A Touch Above Painting Contractors, Inc.

Caulking Your Log Home

Caulking your log home correctly and checking it periodically for trouble spots are critical to protect your home's value, save money on your energy bills and to protect you and your loved ones from unwanted guests.

Log Home owners often complain about drafts and water leakage. We have heard some who justify these problems as a nothing more than a nuisance and part of the log home experience. Nothing could be further from the truth. Drafts mean that your heating and cooling dollars are literally being blown away and leaks can create serious structural damage - as well as damage to your furniture, window treatments and flooring.

In some cases, flashing or structural improvements may be necessary to correct your problem, often a good caulking treatment around windows, doors and other trouble spots is all that is necessary. An annual review of your log home's caulk could save you from a long-term major expense.

Less noticeable, but no less important, is a review of your homes exterior walls to find and seal checks in the logs. Checks are the cracks that are formed as the log weathers and shrinks with age. These cracks, especially on the upper half of the log, will collect debris and water, creating the possibilty of water penetration and wood rot. Knotholes, checks and joints where water might collect should be caulked soon after construction and the caulking inspected periodically. As the logs season, caulking may need to be touched up or replaced. We have met people who insist that a properly built log house shouldn't require caulk, however, large timbers and log construction are too variable to permit eliminating caulk altogether.

A Touch Above uses quality products designed for use on log homes. Latex or silicone caulk found at most local hardware stores or home centers do not have the strength or flexibility to handle the demands of large wooden logs. For log home caulking we use a strong, specialized product that simulates the texture and color of the logs, providing a quality seal with an outstanding appearance.