Do-it-yourself caulking log house technology nuances. Do-it-yourself caulking log house technology and tips. Do I need to caulk a log house and why

To get rid of the gaps between the crowns and close the cracks formed during the shrinkage of the log house, caulking is carried out: this is the only way heat will be retained inside the log house. For work, you can use various materials, but the technology is the same. How to properly caulk a log house? What is better to use for this?

What is the best way to caulk a log house? The work can be done using both natural and artificial materials. The latter are much more convenient to use, and the process takes very little time, but they have several significant drawbacks.

natural

These include moss, tow, jute, lnovatin, hemp and others.

Moss

Caulking a log house with moss has been performed for a long time, and even with the advent of modern materials he was not abandoned. This is due to its unique properties: it not only retains heat well, tolerates sudden temperature changes, removes excess moisture without rotting, but also has antimicrobial and even healing properties.

Tow

Technology using tow is considered one of the most difficult. In the process of drying the log house, the material will become damp, which will begin to rot over time. Therefore, after drying at home or a bath, the old tow is cleaned, and then the caulking of the log house is performed again.

Jute

Moisture-resistant, environmentally friendly and durable material that retains heat well. Due to its ability to absorb moisture, it has a rather short service life (about 3 years). Worn-out jute is not easy to remove from the gaps between the crowns, so it is rarely used.

There are several types of material:

1. Jute tow. In the production of this type of insulation, the fibers are combed to give them the desired direction. The tow obtained in this way retains all the properties of jute, however, the finished material is not very convenient for work: it is rigid, and at the same time not too dense. The process of caulking when using the material becomes more complicated - it is necessary to carry out work in several stages (during the initial laying, the desired degree of density cannot be achieved).
2. Linen jute. Mixed material consisting of an equal amount of linen and jute fibers. It is popular among builders, but needs protection from insects: before use, it is treated with moth and rotting agents.
3. Jute felt. Composed of 90% jute and the remaining 10% flax fiber, the material has the right density for the job, but at the same time retains flexibility. The ease of use of felt makes it an optimal choice. When buying a material, you should choose one whose fibers are longer than 2 cm - it is more elastic and flexible. The only drawback is that moths can damage it, so the felt is treated with a special protective impregnation before laying.

Lnovatin

Material for protection against insects is subjected to chemical treatments, so it cannot be called environmentally friendly. The service life of the insulation is up to 3 years, it is attached to the log house with the help of a construction stapler.

Synthetic

The use of ready-made compounds - sealants - will cost significantly more than if you caulk a log house with tow. However, they are much easier to work with. Usually, in order to reduce the consumption of a synthetic agent, it is used together with a natural one (for example, a cord). First, the cord is closed in the gap, and a sealant is applied on top, leveling the layer with a scalpel blade.

Among the disadvantages of sealants:

1. A number of synthetic products are destroyed by the action of sunlight - over time, it begins to crumble and falls out. To protect the substance from deterioration, strips are installed on the seams that protect the sealant from ultraviolet radiation.
2. After drying, some compounds harden into a dense solid mass, due to which the wood that contracts and expands depending on humidity and air temperature begins to collapse. It is recommended to use only elastic sealants.

Methods for caulking the walls of a house or bath

Caulking and insulation of the log house can be done in two ways:

1. In a set. Suitable for wide gaps. For work, they take jute, tow or hemp. The selected material is divided into strands, wound into a ball.
2. In stretch. In this case, the heat-insulating material is divided into tapes, hammered into the slots.

General rules

Primary caulking of a house from a bar is carried out approximately 6 months after assembly. During this period, most of the moisture contained in the beam will disappear, cracks will appear on the tree, and cracks will appear in the structure itself.

The next time the work will need to be carried out another year later. At this point, the building will finally sit down, and it will be necessary to eliminate the cracks and crevices that have arisen over the past months.

If everything is done correctly, the third time will be needed only after 5 years. However, if the technologies are not followed, the need to eliminate gaps may occur annually. In order for the caulking of a house from a bar to be done correctly, it is worth watching a video with the advice of experienced craftsmen.

1. Work starts from the bottom. The lower crown is sequentially caulked around the entire perimeter from the outside, after that - inside the log house. After that, they move on to the next, acting in the same way.
2. Usually the largest gaps are formed at the corners, so caulking should be especially careful in these places.
3. First, the material is fixed in a slot in a section of about 1 m, then the hanging parts are folded in and tucked in. Using a mallet, the insulation is tightly hammered into the slot until the material begins to spring. When everything is done, move on to the next section.

Caulker with moss

For work you will need:

• pre-dried moss;
• water;
• soap;
• vegetable oil.

Work order:

1. 200 g of soap and 0.5 l of oil are added to a bucket of water. Mix thoroughly.
2. Dry moss is placed in the prepared liquid. Wet fibers will become elastic.
3. They take a strand of material, twist it into a roller, insert it into the slot. Well tamped.
4. Using a spatula and a mallet, the insulation is tightly hammered into the gap.

For the primary caulking of a log house from a bar with the help of moss, it is recommended to use the “stretching” method, all subsequent ones - the “set-up” method.

The use of tow

In the insulation of this type, insects can start over time, and in order to protect it, the tow should be treated with a disinfectant.

Need to prepare:

• tow;
• formalin (it will act as an antiseptic);
• water.

Caulking a house from profiled timber using tow takes place in 4 stages:

1. Formalin is diluted with water to obtain a disinfectant solution.
2. All prepared tow is placed in it and left for half an hour.
3. After removing and squeezing the material, they drive in the tow divided into ribbons using the “stretching” method. The insulation is rammed with a spatula and a mallet to achieve maximum packing density.

Caulking jute

This material is laid using the “set-up” method.

Depending on which type of material is selected, you will need:

• jute itself;
• bitumen or resin (for felt jute);
• formalin (for jute tow).

Work order:

1. Tow is soaked in formalin solution.
2. The material is folded into strands, the slots of the lower crown are filled with it.
3. Using the tool, push the hanging edges.
4. Using a groove, align the position of the insulation layer.

Important! When processing the area around the chimney pipe, about 3 cm of the surface must be left untouched.

Caulking with sealant

caulk log house using sealant is the fastest. To work, you will need synthetic material, a cord for filling gaps, a special spatula for leveling seams (you can take a narrow spatula), a mounting gun.

Buildings from logs take their origins from ancient times. Wood is the warmest material for building a house or bath. In addition, it is natural, safe and environmentally friendly.

But after the construction of the building, it is necessary to perform another very important procedure - to caulk the log cabin. Why should this be done?

• firstly, caulking insulates the house (bath) properly;
• secondly, it fills the gaps between the logs, that is, it creates comfort, warmth in your home in any frost;
• thirdly, it prevents the penetration of dampness and moisture into the building.

In the old days, log cabins were caulked with moss. At that time it was the most reliable and available material to insulate your home.

See also: How aluminum foil is used to insulate a bath

AT modern world the range of heaters that can be used for caulking a log house has expanded greatly. This includes such materials:

1. Red moss. It was used in the old days, but even now it remains an excellent insulation for a log house. It is good because it does not rot, and also has excellent antibacterial qualities. But there are several negative points: with its excessive moisture, the wood rots. And when overdried, it breaks and crumbles.
2. Tow. The log house is very good for caulking because it is an excellent material for thermal insulation. Consists of hemp and flax waste. Tow, like moss, prevents decay.
3. Felt. It cannot be called the best option for a caulk. Because it has the lowest strength and the highest probability of decay. It also needs to be impregnated. special tool to prevent the appearance of moths, which are likely to settle in layers of felt.
4. Jute. A material that can be safely called one of the best for caulking. It is high-strength, dense, resistant to decay and moths. It has low hygroscopicity. Thanks to caulking with jute, an optimal microclimate will be maintained in the house. It does not accumulate moisture, but gives it away when the wood dries up.

But do not confuse jute with jute fiber. They are completely different in appearance, price and quality. Jute tape is soft to the touch and very pliable. It is convenient to use it for caulking near doors and windows. Sometimes it is laid on damp bars.

Jute ribbons can be found in skeins of different thicknesses and widths. Most craftsmen prefer jute caulking because it is the easiest and cleanest way to insulate a log house. And since it is laid directly on the frame, the work proceeds much faster.

1. Lnovatin. This modern material is made from linen threads or fibers without the use of weaving. Its characteristics are very similar to jute tape, but slightly stiffer in structure.

Caulking is often done by hand. This is done in 2-3 stages. And this process can be considered very important in the construction of a house or a bath.

The first time caulking is made immediately after the assembly of the house. But for the seams to be airtight, the first insulation is not enough. After a small amount over time, a log structure dries up and sags. As a result, new holes appear. AT winter time heat escapes through them, and outside or inside the building is covered with frost. And excessive moisture is not good for a wooden structure.

Therefore, after 1-1.5 years after the beam dries up and sags, it is necessary to re-caulk. The third time they caulk the log house immediately before finishing the walls, when the house is completely dry and sits down, after about 3 years.

How to caulk a log house

Caulking a log house can be done in two ways: stretched and in a set.

1. Stretch caulking. If narrow gaps prevail on the log house, then it is better to use the stretching method in this case. It is performed as follows: a gap is covered with a bundle of tow, and stuffed inside with a chisel-caulk, until the entire space is filled. At the same time, the edge of four to five centimeters is left free. A roll rolled from tow is wrapped with a free edge. Intertwining, it is hammered between the crowns with a hammer and a caulk. The quality of the work done can be checked by pulling lightly on the roller. If it doesn't stretch, then it's a job well done. If pulled out, then the gap is not filled enough.
2. Caulking into a set. If there are large and wide gaps in the structure, the “set-up” method is performed. Its essence lies in the fact that the cracks are filled with tow, long bundles wound into a skein. In this case, the thickness of the loop is approximately the same in size as the gap. First of all, the top of the gap is clogged with a sealer with a type-setting caulk, and after that everything is leveled with the help of a “road builder”.

It must be remembered that it is necessary to carry out the caulking correctly, starting from the lowest crown around the entire perimeter, gradually rising up. And this procedure is carried out in parallel outside and inside. Because if you carry out the caulking of one wall, then the structure can be deformed. The same will happen if you caulk only outside.

It is also necessary to remember that it is not necessary to carry out any finishing work inside until the caulking is completed.

See also: How to make forced ventilation in the bath

Particular attention should be paid to caulking cracks in the corners of the house.

If you carefully select the material for the caulk, do all the work correctly, then your log house will serve you for a long time and will delight you. Happy building!

How can you caulk a log house
Moss
Jute
Tow
At what stage can you start caulking a bath
How to calculate tow for a bath
Caulking technology

Just laying a log house during the construction of a bath is not enough - you will definitely need to caulk the bath, that is, close the existing cracks and cracks formed after the wood has dried.

How to caulk a bath will be discussed in this article.

The caulk of the log cabin of the bath is needed so that it loses a minimum of heat. It is very important to use a well-prepared log house, lay it correctly and do not forget to lay interventional insulation.

What to choose as a heater - moss, tow or jute, is up to the owner to decide, but it must be mandatory.

The insulation is placed in two layers in this way:

• on the lower crown so that the edges of the insulation extend beyond the edges of the bowl by 30-50 mm, while the width of the insulation is determined with the expectation of 50-100 mm more than the width of the bowl;
• the second layer of insulation is placed in the bowl of the upper crown, while its edges should also protrude by 30-50 mm.

It should be borne in mind that when laying moss or tow, tapping such material is not required.

If it is tapped with a hammer or an ax handle, the moss fibers are torn, and dents appear on the surface of the tree, which after some time can cause rotting zones. It is recommended to compact the fibers only by pressing with the palm of your hand. Extra elements in the moss just need to be removed.

If, deciding on the better to caulk the log cabin of the bath, the choice fell on tape insulation, then you can fix it with a construction stapler.

In this case, it is important how to pierce the bath, as you can harm the material.

Damage to the wood from the stapler will be minor, but this will allow the material to gain a foothold. It is best to lay out the insulated crowns together, so that the log can be taken from both sides and slowly lowered without damaging the insulation.

How can you caulk a log house

There are natural materials for caulking and artificial.

The first include tow, hemp, jute, moss, and so on. To the last - industrial sealants. Sealants are easier to work with and apply quickly. As a rule, in order to reduce their consumption, a cord is laid in the interventional gap, and the sealant, which is distributed with a special spatula before solidification, is already applied on top of it.

However, sealants have a number of disadvantages:

• Some brands are afraid of exposure to ultraviolet rays - this leads to their destruction. This drawback can be eliminated by hiding the sealant seams under the slats.
• Some of them, after hardening, create a monolithic material that interferes with the expansion or contraction of wood, for example, due to weather, which can lead to the destruction of nearby fibers.

  To prevent this fact, it is better to purchase elastic sealants.

You can learn more about how to operate with a sealant by viewing the available video material. A simple tablespoon is perfect for distributing the sealant.

If, when determining how to caulk a bath, you chose a sealant, then carefully study the instructions and make sure that it can be used with exactly the type of wood from which your log house is made, that it is suitable for your region, and also has all the necessary characteristics.

It is advisable to use a synthetic sealant for a log bath if it is used to close caulked cracks. After double caulking the log house with tow, moss or jute, they wait until the log house finally sits down and acquires working dimensions.

Each of the materials of natural origin for caulking has its own positive and negative qualities, and preparatory measures are required in any case.

Moss

Moss is considered the most common, time-tested material for caulking. It has been used for hundreds of years. Currently, there are many other materials, but they all have slightly worse characteristics. True, new materials are easier to operate, moreover, they have such positive qualities as antibacterial properties and special resistance to decay.

Before caulking a log cabin from a log with moss, it must be dried, and right before use - soaked. This action will give the moss fibers elasticity. The moss is laid out in a layer and leveled so that its ends hang down from both sides of the timber. After laying out all the logs, the excess moss fibers are shortened, and what remains is wrapped and set into the cracks.

Thus, the first stage of caulking the log house is carried out. Further stages of caulking will continue after half a year and a half.

Jute

Recently, builders are increasingly wondering how to caulk a bathhouse with jute. With what is meant roll material. Jute fiber has excellent thermal insulation properties, it contains natural binder resins. Jute is practically not afraid of moisture, and very rarely becomes unusable due to decay.

Even under conditions high humidity he doesn't get wet.

Jute comes in several varieties:

• jute tow.

  During the production of this material, the fibers are not torn, but combed, aligning them in the right direction. Such preparation of the material allows them not to lose all their properties. However, jute is not very convenient for caulking, because it is hard, has a low density, caulking has to be done several times due to shrinkage of the material, the impossibility of obtaining a tight seam the first time and pulling it away by birds to nests.

• jute felt.

  This material is based on 90% torn jute fiber, and is complemented by 10% long fibers from flax. The result is a dense and flexible material that is much easier to work with. But if it has a short fiber length, it can stray and fall out. When choosing jute, it is worth choosing a material with a fiber length of at least 20 mm to obtain maximum elasticity. Short material will not have the desired properties, it will either fall out or be blown out by the wind.

  Another disadvantage is the fact that moths can start in it. In this regard, it is recommended to impregnate such material before laying with a composition from moths and from decay.

• Flax jute. It is a composite tape material, half of which is made up of soft flax fibers, and the remainder is hard jute fibers.

  This material is of interest to many builders, but it also has disadvantages, such as a tendency to rot and moth damage. That is, like the previous material, this one also needs to be treated with mixtures against decay and pests.

Tow

This material is a waste generated after the primary processing of natural fibers.

Caulking of logs is carried out with jute, hemp and linen tow. The properties and quality of such a material is determined by the feedstock, the length of the fibers and the level of their purification. In the production of tow is pressed into blocks. To use it, you need to pull out a strip of material from the block, twist it into a bundle and lay it in a seam.

Although, it is easier to use tow sold in rolls.

In general, it is not very convenient to work with tow, as it is very difficult to get an even seam. When caulking a log house, due to the high rigidity of the material, it is difficult to get a tight seam from the first approach. You have to repeat the process.

If you determine how to properly caulk a bath, choosing between moss and jute tow, then you can say with confidence that it is better to choose moss, since fungus and bacteria do not breed in it.

At what stage can you start caulking a bath

If the frame was laid on moss or tow, parts of material of various lengths protrude between the crowns.

In this case, you can proceed to the initial caulking: cut off the excess fibers, hide the rest in the seams. It is worth being careful and not rushing, adhering to the rules of caulking. If the log house was laid on a tape insulation, then further operations are not needed.

The first caulk is carried out somewhere 6 months after the erection of the walls of the log house. During this period, almost all moisture will leave the logs, new cracks will be visible, and most of the crowns and corners will sit down.

After that, you can begin to install doors and windows.

Further caulking is carried out after 12 months.

During this time, the log house will completely settle, so that you can eliminate all the flaws found. Based on the selected material, the quality of the work performed, a new caulk may be needed somewhere in 5 years. Sometimes, due to careless construction works or, if no insulation was laid between the crowns, the caulking has to be repeated several more times, every year.

How to calculate tow for a bath

Before you caulk the bath with tow, you should decide on the amount you need. The tow compresses quite well, so it is consumed quite heavily. Probably no one can say the exact number. This is because a lot of nuances affect this: the material of the log house, what grooves are cut in them.

If the grooves were made by hand, then, often, the tow consumption will be large.

In addition, the consumption increases if a skinned log was used, and not rounded. Less material will be left on the beam, although in this case its amount will be determined by the parameters of the beam, the depth and the number of slots that have arisen during the drying process.

Caulking technology

Before caulking the log cabin of the bath, you need to study the basic rules of this process.

In fact, caulking a log house is quite easy, but it takes a lot of time, and besides, you need to be patient. For a bath with dimensions of 5 × 4 m, one person will need about 10 days, spending 7-8 hours daily.

At the same time, one should not overdo it when laying the insulation, since this fact leads to the fact that the log house becomes 15 cm higher or more.

The main rules of caulking include the following points:

• First of all, they proceed to the lower crown, moving around the entire perimeter.

  First, the outer part of the building is processed, after which they proceed to the process of caulking from the inside. Only then can you move on to the next crown.

• When caulking, special attention should be paid to the corners, because in such places, as a rule, there are the largest gaps.
• If this is the initial caulk, then first of all, sagging material is selected, folded over and stuffed into the slot.

  The better to caulk a log house

  You can use any tool as needed. The process is carried out in stages - after the meter is processed, they move on to the next section.

• On the same site, you can use a caulk, a hammer or a wooden mallet, the latter is much easier to work with. The caulk is beaten off until it begins to spring.
• Following the compaction process, gaps may appear into which fragments of insulation are inserted. If tow was used, a bundle of a certain thickness is rolled from it or a fragment of a specific length is disconnected from the tape, which is also driven in with a caulk and a mallet until a springy effect is achieved. This operation is repeated until all the slots are filled, after which you can move on to a new section.

Like any other part of construction work, caulking requires certain skills from the master.

Based on the fact that there will be quite a lot of such procedures, after a while they will definitely form with you. Over time, with which you will accumulate experience, you will notice all the new inaccuracies that were made on early stages works.

You can easily eliminate them, bringing the work almost to the ideal. Actually, the one who does nothing does not make mistakes, therefore it is possible to caulk a log house with the proper quality even without sufficient experience.

As for the caulking of a log house made of logs, there are advantages and disadvantages. It would seem that the frame is also made of wood, what could be the differences, except for its picturesque appearance and simplicity in the design process. The fact is that round logs of log cabins are more susceptible to the influence of environmental factors than log cabins from ordinary logs, since the structure and integrity of the logs are broken.

Caulking of log cabins from logs does not differ significantly in technology from the insulation of ordinary log cabins with tow, but there are still some differences:

1. Since rounded logs go almost perfect shape, between them there are small gaps, unlike conventional log cabins.
2. For a log house made of logs, you will need much less insulation for caulking, which is an indisputable advantage.
3. The process of caulking log cabins from rounded logs is more complicated than caulking conventional log cabins, since the gaps between the logs are smaller and thinner and they need to be well insulated by carefully laying tarred tow or modern acrylic-rubber-based sealant.
4. In the process of caulking a log house from rounded logs, it is necessary to have extensive experience in this type of work, since, taking into account the minimum dimensions of the seams, there is a high risk of overfilling the interventional insulation, and this can lead to a warp of the log house.

   Therefore, it is best to invite a professional for this work. After carrying out a high-quality caulking of a log house made of rounded logs, a roller of insulation - jute tape or flax wool, should look like punching with a linen rope or jute rope.

When caulking, special attention should be paid to the joints between rounded logs, since the most vulnerable places in such log cabins are the joints between logs in corner locks.

If they are poorly caulked, in winter they may arise due to this big problems associated with heat loss.

How to properly caulk a log house

Small, at first glance, corner joints and cracks will penetrate cold air, significantly lowering the temperature in the house, and it is quite difficult to identify such places. That is why such stringent requirements are imposed on the caulking of a log house made of logs.

Even the smallest cracks and crevices should be clogged with insulation to the maximum tightly and efficiently, and caulking should be done not only outside, but also inside the log house. Although, in high-quality logs there are almost no gaps left, neither outside nor inside.

The most optimal for a log house made of rounded logs is considered to be “roller” caulk, since its quality and efficiency are much higher. To check how well it is carried out, it is enough to determine its rigidity.

It should be hard to the touch and impossible to pull out with your hands, even if you try very hard. If the caulk has passed this test, it means that the work has been carried out with a really high quality, the house will retain heat well, and even with temperature changes, the insulation will not dry out and fall out.

The biggest advantage of log cabins is that after professional caulking, the house does not require any additional insulation.

Wood has long been known for its excellent thermal insulation properties, but for the full experience of warmth, a village must work hard.

It is necessary to carefully close the cracks between the logs of the log, thereby isolating the rooms from the icy ice.

How to make a log house

Unfortunately, without this additional procedure, it is impossible to achieve a normal microclimate in a wooden house.

Our ancestors invented effective method fight against uninvited "windy" guests. To do this, record the rope with your own hands: after the trailer structure in the house of the room is tightly packed with natural-based insulating material (such as moss, hemp, yarn).

Then wooden cottage was completely protected from the weather, and the heat-insulated seams adequately played the role of a protective "jacket".

So far, the ancient technology is still in the process, only the tools and materials to work have been improved.

The builders systematized this process by developing two algorithms for constructing poles.

Is it always necessary to remove the frame?

Wooden housing construction is now much easier because workers do not manually pre-treat the log and do not receive sanded, dry and adapted building material sizes. Whereas an agrarian family used to take several years on a log layout, a modern, elegant eco-house literally grows within a few weeks.

Let's take a look at all the building methods wooden house in a wooden house and indicate whether each of them needs manure.

• Windshield wipers from hand magazines

It's an old way to build wooden house, which is still popular among enthusiastic fans of antiquity.

Its complexity lies in the long and problematic selection of approximately the same thick trees and subsequent manual adjustment of the required size.

Not many people choose such "hard work", but in the end, they get a replica of an old Russian farmhouse.

Masters involved in logging should have a good knowledge of all carpentry work.

Traditionally, on the outside of the house, the façade remained undulating, but for the interior walls, the beams were processed so that the rooms had smooth smooth surfaces.

During construction, workers are forced to constantly compensate for curtain wall distortion due to non-flying billet shapes. A number of repairs and features form a natural material that results in the interior allowing for increased shrinkage (up to 25%!), so they must be particularly accurate with insulation gaps.

Konopatka's diary is held twice and, if possible, even three times: for the first time - immediately after the construction of another - 1-1.5 years after the preservation of the field building, and the third - 3 years after the completion of construction.



• Round beam logs

The sticks used during operation are installed at the factory.

On lathes, the workpiece is fastened with a fastening mechanism, and then crushed by a treadmill to a certain depth. In addition to the automatic fit, the material is carefully dried and treated with a protective impregnation (against insects, flames and water).

This produces full round logs of the same diameter, in which the collected grooves are often cut to the mill.

Assemble items, easy, no need to constantly adjust the crown to each other, so that the workers involved in the assembly of the house can not be fully skilled in carpentry skills.

Handbag protectors have a rounded diary that has lost its geography. This means that, depending on the perfectly smooth piece, you can't figure out where north is, the more stress-resistant side and some of the stronger layers of wood are lost.

But these flaws are not so painful in reputation building materials, because they provide a record speed for the construction of a wooden house.

This hive is carried out only 1-1.5 years after its conservation, since the building is subject to slight shrinkage (6-8%).

Working slots are carefully covered heat-insulating material, but recycling can be completely avoided (depending on the quality of the substrate used).

• Log house made of laminated veneer

For the construction of a wooden house, special squares are used square shape, consisting of glued lamellas of the same thickness (2-5 pieces). The material is carefully dried and processed during the production process. protective equipment and adhesives with properties that must meet stringent environmental requirements (DIN, EN, 204) and water resistance (level D4).

At the factory, one side of the beam is attached to the sealing surface, and builders only need to seal the log joints.

This greatly speeds up the process of assembling a wooden house, and low-skilled workers can also participate in the construction.

Advice from the master!

Due to small shrinkage values ​​(up to 2%), hulls with glued beams should not get stuck. The building can be immediately occupied, walls, ceilings and floors can be decorated with a decorative protective coating.

Many are already looking at wooden houses in the form of a log house. After all, they look beautiful and quite warm inside. Indeed, during the construction of a building, insulation is laid between the crowns of logs, this gives additional confidence in the quality of the log house.

But several years pass and after the complete shrinkage of the house, all kinds of cracks and crevices appear. This not only makes the house cold, but also spoils appearance. In addition, uncovered cracks are the places where mold and rot will appear first of all, which will later lead to damage to the building.

To prevent this from happening after the shrinkage of the building, the caulking of the log house is carried out. There are several ways of this procedure, depending on the material chosen, in this article we will consider them.

Log Caulking Material

Log cabin caulk can be produced various materials. If during the assembly of the building, insulating jute was used and its ends protrude properly, then this will be enough to perform the necessary manipulations as described below and additional material you won't need.

If no insulation was used during the assembly of the log house or its ends do not protrude from the slots, you will have several options regarding the choice of material.

Most old way this is a caulk of moss. Although it is time-tested, today there are many modern materials that have more best qualities for this purpose.

Tow is also very often used for these purposes. To make the quality of work as good as possible, you need to choose jute tow. It will lay down evenly, and it is easier to work with it.

Caulking with a rope is often used, while it is recommended to use a jute or linen rope.

Recently, the so-called warm seam has been increasingly used. This is the result of new technologies that are rapidly moving especially in the construction industry.

Technology of caulking log house with jute

To perform the caulking we need:

• Small hammer - 300 - 400 gr.
• Chisel 20 mm.
• Caulker blade or wide chisel
• rubber mallet

The caulking of the log house should be done after the building settles and shrinks. Previously, during assembly, a jute insulation must be laid between the crowns. The caulking process consists in turning the jute with a spatula from top to bottom and then compacting it in the groove between the logs. In this case, light blows of the hammer on the shoulder blade are made. You will get a tucked up strip of jute in the form of a rope, which is very practical.

The work is carried out in two stages - the primary caulking and the main one. It should be noted that the caulking of the log house is carried out only after the shrinkage of the house, for this it must stand for at least half a year.

Primary caulking is done without strong compaction, especially in those places where the logs have not yet sat down in their place. In such places, the jute is tucked in without compaction, while making sure that there is room for further shrinkage of the logs. Log cabin caulking, its technology is not very complicated, so we will consider it in detail below.

Caulking is necessarily performed sequentially - from the bottom up. First of all, the lower groove will be caulked along the perimeter of the building, then the second groove, etc. It is important to do everything around the perimeter, otherwise the caulking of a separate wall can cause the building to skew. You also need to consider that the higher we climb, the less we need to seal the grooves with jute. And the uppermost two or three grooves are tucked only with the help of a spatula, without hammer blows, this is done in order to avoid the slightest compaction of the jute.

The fact is that the log house will shrink for at least another five years, so the upper crowns will eventually crush the jute tightly themselves.

In a log house, the ends are the weakest point, due to the cut out bowls, so you need to caulk carefully, without undue effort.

The second caulking, the main one, is carried out together with the finish, where the caulking of the log house is carried out more tightly. It is advisable to carry out this operation no less than one and a half years from the construction of the building. During this time, the log house will shrink almost completely and you, without fear, will be able to install windows and doors, conduct electrics and install plumbing.

Periodically, you need to inspect the log house for cracks, especially after a hot summer. After all, even a small gap can lead to rotting wood.

Video instruction for caulking log house with jute:

This method is not the best today, because there are already many other modern materials that allow you to perform this procedure faster and better. But if you still decide to use moss for caulking, first of all you need to choose it correctly.

So, moss called "cuckoo flax" or it is also called "red flax" is suitable for caulking a log house. It has long fibers, brownish brown, with hints of red. "White moss" is also used, or its correct name is "sphagnum moss". This moss is very soft, like cotton wool. It has excellent antiseptic and bactericidal properties. A wood pest will never start in it, moss also kills all spores of the fungus. Both, these plants are often called building types moss.

During the construction of the log house, it is laid between the crowns of logs as a heater. In the future, using moss, you can caulk it. This is done twice, the first time immediately after assembly, the second after some time has passed when the house shrinks. It can take from one and a half years to two, or even more.

Previously, before caulking, the moss must be dried. And already before the process itself, it must be moistened with water, otherwise it will crumble upon physical contact.

Caulking a bar with moss requires special tools, you will need:

• Kiyanok
• Konopatok

A caulk is a small spatula made from the same wood as the log house. This is done so that upon physical contact with the logs they have the same hardness, which will avoid leaving marks on the log house.

A mallet is a small wooden mallet used to strike a caulk. This allows you to push the moss into the cracks with more force and fill the free space more densely.
As in other technologies, they begin to make caulking from the very bottom, passing the entire perimeter. This approach will avoid the possible distortion of the building. First, the crown passes from the inside, and then from the outside.

If cuckoo flax moss is used, it is formed in the form of a tape up to 10 cm thick, laid parallel to the log and the gap is tightly caulked using the above tools. When used, white moss is fluffed up a little, the laying is done perpendicular to the log, so that the fibers hang down somewhere by 5–10 cm. Then they make a caulk with the same tools.

Caulking log house with a rope

The technology of using a rope for caulking is not much different from the above methods. The only thing to add is that this material should be treated more carefully, because it is used not only for warming the house, but also for decorative design so even slight damage is unacceptable.

Caulking a log house with a rope, stages:

• The places where the rope will be laid must be cleaned and even washed if possible.
• Treat the log house with antiseptic properties, it is desirable that they have fire retardant properties.
• We make a punching rope log using tools. This work is done carefully, make sure that the cord does not twist. Also make sure that the depth of driving is the same everywhere.
• As with other materials, work is carried out from the bottom up around the entire perimeter.
• The undoubted advantage of using jute rope is its decorative component.

Warm seam technology

Before applying this method, the seams where this technology will be applied must be cleaned. Especially if the cracks are painted with varnish or other materials.

Further, viloterm must be laid in cracks and cracks - this is a material in the form of a cord made of foamed polyethylene. Note that the cord should be about a third thicker than the gap. This material not only insulates the log house, but will also reduce the consumption of the sealant used.

The sealant is applied with a gun, and immediately leveled with a spatula. The recommended sealant thickness is 4 to 6 mm. Moreover, the adhesion area with the tree should be at least 4 mm. from each side. The sealant hardens for no more than a day, so at this time it must be protected from precipitation. For this purpose, you can use plastic wrap. Complete hardening of the substance will occur in about 48 hours at a temperature of 23 degrees. After curing, the sealant turns into a rubber-like substance, so your log house will be protected as well as possible.

Now, after complete drying, you can smooth out the seam, remove its excess and paint over with acrylic based paints.

Caulking a log house in this way can only be carried out after shrinkage of the log house. Outside, this work can be done after about a year, and inside the house only after the season with the heating turned on.

This technology has a number of advantages:

It is done only once.

Protects against ingress of water, which prevents the appearance of mold.

Makes your home much warmer.

Resistant to temperature extremes, not afraid of moisture.

It is easy to use, which allows you to significantly speed up the caulking of timber.

A beautiful appearance that allows you to veil even the shortcomings of the building itself.

Wooden houses look beautiful. They are warm, because during construction, insulation is laid between the crowns of logs. But after shrinkage, cracks of various sizes may appear, cracks, which spoils its appearance, makes it cold. In addition, cracks can become a place for the appearance of rot, mold. To prevent this from happening, after shrinkage of the structure, the log house is caulked with moss or other material.

A house, a bathhouse made of logs shrink in the first 2 years after construction. In the first year, the shrinkage of the log house reaches up to 20 cm. This factor should be taken into account when designing a house. This is due to the loss of moisture, drying occurs.

During shrinkage, loose junctions appear in those places where everything was previously airtight. To eliminate this, they resort to caulking. It is necessary to carry out measures to seal the cracks so that there are no heat losses, drafts. These activities are carried out only after shrinkage of the structure.

Cavity sealing material

Material for caulking

Mezhventsovy heater - material for thermal insulation of seams wooden houses. Insulation is often made from natural materials, which are distinguished by their environmental friendliness, the ability to "breathe", which provide sound and heat insulation. To fill the gaps, material is used: tow, felt, mosses (red, white). Each has advantages and disadvantages.

Material type	Characteristics	Advantages	disadvantages
Tow	Used for primary caulking, after shrinkage at home. Made from flax fiber 2 types: in bales, roll (tape). The latter is more convenient for work, better in quality, softer. Before laying, it must be treated with a special antiseptic solution to repel insects that feed on tow fibers and wood.	low thermal conductivity; high absorbency; dries quickly; has bactericidal properties.	not aesthetic appearance after work; labour-intensive installation process
Jute	It is made from linden wood, and is produced in the form of ropes, fibers, tapes of different thicknesses. Apply simultaneously for the first, repeated caulking. More often it is brought from abroad. The material is soft and plastic. Ropes are more convenient to use for work carried out after shrinkage.	strength; maintains a favorable microclimate; does not rot;	quickly caking; short service life.
Moss	These types of mosses are used: sphagnum, cuckoo flax, marsh red. natural material with antiseptic properties. By collecting it yourself in late autumn, you can save money. After collection, it is sorted out, all garbage is removed, slightly dried. It is impossible to dry strongly, otherwise it will break during operation. Moss must be soaked in a special solution before work (0.5 liters of oil and 0.25 kg of laundry soap are added to 10 liters of water) to facilitate styling, but it can not be used with strong moisture either. Sphagnum should be fluffed up a little and placed across the log so that its fibers hang down by 50 mm (they are then hammered into cracks and crevices).	durability; resistance to temperature changes; low thermal conductivity; environmental friendliness; small price; antimicrobial properties; prevents rotting.	pre-treatment required before use; needs protection from birds; hard to find for sale.

Each owner of a log house independently chooses the type of material, taking into account the quality, financial capabilities, and availability of the material.

Caulking technology

Before caulking, the moss is dried. However, before the start of the caulking process itself, it is moistened, otherwise it will crumble in the hands and it will be impossible to do any work with it. Caulking with moss is carried out with special tools: caulking, mallet.

The caulking tool is made from the same wood as the log house. This is done so that the tool and the log have the same hardness upon contact. Then there will be no traces left on the log house. A wooden mallet is used to strike the caulk, which makes it possible to push the moss into the gap with force and fill the space tightly.

Caulking with moss starts from the bottom row, passing along the perimeter. This approach avoids distortions. The crown is completely outside, inside. “Kukushkin len” is formed into 100 mm tapes before use, they are laid parallel to the log, cracks and cracks are closed with special tools. White moss is fluffed up a little before work. Laying is done perpendicular to the log with hanging fibers on both sides of the log by 100 mm, which are then pushed into the slot with tools.

Caulking moss at home from logs is not a difficult job, but it requires care. It is necessary to ensure that the house does not warp, the seams are full, the logs do not fall out, do not come off from each other. What is needed in this matter is perseverance, time, patience.

Caulking a log house with your own hands is a rather complicated and tedious task. This is filling between the timber or logs of the walls of the house with fibrous insulating materials, for example, tow, felt or moss, as well as other heaters.

When erecting the walls of wooden houses, interventional insulation is laid between a beam or a log, but it does not fill all the cracks and spaces. The process of shrinking a new frame lasts long time, about five years, so you need to caulk a wooden house several times. The first time this procedure is carried out immediately after the construction of the log house, the second - after 2-3 years, and the last time it should be caulked about 5 years after construction.

How to properly caulk a log house? Even in such a simple job, newbies often have questions.

Caulking should start from the lower crown of the log house and fill it completely without moving to another crown. Only after finishing the caulking of the lower crown, you should move on to the next one. This rule must be followed if you do not want your walls to warp.

Caulking methods.

Caulking can be done in 2 ways. You should choose the one that suits you best.

• In stretching - the insulating material must be stretched along the fibers and inserted into the slot using a special tool. The gap should be completely filled, but on both sides pieces of tow should be left sticking out by 5 cm. A roller is rolled up from the insulation, wrapped in the remaining ends and stuffed into the gap with a caulk.

• In a set - in this case, from the material wound into a ball, you need to collect loops and seal the gaps with them until they are completely filled. If the spaces between the bars are wide, then this method will suit you better than the previous one.

Particular attention when caulking a log house with your own hands should be given to the corners of the log house. It is inconvenient to work there, so it must be done with special care.

Caulking log house from a bar.

Caulk timber walls follows the perimeter, starting from the bottom. You can't caulk one wall and leave the rest. After all, the beam rises a little and the walls turn out to be of different heights.

When caulking a wooden log house from a bar, it may be that there is no gap at all and it is impossible to insert a heater there. Look from the other side of the gap, from the outside, there is a wide gap.

Caulking log house made of logs.

From the walls erected with the help of an ordinary or rounded timber, the insulating material is very quickly weathered from the outside. Therefore, it is very important to carry out high-quality caulking at home from rounded timber. But you should not overdo it here either, with excessive clogging of the insulation, you can tear the logs apart. First, they are carried out from the outside, and then inside the log house.

Do-it-yourself caulking of a log house of log walls is carried out first from the outside and only then from inner wall. All the walls of the log house should be caulked, otherwise the walls will be skewed. material for log cabin you will need more than for a lumber.

Even, with the subsequent finishing of the external facade of the house, it is necessary to caulk from the outside. This will not only insulate the room, but will not allow moisture to accumulate in the gaps between the walls and rot the logs. So whichever finishing material you didn’t choose, you can’t do without a caulk of a wooden house.

• Jute insulation.

Jute material for insulation is by far the most common insulation that has successfully replaced the traditional tow. Jute is imported from India and China. According to its characteristics, it surpasses all similar materials and at a lower price. Therefore, caulking a log house with jute is an excellent option for warming a house.

Detailed video of the correct caulking: