Log Home Products – Chinking, Log Stain & Cabin Caulk

All owners of log houses sooner or later will get acquainted with the following products: clink, log caulk and log stain. Owning a log home can be very rewarding, but it takes time and effort to keep your dream home looking the same as it did when you moved into it. The most important thing to remember is to do your homework before applying any material to your logs. Once this process begins, it becomes difficult to change your direction.

Clink may be required to seal the joints in your trunks or you may choose to use it for cosmetic purposes. Chinking is designed to stick out of the wood, so it has a heavy texture. The most common colors used are mortar white and beige.

Almost all log houses require caulking. Usually holes or cracks in wood that are 1/4″ or larger and facing up need to be filled with some type of caulking material. I would recommend a product called Hide Caulk. It is very easy to apply and has a light amount of texture to mimic the grain of wood.In addition, most corners of your home will eventually require log caulking because these areas typically receive the most amount of movement.

Registration spots vary quite a bit and there are quite a few available. I would recommend choosing a stain that is made for log homes. These products will generally hold up better and have a better chance of compatibility with your caulking and sealing materials.

Selecting the correct finishing products to protect your logs is important because they will determine how well your home will hold up. Also, it’s important to remember that you usually get what you pay for. Most good log stains, cabin caulk, and log grinding materials will cost more than your average caulking materials, but will save you money in the long run. Finally, check with your log home manufacturer, builder, application contractor, and finish material supplier regarding the above products. These people should be a good resource for getting the right answers to your tough questions.