Have you ever thought of building and living in your own log homes or log cabins? Well, part of the first things you need to learn is how to do chinking. This job is usually done by contractors or professionals. However, this can also be accomplished by the owners. You just need to have patience and let your artistic skills come out naturally.
Twelve Chinking Techniques
The following guidelines are some techniques on how chinking can be done successfully:
- Before you start the process, monitor the weather condition. There should be no rain forecast for straight seven days once you begin. Examine the wood – it must be clean, dry, and has a 20% moisture level.
- As much as possible, purchase the chinking and the stain from one manufacturer. You have to use compatible materials to avoid unnecessary circumstances as you go on.
- Set up a backing material; may it be a round rod or a flat bead board or anything provided by the manufacturer. It should be installed before chinking to allow the material to spread out like a band. This will let you save money and materials.
- For chinking joints that has a width greater than 1 inch, make use of a loading gun that is bulk size. For width lesser than 1 inch, make use of tubes that are quart size.
- Have a workplace in areas that are shaded and not under direct heat of the sun. This is to prevent formation of blisters.
- Log chinking should also be done only when temperatures are at 40 degrees to 90 degrees Fahrenheit.
- To start with, cover the first 3 inches of the material.
- Continue chinking with the rest of the material, using a putty knife or a trowel. Apply chinking material slowly so it will not be difficult to tool.
- For instances when the material gets cold and will not tool, moisten with a small amount of water; Afterwards you can spread it back easily.
- Obtain the correct adhesion of both top and bottom portion of the joint. This is best done once you apply exact amount of force to your tooling device.
- Also, obtain the accurate deepness of the material at about ½ inch when administering the chinking.
- Make your log chinking project will be quite an unforgettable experience. Think of it as an enjoyment rather than a task. You will then notice you’ll finish more than you expected.
Chinking log homes may not be easy for you at first especially if you’re just doing it on your own. As you move on, you’ll become more than an expert. As your chinking material increases, the more time you’ll have to practice and develop your chinking skills.
