Both of these prices exclude labor and backing rods. By paying with a credit card, you save an additional $5 and get 6 issues of MOTHER EARTH NEWS for only $12.95 (USA only). From experience, log cabin kits use synthetic chinking and self-build cabin owners use mortar chinking. I have a 12×12 building made of sawn 4x8s that I have let dry, under cover, for 4 years. If the earth is really tough, you may have to sift it into a 55-gallon drum or steel washtub through screening mounted in a small wooden frame. If only smaller sections have failed, cover the chinking with clear tape and chink a fresh layer of chinking over the top. If you try our formula, remember that the water should be added slowly, until you can "feel" the mass sticking together. By fall the dwelling's roof was on and our stock of firewood was dry. We are restoring a 1932 cabin that has board walls sided, inside and out, with cedar log ends from the local mill. Also, oil based caulking brands for log homes. We tried his method at once, and found that it was everything he said and more. . Stick with the same materials and be consistent with your mixes. Basic homemade chinking is cost effective and offers the stability and durability of commercial chinking … Learn how Maryan Mcamey and her husband fixed their depression-era log cabin using this fantastic, fool-proof log cabin chinking repair recipe. I would love to be able to change the color entirely, but for now will settle for a nice color to add to the homemade chink. There are numerous synthetic chinking brands where you can purchase chinking by the gallon. International Subscribers - Click Here I’d love to see your cabin once you’re finished staining and chinking! All help will be appreciated greatly! Charlie Madson suggests a garden trowel. rain, snow and sleet) whilst eliminating heat loss and air infiltration. Please send them to my email, thanks, David. The logs are ok but basically bare and smooth. This depends upon the state of its disrepair, however, if large areas have failed; typically the best option is to remove all traces of the old chinking and start again. Lime based chinking is a great option for log cabins, it makes the mix more sticky and less likely to crack than regular chinking options. We don’t sell cement! In simple English, the chinking will move freely along a vertical axis with the logs. This means that unlike other synthetic chinking, Log Jam will help to slow the spread of fires from room to room. This will allow you the freedom to enjoy your cabin … . These articles have good advice and may help with that. Log Jam®, the standard for synthetic chinking. I'm building a 1800's cabin. Understanding that your cabin will settle and planning for it with flexible chinking is important. Perma-Chink Chinking Overview. Can you please email me some photographs and I’ll see if I can help further. If you are purchasing chinking then the best advice is to use a system of products. We are building a log cabin using pine logs that we harvested from our property. Is there a color guide to your mix chart? Craig. Given the coronavirus shutdowns, we have to be very cost conscious. I’d be more than happy to take a look at some pictures and see if I can be of any help. I thought about making chinking from out- and inside and hempfiber in between the logs… You have answered ALL MY questions in detail and then with explanations! Bend the nails up towards the top log once nailed into the lower log. We live in the Andes mountains in South America about 8500 feet elevation (2,590 meters). We rummaged everywhere for more log cabin chinking information — in the library and bookstores, at the nearby ranger station, in catalogs and old farm magazines, even in a 1926 edition of the Encyclopaedia Britannica — and found a lot of good advice on log cabin building and living . Whatever tool you choose, insert the chinking into the cracks as far as need be. Peace. The building is up, and I will chink it in the spring (2020). Don't Delay, Start Planning Your Log Cabin Build Today, https://www.logcabinhub.com/log-cabin-maintenance-costs/, https://www.wasps.net/wasps/black-wasps/black-wasps-in-log-cabin.html, Log Cabin Hub - Your home for Log Cabin Plans. Have any of you experimented with sand, Portland cement and fine Styrofoam pellets for flexibility? Here's a concise history of the chinking tradition, and some discussion of the best ways to find chinking solutions that work for you. Thanks, David. Since the origin of log cabins, chinking has long been a hallmark of these beautiful homes. In any case, be sure you're buying granulated — not rock — salt. One of those is chinking, the insulating substance placed between the logs. We primarily wanted it to give our new farm some old character. Go figure! Read here for more guidance on cleaning logs. Are you planning on chinking a cabin? DEBORAH: We did a couple test spots and when it dried, it cracked. Once clean, the logs should be from 40°F (4°C) – 80°F (26°C). If the logs are too cold the pores tighten and prevent the chinking from adhering. Enter your email address to receive two free chapters of our Book - How To Build A Log Home: The Complete Guide! Old-time … Barb. Hi Camille, thanks for your message. Chinking is to logs as mortar is to bricks. The Cost Breakdown, Turn Your Dream Into A Reality; Learn How To Build A Log Cabin, 62 Best Cabin Plans with Detailed Instructions. The cabin is a hewn log dove tail structure which contained cement mortar chinking and was built approx. Today, log home chinking refers to a flexible elastic sealant that resembles the appearance of the old portland cement which historically was used to seal logs together. A little experimenting is needed to get the hang of this part of the job: Make your mix too dry and you won't be able to spread it . Use interior or exterior and have a seal only this chinking … Already a Member? I inherited a 40 year old cabin that was built from bark on D-logs that were still a bit green. Many thanks, David. Was the cabin bought and designed to be like that? https://www.wasps.net/ So we set out — with a lot of help from our neighbors — to give our new home some good old-fashioned TLC (tender, loving care). DEBORAH: I found a recipe online for homemade log cabin chinking of clay, salt and hydrated lime.. TOM: Mm-hmm. It is in New Mexico (very dry) and the cabin is showing gaps, and cracks. That community being as small as it is, Charlie Madson soon heard that we had moved into his old house, and so he paid us a visit. Caulking can also be used to fill checks (i.e. It’s difficult to advise you on this without seeing pictures. Northern Log Home Restoration feels all log homes or cabins need to be chinked or caulked. dovetail, corner and butt and pass). Chinking is a flexible material used to fill gaps where logs don’t meet completely. We are ready to make our chinking mixture soon and are wanting to do a lime-clay based mix. I would recommend contacting the company you bought the cabin from if not, and asking them what they can do about it. The cabin was really dilapidated and in need of a new roof, foundation repair, plumbing, wiring, and a general face-lift. Thank you for sharing it. If you are planning on making your own chinking, then scroll down to chinking recipes. Even though the information is quite informative it would be great to get some more information on this task of re-chinking. I’ll be verry happy to hear from you! Best of luck! Perma Chink started with this product and added an entire line of log and rustic home care products. . We are aware there are several types of lime, which kind do you recommend and where could we source it from? Just mix ashes and clay — in the original proportions — with water and apply the sealer. After reading on a chinking material it appears I should use caulking, what type if it’s caulking what type and couldn’t that get expensive? The original Perma check chinking is still in place. Synthetic chinking is made from either acrylic or petrochemical elastic compounds which have the ability to expand and contract with your logs. Not all log cabins require chinking. Once you get the knack, though, it's possible to cover about 10 to 20 running feet per hour. Like to read more content, Join the Mother Earth News Community Today. Using 12” girth logs you will be stacking roughly 9 logs high. The second stage to chinking is to apply a backer-rod. . Log Jam®, the standard for synthetic chinking. A backer-rod, or homemade substitute, provides a “bond breaker” which provides a surface the chinking won’t adhere to. In June of 1973 my husband, Butch, and I moved to our very own log home on 40 acres in the southern Oregon woods. I also like the look of the thin chinking lines on the interior. Any chance I could send a couple photos and we could have a quick chat? Certain conditions of climate and temperature may cause the mortar to crack as it begins to harden. Thanks for the recipe! Also, I’d like to make it more beige than gray. LESLIE: Mm-hmm. Please read this article here https://www.logcabinhub.com/log-cabin-maintenance-costs/ it covers costs and replacing partial logs. The exterior is greyed from weather and neglected. Traditions Contrary to some common misperceptions, log … For the longest lasting results, make sure that you are applying your chinking between temperatures of 45° and 75° F and that it remains dry and unfrozen until it is fully cured. We have moved a 110 y/o tobacco barn to our farm to use as a garden barn. We applied the mixture with a wide-bladed putty knife, since the spaces between our building's logs are quite large. Thanks, David. As your log home settles and the logs expand and contract (due to the factors above), if there wasn’t a gap for the logs to move into it would cause further twisting and bowing of logs. Eliminating heat loss and air infiltration to maximize your cabin’s energy rating by correctly insulating the cabin. Chinking from start to finish on the average sized cabin cost between $3,000 and $7,000; this is normally a one time cost and yearly maintenance costs on average around $200. It is about a 3-4 inch gap and it happens on tile floor and carpet. Log can expand, shrink and settle as the years pass (as you’ve seen with your own). Make sure you use the same materials though-out your batches. My advice would be to trial a cement based and clay based recipe and see which look you prefer. When should a new log home be chinked. Today, we have two main schools of thought for chinking materials: Mortar chinking continues the traditional approach of chinking log homes and is mainly used for do-it-yourself log cabins (i.e. In addition to being more cost effective; self-made chinking will and can provide elasticity and stability of commercial mixtures if done properly. Pour in enough amount of water; Mix two parts clay, a half part of silt and one part of ash. . If the chink line is 1 inch in height and 1 inch in depth you should be paying $1.20 per foot of synthetic chinking and $0.15 for mortar chinking. Good luck with your re-chinking, let me know if there is anything you’d like to know. What is caulking and is this different from chinking? There is no insulation, and we’d like to seal it up from bugs and critters. Should I use 1 part sand and 1 part portland? Chinking must expand and contract whilst maintaining a tight seal and allowing your logs to breath (i.e. In fact, chinking can boost the R-value (a measure of heat transfer) of a chink joint to almost the R-value at the log's center. He said to use 3shovels sand, 2 shovels of very fine sawdust, 1 shovel of morter, and1/2 of a shovel of dehydrated lime. what recipe would be best. Do you think this formula would work to fill gaps between wooden plank flooring and natural round-wood beams? traditional and dovetail). Thanks, David. Hi Barb, thanks for your message. Chinking in summary should allow your cabin’s logs to breathe whilst also protecting your cabin from the external elements discussed earlier. It has been in place for 9 months but has not been stained yet because of weather. Chinking is the material that fits between the imperfect joints of logs to ensure a “seal” from external elements (e.g. Chinking; Caulking; Log Screws; Gasket; Wood Preservatives; Tools; All Accessories; Log Pricing. A build like this, would also be a bad thing. Make sure the chinking overlaps to your preferred chink line width (typically one to five inches). I have a log cabin that has large gaps and checks. Here's the basic formula, as our visitor gave it to us: 2 parts clay (or dirt) . A clean surface already treated with a preservative and stain that is compatible with the chink and caulk. If you are building a cabin from scratch then you will probably use a self-made mortar chinking; providing the logs have been felled locally and have properly dried out. 1 part sifted wood ashes 1920. This will hold the mortar in place whilst curing. During that first summer, the place began to smile again. These defects are known in the industry as “checking”. There is an argument that portland cement can be too hard. Some gaps are 5 or 6 inches while some are less than an inch. Once the chinking has been applied, take the foam brush and flatten the chinking’s surface. The best advice I can give is in the article. Any check over 2 inches should be filled; regardless of whether it’s a vertical or horizontal check. Most of the people we contacted at lumber yards and supply houses suggested cement, but we just couldn't afford the expense of that building material on our limited budget (and anyhow, we wanted to retain the original texture and appearance of the old weatherproofing). Mix 1 part of cement to a half part of masonry lime and three parts of masonry sand. It could be worth a try!). Hi Kelsey, this is a very large gap from the floor to the first log. too wet and it'll drip all over. He spent a good amount of time plastering mortar into those chinking joints every year. We have a log cabin that was made in the 1800's. Chinking can fill a span from 1 to 5 inches in width. Whichever method you choose; apply your chinking down the center of the joint. he bought only the windows and doors) is still alive and well and living in nearby Medford. If you are using a mortar chinking, you will need to install chinking nails. and Log Treatment Email Acme Chinking: Our masonry-based chinking material has a very warm, appealing surface and is also durable and long lasting. It’s kind of harsh climate; it’s either cold and wet or hot and dry. I have recently bought a log cabin built in 2003 from a kit, it is Scandanavian chinkless and has no chinking currently. Typically, a chinking gun is used with a 2-inch nozzle. Proper joint dressing with a bond breaker installed in the center of the joint. The beauty of chinking is that it is flexible so will flex as the logs settle. The gaps in the logs vary greatly, and some walls even have more log faces than others. We’ve scraped off all the bark and based on your great article, think we need to caulk between the logs. For a typical log cabin, you shouldn’t expect to chink more than 4 gallons per year which will cost roughly $200 for synthetic chinking. . I believe this is where I have bugs coming in. Thanks. Log Jam is also the only chinking to hold a UL one-hour fire rating. If you’re going for a true self-build and want to DIY, replacing the portland cement in the recipes with colored portland cement will be just fine. I have rebuilt cabins made by the same man. A small putty knife — or even a kitchen spatula — would work as well, though, depending on the size of the gaps. Chinking is used on larger diameter logs too (e.g. You need to … The best option is to buy a premade chinking solutions such as Permachink. There are 3 basic principles to follow when applying chinking or caulking. I wanted to know everyone was able to build their own home with no money and Very basic supplies from the land! rain, snow and sleet) whilst protecting the logs from pooling/standing water which could result in rotten logs. I want to use portland and sand. Survival Skills, Garden Planning, Seed Saving, Food Preservation, Natural Health – Dozens of courses, 100+ workshops, and interactive Q&As. That's why we want you to save money and trees by subscribing through our earth-friendly automatic renewal savings plan. Hello and thank you for your page. Rule of Thumb Is Log Cabin Chinking Really Needed. Sincerely interested in chinking this log cabin: Hi Gordon, thanks for your message. This is a great article! Typically, if the span or depth between the logs is less than 1 inch then caulking should be used. If the cabin has an air-tight notch (e.g Scandinavian Chinkless) it won’t require chinking. Weatherall Triple Stretch Chinking is a uniquely formulated chinking manufactured specifically for use where exceptional elasticity is required, such as logs with greater moisture content, log or slab siding, log corners, or other dynamically moving log … There are a variety of log chinking materials, products and chinking recipes available as well as log chinking techniques. This “nice seal” is the best maintenance free form of protection again moisture and air infiltration, insulation and fire barriers for your log home. – we like one-and-done spots and when it dried, it ’ s kind of harsh climate ; it s. Chink inside and out we want you to save money and trees by subscribing through our earth-friendly renewal. You to save money and very basic supplies from the external elements ( e.g Scandinavian chinkless it... Thanks for your chinking premade chinking solutions such as “ Scandinavian chinkless ” log homes or need... 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Bill me option and pay $ 17.95 for 6 issues variety through a friendly grocer a 1.5-inch brush compresses!, we have limited materials here but I was wondering what you think would be best. Visual appeal chinking then the best advice is to keep intouch with you at the in.