#1 Chinking
Logs and rough-hewn wood are beautiful, natural, and timeless. They're also flexible. They breathe, expanding, shrinking, or shifting with fluctuating temperatures and moisture. When this happens, gaps naturally appear, which can cause warm air to be sucked out of your cabin.
This is where chinking becomes important. Chinking, in layman’s terms, is an extremely strong sealant, like caulk, but created specifically for log cabins and wooden homes. Once it dries, it looks like old-school mortar, keeping in line with your home's aesthetic.
Apply it to the joints on your home and reapply as needed. It’s smart to check your joints annually before winter arrives, look for any new cracks, and apply more chinking where needed.
Product description: Log cabin chinking is a malleable, pliable sealant that is applied between joints on a wooden home where gaps have appeared. It has a textured appearance, like mortar, but is actually a smooth, pure acrylic. It comes in a variety of colors to match your home and works in any climate.
5 Ways To Prepare Your Log Cabin For the Winter
Key Takeaways
- Inspect chinking before winter and repair cracks or gaps that could allow drafts and moisture into your log cabin.
- Clean exterior logs before applying finishes, and check shaded or damp areas for dirt, mold, mildew, and other buildup.
- Check insulation around attics, floors, and other common air-leak areas before temperatures drop.
- Clear gutters and downspouts, direct runoff away from the foundation, and prepare exposed areas for freezing weather.
- Inspect your heating system before winter, including furnaces, flues, and other components that may need service or cleaning.
- Your home is your haven, a place to retreat and relax. A log cabin, when properly built and warmed, is an especially cozy sanctuary. One of the most charming aspects of a log cabin is the natural elements. But those pieces move, letting in cold air and pulling warm air out.
- Prepare your cabin with these five products and tips.
