ON WHAT TYPE OF HOME DOES PERMA-CHINK LOG HOME CHINKING WORKS BEST?
By Tony Huddleston, VP of Sales and Operation, Perma-Chink Systems
Perma-Chink was designed to eliminate the undesirable results often obtained by using older less successful methods of wood slabs, mud, and cement types of chinking, as basically they did not work well over the long haul. So it became a constant worry or job to re-chink or repair the failing products. Most of the products used did not have any degree of flexibility or they did not adhere to wood that well. The results were cracking cement caused by the stress of the logs shifting or shrinking. The resulting failure often allowed separation between the chinking and the log surface allowing water intrusion, and possibly early wood decay.
So as for a particular type of home, yes Perma-Chink is designed for any home that incorporates a specific joint design where it could be employed. For example; the large timber square logs that use a dovetail system as seen throughout the Eastern United States, as well as the large handcrafted round logs from the Western part of the United States. These homes were designed to be chinked from the start.
HOW HAS LOG HOME CHINKING CHANGED OVER THE PAST DECADE?
I think it’s important to interject another fact regarding log homes. Not only has the formulations of Perma-Chink changed over the years, so has the entire log home industry. Many people think log homes are still being cut by someone with a pickup truck and a chainsaw, working from a drawing on piece of cardboard.
Today’s log home are engineered structures designed and approved by architects and require approval by various build codes in given areas. They are high-quality structures designed and manufactured by professionals using computer programmed tools and equipment to create structures that are built to stringent specifications. These homes are designed to require less maintenance, last longer and to provide a sound investment for your money. They are not just log cabins anymore, they are log homes.
Perma-Chink was the first synthetic chinking produced in 1981, there have been many significant changes made in formulations to improve the adhesion, flexibility, and longevity. Early formulations were lacking in elongation and freeze-thaw stability which resulted in performance issues and storage and application concerns.
Today’s Perma-Chink offers excellent qualities in all areas to meet the needs of the industry. Application can be accomplished in a much wider range of temperature extremes with little or no worries about product performance. There have also been additions to the color palette of the products keep up with the homeowner’s desire to mix and match shades and hues of today’s finishes.
WHO CAN APPLY LOG CHINKING PROPERLY? A DIYER OR A PRO?
Basically anyone can apply Perma-Chink properly if they follow instructions. Some homeowners attend workshops or seminars to learn how, should they choose to apply the product themselves. But in today’s busy environments, some homeowners choose to use the services of trained contractors as the design of their dream home may require the use of specialized equipment such as lifts or scaffolding and a trained contractor can usually shorten the time required to accomplish the job.
Therefore the homeowner can tend to the other necessities involved to get moved in, and sometimes there are just not enough hours in the day for the homeowner to do this.
