We have a log home that was constructed in 1999. The logs are laminated, D-shaped logs with T&G. They were glued (presumably) and nailed (Texas tacks); there does not appear to be any settling of consequence. Recently, we noticed some leaks along 1 wall. Wind-driven rain appears to seep between logs (or at the butt ends), work through the T&G to the interior, and then travel along the interior log face before dripping down.
Does anyone have any suggestions on how I might fix this problem? Do I lay a caulk bead along each joint on the exterior? Are there other fixes?
Appreciate any suggestions.
Replies
First, You need to stop the water at the outside where it is entering, not the inside where you see signs of it. Stopping it there will only lock the water in the wall to cause rot.
On my home, with 8" 'D'-style double t&g, I cut in splines at each end joint to help prevent wind and moisture migration and then used adhesive caulk to put them together with. It sounds like some short cuts might have been used or a bad batch of gumbo on a couple joints.
You need to caulk on the ouside with a polyurethene caulk. You can get it colour matched to your exterior. The problem is that, if you have tight butt joints, there is no room for the caulk bead so you might need to use a knife or sharp chisle to worm out a groove to accept the caulk.
The trickiest part will be to identify the offending joints from the outside, unless you choose to do them, all.
Welcome to the down side of log home living. Movements in logs create new opportunities every year.
:)
Excellence is its own reward!
"The first rule is to keep an untroubled spirit. The second is to look things in the face and know them for what they are." --Marcus Aurelius
Thanks for the response. Why polyurethane? I know from bad experience that acrylic shrinks, but why not silicone? I haven't worked with polyurethane before.
My thoughts, for what they are worth.
1. You are in southern colorado, right? Try using Sashco's Log builder for caulk. It is designed to work on log homes and it is made just north of Denver. It holds up well in our UV. Call them. The folks answering the phones used to be awesome, but I guess they got bigger and some of the customer service people there aren't what they used to be. The chemist's name is Andy. I usually go straight to him with compatability questions. It would probably be a good idea to make sure that the caulk you use is compatable with the stain you used. Another good company is Perma-Chink. They have a rep in Rifle.
2. These are laminate logs right? They really shouldn't be shrinking a whole lot, or so I thought. What does the company say that sold you the package? Do they no longer offer you support? If not, that stinks. They should be helping you with this problem....but so what, right?
3. My understanding with butt joints is that they are a constant maintenance item and need to be checked annually. I would have thought that you would have been instructed to caulk these joints initially when the house was constructed. We purposely went out of our way to build a log home with long logs so we wouldn't have to do this. Of course, our house has its own set of problems! (log home construction is nothing if not an adventure)
4. Did you ever go to log homes on the internet (lhoti.com) for help? It is a very helpful forum.
Best of luck. I know you have had some other problems with your home. I can sympathize!
and Piffin, who knew you were one of us....you know...a log home owner. I guess I didn't know that our, um, fine homebuilding patron saint, was also living in logs. :-)
Paula in Colorado
(near Black Hawk)
Edited 11/7/2002 1:18:55 PM ET by Paula
Sashco is a great caulk for logs. It adheres well and keeps some elasticity. I thought of urethyne first because it cures from moisture in the product or in the air so a little water present doesn't prevent it from sticking or curing.
Black Hawk - I was there for a few weeks, restoring a cabin in ? '71 ?
Mt first log experience. One of my neighbors has a daughter out there now named Wendy..
Excellence is its own reward!
"The first rule is to keep an untroubled spirit. The second is to look things in the face and know them for what they are." --Marcus Aurelius
Do you remember where that cabin was? Hopefully whoever owns it has taken care of it. If not, after 30 years, they might just need you again? Shall I drop off a business card? LOL!
Here is our log cabin restoration. We sold it in March. Ours was a DIY project that took about 6 years.
http://thefishershouse.com/the-cabin/renovation.htm
We're now DIY a much larger log home.....and then when that is done we're selling all our tools and never doing it again! :-)
Where Oh Where has that cabin done gone?
As near as I can reember after all these years, You went past Central City a mile or two and a dirt road swung down into the gully to the left, follow the river for a ways and then turn left to cross a bridge. Follow the road up and over the hill almost to treeline (Above it in a way because it had recently been logged off in that valley to make it a stumpyard) for another little ways and the cabin was up the some trees to the right up agaisnt the high ridge. View was much like on your web page. I believe that after winding up and around over the ridge we were closer to Black Hawk than to CC and looking down over it more or less.
Bathing in the stream there in August was a frigid experience. The soap suds would coagulate.
It was a small L cabin not unlike yours. Even painted red! It had a stone fireplace in the end.
Here's a picture of what we built here in Maine I just took this evening.
Excellence is its own reward!
"The first rule is to keep an untroubled spirit. The second is to look things in the face and know them for what they are." --Marcus Aurelius
Edited 11/8/2002 8:21:14 PM ET by piffin