I have found several articles and threads regarding types/methods of chinking logs in log home construction. My question is how do you seal existing mortar-type chinking in an old structure? I wonder if the product Seal-Crete (sp?) for concrete and mortar would work effectively. I’m also curious as to what to do inside. The cabin I am working on has 7″-8″ logs with chinking that is anywhere from 2″ to 5″ in width. (Due to the curvature of the logs.
Does anyone out there have some good recommendations?
Joe
Replies
Depending on how purist you might want to be:
http://www.sashco.com/log/
I've successfully used their products.
PAHS Designer/Builder- Bury it!
well, technically, I think you are talking about 'daubing' - - 'chinking' being the fill, daubing being the mud/mortar slathered over the fill - (throw tomatoes now)
anyway, replacing daubing is a routine matenance item for cabins, tho the modern elastic materials should last a long time - if your daubing is loose from the logs, replace it - I'm uncertain what you hope to gain by 'sealing', but you can do it by painting with boiled linseed oil - if you're serious about it, use your sprayer and do the wood and daubing both - -
Maybe some clarification of what exists:
Between the logs is expanded metal lath, vertical in orientation, much like a spline for a joint. Then this mortar/mud 'chinking' is plastered over that on both sides to fill the gaps - +/- 2" - and is smoothed onto the logs so that the result is app. 4"-5" of 'chinking exposed both inside and out. Some of it has fallen out and has been replaced with new. Most has just settled/shrunk/pulled away from the logs due to their expansion and contraction.
I did not want to replace this 'chinking' since most of it is good condition and there is nothing other than the lath behind it. The cabin is app. 75 yrs. old and not what I'd call worthy of historically correct renovation; it just needs to be sound, structural and habitable. What I want to do is seal/fill the gaps that exist between the 'chinking' and the logs and seal the 'chinking' from moisture infiltration since there is a continuous gap between the logs. (All mortar/cementious products wick moisture, right?) That was my thought for using the Seal-crete product and then one of the Sashco products or other sealants-in-a-tube type prodcuts.
Any other suggestions or help is appreciated.
Joe