also, I would probably limit myself from doing this to only one side, either the interior or exterior of the home, to always allow moisture an escape path.

There's a good chance that a draft baffle was installed between the logs already, in the form of fiberglass batting, that you simply can't see. Is there draft issues, or is this an aesthetic concern of yours?

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It's the aesthetics. I will get another picture and upload later. Some of the gaps are large, and you can see the batting inside.

Cheers
J

[Jfleming]

So here is what I am dealing with! You can see the insulation he has stuffed in there, so I think chinking is the only way!

https://imgur.com/a/kuczBQz

[loghousenut]

That appears to be 1/4" or less and caulk should do nicely. Chinking is for the 1 to 5 inch gaps (OK 7") that we LHBA members get to play with.

That Imgur site is great for photos but next time try the BB Code link. It comes to us bigger and better.

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[Jfleming]

That appears to be 1/4" or less and caulk should do nicely. Chinking is for the 1 to 5 inch gaps (OK 7") that we LHBA members get to play with.

That Imgur site is great for photos but next time try the BB Code link. It comes to us bigger and better.

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Yeah thanks. I think the Caulking material is going to be my only hope!

[loghousenut]

I would much prefer caulking that place with a cheap air powered caulk gun than chinking. The cheap Harbor Freight air caulking gun works just fine.

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[rreidnauer]

Surprised to see those gaps, honestly. I wonder if the logs have been pinned as well?

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[mudflap]

John, that is a complete different animal from the way we build here. Your style of log building is called scribed and coped. The logs are carved so that gravity makes them fit tightly together, requiring no chinking. In fact it is called chinkless on purpose.

As you have noticed, the wind still comes in and out wherever it wants to as the logs settle and twist. The common cure is to caulk the seams.

Go to Permachink or Sashco and nose around looking for videos that show your problem and their cure. They both put out a top product at a top price but you can afford it.

Tons of colors and they will send samples. Some folks like to match the log color and some folks like to contrast.

One last thing. If it is time to restain, you should probably do that first.


PS... Congratulations on your new place. If you outgrow it, consider building your own like we do it here. It is a blast!



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I sure love it when LHN posts pics. ahhh.......

[loghousenut]

Thank you Mudflap, and you are welcome...

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[mudflap]

Thank you Mudflap, and you are welcome...

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If you're trying to get me to take it back, it won't work. ...

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[Shark]

Stuck inside a lighthouse?

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[rreidnauer]

There are far worse places to be stuck. LA immediately comes to mind.

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[Jfleming]

Surprised to see those gaps, honestly. I wonder if the logs have been pinned as well?

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If you mean pinned, as in, bolted in place, then yes. That top log is a dress log only!! It gives no structural benefit. Behind it are basically poles that are bolted to the next log down that is used to support the roof.

Some of the gaps are large - maybe 1. 1.5 inches!!

[loghousenut]

Show me.

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[rreidnauer]

If you mean pinned, as in, bolted in place, then yes. That top log is a dress log only!! It gives no structural benefit. Behind it are basically poles that are bolted to the next log down that is used to support the roof.

Some of the gaps are large - maybe 1. 1.5 inches!!

That style of log home *should* "settle together" and typically you should see a settling gap behind trim, over doors and windows, as well as jack screws for roof ridge supports, to let down the roof as the logs shrink and settle. The fact that they aren't settling leads me to believe that the logs have all been spiked together, restricting their movement. Are the corner joints opening up too? It does sound like you have an unusual arrangement on how your place was constructed.

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[allen84]

That style of log home *should* "settle together" and typically you should see a settling gap behind trim, over doors and windows, as well as jack screws for roof ridge supports, to let down the roof as the logs shrink and settle. The fact that they aren't settling leads me to believe that the logs have all been spiked together, restricting their movement. Are the corner joints opening up too? It does sound like you have an unusual arrangement on how your place was constructed.

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Maybe dropping the screw jacks will squish them all together!

[donjuedo]

My guess is that the gaps opened well after original construction. Whatever caused the change will likely cause a little more change, opening gaps around your fixes. If you can get to the bottom of why they formed, it may save you work later.


Peter