Caulking or Chinking Your Log Home

Log homes mean caulking or chinking. It is a very popular that gets asked about log home building. Some people even confuse the two. Many times people have commented that they don't like the big white lines of caulk on logs. They actually mean chinking with that comment and it is a common mistake. One difference between them in the region. You will see chinking more in the southern and south eastern regions of the United States. Full log home construction is more popular in those areas. Log style and building methods also will have bearing on caulking of chinking. The northern regions of the U.S. see caulking being much more popular than chinking. I'm in the upper midwest in central Minnesota and in the 11 years I have been a log home dealer I haven't built a log home with chinking yet. Log home caulk such as Log Builder by Sascho is concealer pretty well by a proper installation. It is a narrower bead than chinking and is applied on all horizontal and vertical joints. Both chinking and caulk are made in different colors so they can be blended a bit but all said and done, caulk won't be as visible. With either process, proper surface prep and application is important. When caulking make sure all the logs are clean first. Large gaps and cracks will need backer rod so fill in as necessary with that. From there apply the caulk to all joints working with small areas at a time. Run the bead down the log(s) then go back with a 1" wide foam brush. Get the brush wet and tool out the bead of caulk before it cures. If the brush is too wet you will get water running down the log. If the brush is too dry the caulk will start sticking to it. Keep a rag handy and wipe off any excess that builds up on the brush. Caulking is very important so take the time to do it properly if you are doing it yourself or hire the job out to a professional. Ask the log home company you are working with if they offer either or both caulk and chinking and if it is included in their log home package they offer.

Things To Ask Your Log Home Company

I was talking with one of my log home customers yesterday. We have been working together for about two years and they are getting closer to building so are at the stage of getting serious about a final plan. Yesterday I realized that n all of our talks of log home packages, log home pricing, log home plans and builders it seems they have been taking great notes. Over the course of time things have fallen in place and it gave me an idea to create a list of things to ask the log home company or log home dealer you are working with.

Below is a list, in no particular order, of items to ask the log home company or companies you are working with:

-How long have they been in business
-Have they built any log homes near where you will be building
-Log styles: Half log, full log, "D" log, double round log or square log as well as corner options
-Do they have local log home builder support in your area
-If no local builder do they have a traveling builder that is familiar with their product
-Are they willing to customize plans
-Will they provide a list of what is included in their log home package
-Will they also specify things that aren't included and need to be supplied by the builder
-What is their policy if you end up a bit short on materials while building
-Do the plans and specs meet the local codes for where you will be building
-Are there models available for viewing
-Can they supply you a list of references to call
-Are they or the builder willing to do a site visit ahead of time to help with your planning
-Are they up front with all costs. Hidden costs are not fun
-Do they include shipping to your site
-Do they ship all the log home materials at once or are the shipments staged until needed onsite
-Is there a lender or two they can recommend that they have worked with before

Log profiles and corner styles

One of the decisions you are going to have to make will be which log style to go with. Most of the log home companies that offer a milled log usually offer more than one log profile. The three basics are square, "D" log and double round. Square logs are just that. They are flat on all sides and easy to work with. "D" logs are flat on the inside and round on the outside. A "D" log is perfect for the people that want full log but don't want the round look look on the interior. Double round logs are round on both the interior and exterior. Each log home company mills their logs different so some "D" and double round logs may or may not have a flat spot on the top and bottom sides of the log. Some will offer their round profile logs with a peeled option. The peeling gives the log a more rustic look and may be done either by hand or machine depending on which log home company you are working with. Coped logs such as Swedish cope is another log option that would be considered as a double round log. Another feature that you may notice with full logs will be a tongue and groove joining system. Again, this varies from log home company to log home company. A tongue and groove system on the logs is one more barrier between the exterior elements and the interior of the log home. As the logs are stacked, the log home builder will run a bead or two of caulk and foam weather strip between each course of log. One draw back is the tongue and grooves will be visible on the ends of the logs. For the logs that don't have the tongue and groove the builder usually will route a groove on the top of the logs in the field and fill it with foam weather strip and add caulk on either side of that groove. There are several different types of corners available for milled log homes. Saddle notch, Swedish cope, butt and pass, dovetail and vertical log corners are some of the more popular options.  The photos below illustrate the different log corners.  All of these corner options are excellent choices but all may not be offered from one log home company. Also, one may be more popular than others in a region. In the upper midwest, very few log homes are built using Dovetail corners as an example. Log profiles and corner options are only two of the many differences between log home companies and their differences in log home packages and related pricing.

Photo of a Butt and Pass Log Corner

Photo of a Dovetail Log Corner

Photo of a Saddle Notch Log Corner

Photo of a Swedish Cope Log Corner

Photo of a Vertical Log Corner

New Page Added to Log Home Packages and Prices Website

I added a page to the Log Home Packages and Prices website this morning. I figured I'd break down what a typical log home package should include. Alot of confusion out there about log home packages and what they include or don't include. Make sure you get at least a weather tight shell. Too many include building materials but no windows and exterior doors. Also, ask about shipping costs. That could be a deal breaker. Log home packages vary widely so it is up to you to sort it out.

Half Log or Full Log Construction?

OK...you have researched log home packages and prices, attended a log home show and or seminar, toured a model or two and now its time to think more on the plan and construction. Some log home companies only offer full log and some only offer half log. You know what the answer will be if you ask those log home company which one is better. On the other hand, some log home companies offer both half log and full log options. Before I go on, I want to clarify that I am talking about milled logs here, not large diameter hand scribed/handcrafted log homes.

Energy efficiency always comes up as a question. Both styles are very efficient and can pass energy audits required for building permits in the northern states. Log diameter will come into play for the northern climates. It may be hard to get a six inch diameter log to pass in some areas but eight inch and larger are just fine. As you dig into the full log vs. half log decisions you will find that full log construction is only for the first floor walls. The upper level and garages are all framed with matching half log or another type of wood siding in those areas. Regardless of which style you go with, there are still areas that need to be insulated such as the rim, gables, second floors and roof system. More and more are going with spray foam insulation. Spray foam insulation coupled with log makes for a very energy efficient home for all climates.

Budget is another consideration for half log or full log homes. I suggest taking a quick minute and picture yourself inside your completed home. Do you picture all the perimeter walls as log? If you do, then full log construction may be the way to go. To frame the home, add the half log on the exterior then insulate and cover the interior of the perimeter walls can add alot to the budget. It can be a considerable savings at that point to build full log. If you want just the great room walls to have interior log on them then you are more than likely at the break even point. If you are fine with a mix of knotty pine and/or drywall then half log construction can save a few dollars on the overall budget. Keep in mind most full log homes have just the exterior walls as log with interior and partition walls framed. That still gives you the option to break it up with some drywall and knotty pine. Some are afraid of having "too much wood" and shy away from full log without realizing the interior walls are framed.

The full log or half log home decision is only yours to make. Neither is better in my opinion so go with what feels right for you and you will be on your way to enjoying your own log home.

Log Home Shows, Open Houses, Seminars and Webinars

A common way of researching log home companies is to attend a log home show. Log home shows are a great way to meet several log home companies and reps under one roof. It can get confusing and overwhelming because each company has their own take on packages, log styles, half log or full log and more so you really have to sort out what is right for you and go from there. If it is getting to be too much, go take a break from it for a bit. There is always log home furnishing companies at these shows as well so they offer a great break from the log home research. It is always entertaining to look at the rustic cabin decor. There are usually seminars throughout the day at the shows as well. They cover many different topics and I suggest you attend one or more. Most log home companies as well as log home dealers have models available for viewing. There usually will be a monthly open house or two as well as the opportunity to view the model by appointment. Alot of log home dealers work this way being they use their own home as their model and office. A model visit is a great way to see the product and get a feel for what their log home package includes and looks like. Ask the rep as many questions as you can and don't forget a camera. You may see something you really like and it always helps to have a photo of it so you remember it later. Alot of log home companies are offering webinars. These are online seminars that are usually free of charge. They cover many helpful topics relating to log home planning to kitchens to landscaping ideas. You can log in to a webinar right from home so you don't have to travel anywhere to attend! It is always nice to research from the comforts of home!