Caulking and Chinking Your Log Siding Cabin

You have probably seen a white or gray material between log siding and full logs. It was either caulking or chinking or both on a log cabin or log home. In the old days, people used just about anything they could find to serve as caulking and chinking, including:

• Mud and straw
• Mud and stones
• Clay, lime, and sand
• Horse hair or moss
• Pieces of corn cobs
• Sticks and mud

Depending on the climate and income of pioneers, they may have used other materials we have forgotten about. Caulking and chinking have the basic purpose of sealing the cracks to stop airflow and moisture encroachment. Coloring was sometimes added for a decorative touch. If some of it fell out, it was promptly replaced with the same or another material at hand.

What Is The Purpose of Caulking?

Today’s caulking products are superior to the materials the pioneers used. It is a sealant for filling cracks, gaps, nail holes, and other imperfections on the surface of wood. It is applied where moisture can penetrate these areas and/or where hot and cold air leaks can occur.

Moisture can deteriorate wood products and air leaks can change the inside temperature. Here’s where you should apply caulking to stop these two issues:

• Around window trim
• Around door trim
• Around corners
• Other trim boards
• Anywhere else exposed to moisture
• Any place exposed to insects

There are some other places where caulking should not be applied, such as trim boards that sit on top of siding, weep holes in windows, and garage door panels. 

Chinking Explained

Today’s chinking has texture with fine sand that complements wood’s natural surface, unlike caulk that is generally smooth and glossy. Sand adds strength and gives a dull or flat surface to chinking. Like caulking, chinking is a sealant with these differences compared to caulking:

• It is applied to spaces from half an inch to six inches wide
• Caulking is applied to smaller areas typically half an inch wide
• Chinking is used for aesthetic, decorative, and practical purposes
• It keeps moisture and insects out of the wood’s larger imperfections

Cabin Caulking and Chinking: Caulking Products  

Contractors tell us to use caulking that fits the purpose and buy the best quality we can afford. Not all caulking products are the same and you should be familiar with some of the differences. 

Polyurethane is a tougher product for trims but is gooey and more difficult to apply.

Acrylic Latex is easier to apply for a smooth finish and can be cleaned up with water.

Solvent-Based caulks are ideal around gutters because sunlight does not degrade them. 

Silicone is resistant to all the elements and easy to use but it is not as popular as it once was. 

Hybrid caulks have the qualities of both polyurethane and silicone but they cost more.

We recommend Conceal Caulk, Log Builder, Log Jam, Energy Seal-Textured Log Caulk, Big Stretch, Check Mate 2-Log Check Sealant, and Woodsman-Smooth Log Caulk products for your caulking needs. You can choose from available colors that vary with the individual product. 

Cabin Caulking and Chinking: Chinking Products

Chinking may not be needed for log siding cabins, homes, and business buildings. In most cases, it is for aesthetic and decorative appeal to look like pioneer cabins. Most of today’s chinking products are acrylic-based for durability. 

If you want to learn to use a chinking product, practice on a mockup arrangement. Once you can do a good job, it becomes easier if you purchase five-gallon pails and use a bulk-loading gun. If you apply some of it incorrectly or if water or sap is present in the wood, it can blister in the sun. The best all-around product on the market is Perma-Chink Chinking.

Can Caulking and Chinking Be Stained and Sealed?

Some caulking and chinking products can be purchased in a few basic colors. If the color you want is not available, you may be able to stain them to an ideal shade or hue. You should plan on inspecting them fall and spring, clean if needed, and repair any issues. 

Luckily, caulking and chinking can be repaired and replaced with a little practice. It’s best to use a product that is easy to obtain so future repairs will match the initial work. You may need to:

• Remove and replace caulking or chinking that fell out
• Remove and replace split or cracked pieces
• Remove and replace discolored pieces
• Ask for professional help if you lack the necessary skills

Caulking a log siding cabin or home prevents moisture, insects, and air leak problems. Use high-quality products, and they should hold up for a long time.