Methods for eliminating gaps between the crowns of a log house, cracks and gaps between logs in wooden houses.

Cracks in logs, gaps between the crowns of a log house and gaps in cups are a fairly common problem with many wooden houses.

Over time, due to the slow evaporation of moisture from the wood structure, the logs in the wall of the house shrink, dry out and form cracks between themselves. These cracks cause the house to lose heat and increase energy costs for its heating. They contribute to the accumulation of moisture between the logs and increase the likelihood of putrefactive formations, and can also be an area for the penetration and reproduction of harmful insects and woodworms.

And just being in a cold house is unpleasant!

It is possible and necessary to seal cracks, crevices and gaps. We will not consider such drastic measures as internal and external cladding log house Indeed, for true connoisseurs of wooden housing construction, this is simply unacceptable, since aesthetics log house will be completely lost. At the same time, dreaming of living in a log house made of logs and having spent a lot of money on the construction of this log house, not everyone will have the desire to “bury” their dream and financial resources behind walls covered with siding, clapboard or just boards. Moreover, paying for this “funeral” will again cost serious money.

The first way is to caulk the cracks and gaps between the crowns of the log house.

Our grandfathers, for example, caulked them with tow and moss. Moreover, this procedure was carried out repeatedly, due to the constant movement of the log house. In Rus' they said: “A good caulker will lift a log house to its crown.”

Nowadays this method is also relevant. The main disadvantage is that the cost of performing these works is very high, and it is difficult to find real professionals who will carry them out with full responsibility, and not just stuff the tow haphazardly. It is also necessary to take into account that the log house will have to be caulked at least twice.

The second method is to seal and insulate the gaps using the “warm seam” technology.

Today construction market offers a wide range of different options to choose from insulating materials. However, most of them, having proven themselves well in static connections, are of little use for moving wooden structures.

Our Team is ready to offer you the service of eliminating cracks, cracks and gaps between logs in wooden houses, using new technologies and materials. They fully take into account the characteristics of wood and are specially designed for these purposes. The elasticity and flexibility of the materials we use, unique for inanimate nature, make it possible to easily eliminate cracks in wood and gaps between logs, regardless of how long the shrinkage of the house continues. They have good adhesion to wood, vapor permeability (breathe), but at the same time effectively resist moisture, high and low temperatures, and UV radiation, without losing their properties for many years.

Thanks to the technologies we offer, your wooden house will significantly increase its energy-saving functions and become much warmer. We will eliminate entry points for moisture and cold, as well as insects. The house will become more efficient at saving your heat, but at the same time will continue to “breathe” as before. Its aesthetic characteristics will also improve.

Non-destructible technology for home insulation, due to gentle methods of introducing sealant, is an important feature of our service. Not only the wood is not disturbed, but also your usual way of life!

The very principle of insulating inter-crown gaps is widely used in the West. Distinctive feature Our company is that in our work we use domestically produced materials that are not inferior in their characteristics to imported analogues, but at the same time are much cheaper. At your request, the color of the material can be matched to the tone of the wood or with a different shade. A description of the material is presented on our website in the useful articles section.

All materials we offer have certificates of compliance with sanitary, epidemiological, hygienic and fire safety requirements of regulatory documents in force in the Russian Federation.

This technology can be used both on a “freshly cut” house, to eliminate possible defects and errors made during construction, and on a house in which the above shortcomings appeared after some time.

The third method is to decorate the seams between the crowns with cords made from natural materials.

Decorating the seams between logs with cords is a great way to not only hide large gaps between them, but also an opportunity to greatly improve the appearance of walls and individual elements, and improve the overall aesthetics of the house.

Our masters are ready to offer you this service in full. In our work we use only natural and environmentally friendly clean materials. Such as, for example, natural hemp, jute, cords (cords) made of sesal. Detailed description characteristics of materials you can find on our website in the useful articles section.

If you are tired of looking at dry logs from large gaps between the crowns, call us.

It's a great blessing to have your own country house. When a house is built of wood, it’s just a fairy tale. Unique atmosphere, warmth and comfort. Everything is in original Russian traditions and customs. In order for such beauty to please more than one generation, the house requires careful care. And since wood is a special material, problems associated with it long-term operation are also of a special nature.

Under the influence of precipitation, sun, and temperature changes, cracks appear on the logs. Sealing cracks in logs is an important and mandatory step. There are three main types of wood problems.

Longitudinal cracks

• a deep split along the length of the log occurs when the load is unbearable or the log rots; such an element cannot be repaired and requires prompt replacement to preserve the integrity of the structure as a whole.
• straight slots - run along the axis of the log or cylinder;
• spiral splits - do not coincide with the axis of the base;
• segmental cracks - partial cracking of a log, with different depths and lengths of the split.

Such deficiencies are corrected using insulation and sealant. This method provides thermal insulation. And the use of insulation reduces the consumption of expensive sealant. When the depth of the defect is minimal, only sealant is used. The sealant is a universal product, suitable for both interior work, and external. The physical properties remain unchanged.

How to prevent logs from cracking

Cracks can increase in size over time and then getting rid of them or sealing the gaps will be much more difficult. Prevention of cracking is:

Methods for sealing cracks

Despite the quality pre-treatment wood, there is always a possibility of cracks. It is important to carefully seal the space at the junction of the logs. There are different options for sealing cracks:

Ideally even and identical logs simply do not exist. The need to seal joints between logs or cylinders always arises. When sealing joints, it is recommended to combine tow and sealant. The beginning of the seam is filled with a sealant; it can be jute tow or another similar sealant. When assembling a house, such material will play the role of insulation and joining material, and the sealant will ensure complete tightness of the joints and protect sealing elements from falling out.

Stages of correct sealing of joints with sealant and tow

Two types of these finishing materials, it is more practical to use together rather than separately, replacing one with the other.

• During the process of assembling the log house, jute, cord or tow are firmly driven in, thereby ensuring that the crowns fit tightly to each other.
• The assembled structure is prepared, the joints are carefully cleaned from any kind of dirt, dust, debris, mold or rot.
• Large cracks are additionally filled with insulation.
• Apply to the prepared surface thin layer sealant and leveled.

Benefits of using sealant

1. Wood is a material that changes its size during use. It follows that cracks and gaps expand and contract. The sealant is a plastic material, it physical properties allow a small margin of stretch, without separation from the base material.
2. Jute, tow or moss attract birds, and they in turn pull out the clogged material. The covering layer of sealant protects the insulation from falling out.
3. Insects also do not attack the insulation elements, since the sealant is not edible for them.
4. No matter how tightly the tow is placed in the seams, it will not provide complete sealing. A properly applied covering layer will prevent cold air from entering the house and warm air from escaping.

All of the listed components are easy to use and, if desired, can be used to restore the integrity of the logs with your own hands.

This question should be asked at the stage of purchasing the material, because cracks in a wooden house can manifest themselves not only in the inter-crown space, but also on the surface of the raw material. How to choose the right material with minimal losses and carry out a high-quality process of caulking and sealing gaps, details below. It is worth noting that neglecting this action entails not only the impossibility comfortable stay, but also damage to the material.

Purity of wood is the key to quality

It is possible to buy absolutely smooth raw materials. But the absence of cracks and crevices is more likely a sign of the freshness of the timber or log. This means that the wood carries a large percentage of moisture, which is not good, since when installed in a log house, shrinkage can deform the elements and cracks will inevitably appear.

It is best to purchase dry raw materials with a minimum web of defects, then there is a chance that the aging and drying technology has been followed. How to correct these shortcomings and how to cover up the cracks log house or cracks in profiled timber? Using many means known since the times of our ancestors. Namely:

• Wood glue + wood waste. This is the most accessible remedy for independent high-quality work.
• Synthetic derivatives – sealants, mastics, resins, polyurethane foams.
• Caulk using jute, flax, tow and moss.
• Decorative sealing.

More information about processes accessible to non-professionals:

• Using carpenter's glue to seal cracks in a wooden house can be done both at the finishing stage and during subsequent regular inspections of the object for damage. The product is accessible, cheap, and brings a lot of benefits. But the disadvantage is only the use in small areas; for extensive lesions, it is worth using something else.

So: the cracks should be cleaned with fine sandpaper so that sawdust and wood dust are collected. Next, a paste is prepared from them - glue is poured into the mixture.

Then the substance is placed into the cracks and left to set easily. After grinder places are being processed.

• Using sealant to seal cracks wooden house, you need to learn one rule - acrylic options not suitable for outdoor use. You also need to be wary of silicone ones - they can delaminate in the cold, so the bottle should be strictly labeled as frost-resistant. Worth picking up suitable color to the general background of wood.

Before applying the product, the cracks must be treated for biological damage. It would be a good idea to go through all sorts of defenses in general. Next, the sealant is placed into the gaps as deeply as possible and compared with the surface.

Sealing cracks in a wooden house with foam for installation purposes is recommended only under the condition of further cladding. It looks unpresentable and even after cutting off the protruding parts, its attractiveness does not increase. In addition, foam is a kind of foam rubber that has cells.

Consequently, moisture that gets there can be retained and have a detrimental effect on the wood. Resins and mastics can play the role of putty, but when sub-zero temperatures they are destroyed.

• Caulking is the most best way sealing the inter-crown gaps of the finished log house after shrinkage. It is periodic and takes place in three stages. The first - immediately after assembly of the object, the second after shrinkage and the third after 3-5 years of operation.

This process - sealing cracks in a wooden house - is subject to buildings made from all types of raw materials - timber, logs. Sellers of expensive materials - glued or profiled assemblies - do not have the right to say that their wood does not need it. There is practically no such type that can do without the occurrence of gaps and cracks.

The caulking process is as follows:

• First, the surface of the walls is cleaned of wood chips, protruding fasteners, and other things. You can use a grinding machine or vacuum cleaner.
• Then the surface, especially those places where cracks need to be sealed, in a wooden house is impregnated with chemical or natural protection against fire, mildew, moisture and mold. Each layer must be completely dry before applying the next.
• Next, sealing the cracks in a wooden house with the chosen caulk will not be difficult. There are two ways to do this - dialing and stretching. The first is for thread-like materials - tow, rope.

The second one is for tape materials: jute, linen wool. Should be used in the process special tools- additionally, flat caulking and a mallet for neat driving in.

The sufficiency is checked with an awl - if it enters the sealed gap with difficulty, the material has been laid with high quality. But you can’t overdo it either - you can disturb the position of the crowns.

• The work is carried out strictly in a circle, from both sides. Regular preventive maintenance and ridding the house of old material is the key to a windproof house.

Decorative caulk is as follows:

1. Decorative cord is used as a material and such raw materials are used to seal cracks in log house looked beautiful with expensive and elite material - laminated veneer lumber, rounded logs.
2. Before laying the twisted cord, the usual manipulations for caulking are performed - cleaning, impregnation. Next, the gaps in the wood are sealed with sealant, mastic or resin. This is done just in case the cord suddenly falls out.
3. All that remains is to lay the rope. Using tools, it is carefully driven between the logs, without waiting for the substance laid before caulking to completely dry.

The sealant for the cracks of a wooden house will set together with the cord, and strength will be ensured. When caulking with rope, you should start with the corner joints and then work on the remaining areas.

Wooden house construction has a very long tradition and is as popular today as it was many centuries ago. However, in order for a wooden house to be a durable and reliable home for its owners, it must be carefully prepared for long service. Even with perfect processing, cracks, dents and gaps remain in the wood, and the main enemy of a log house is leaky seams between the logs. During the shrinkage process, the wood is deformed, which leads to an even greater increase in gaps through which wind, cold and moisture enter the house. The traditional way to get rid of cracks is to caulk the log house natural materials. Today there are also other methods, one of them is sealing the seams of a log house using the warm seam technology.

Insulation of seams in a log house must be done, since during the construction of a log house, no matter how well the work is carried out construction work, there are still “cold bridges” between the logs. If you leave everything as it is, the cracks will continue to widen. The process is especially intense during the first few years after completion of construction, when the wooden structure shrinks significantly.

Sealing seams in a wooden house allows you to:

• significantly insulate the building,
• rid the house of drafts,
• create optimal humidity conditions
• increase the room temperature,
• reduce your heating costs.

What is sealing a log house using the “warm seam” technology?

Warm seam is a modern technique that is used for different types wooden buildings. It is used for rounded logs, for bathhouses, and houses made of timber. The technology consists of insulating a wooden house with special sealing materials. The main material is joint sealant, which is used to seal the joints between logs and cracks in the wood itself.

For insulation wooden log house They use acrylic-based sealants that provide effective moisture and heat insulation. They can be used to seal sedimentary seams. Acrylic sealants well tolerated by both low and high temperatures, so they are used to seal cracks in the bathhouse. The most in demand today are American sealants that have high quality indicators.

When is the right time to seal? Sealing of seams in a log house is carried out no earlier than a year and a half after its construction. By this time, the structure will have settled down sufficiently, and construction defects that can be eliminated as a result of work. It is advisable to do both external and internal sealing. External work is carried out only during the warm period at positive temperatures.

Sealing of crown joints with sealant in a wooden house is carried out in several stages. Before treatment, the surface is carefully prepared: cleaned of dirt, debris, and knots are removed. If there is old peeling paint, it is removed and these areas are sanded. The better the wood is prepared, the better the sealant will adhere to the surface of the log.

The next stage is polishing the frame. If the insulation of seams is carried out in a newly built log building or in timber house, then the entire surface is sanded. In the case of sealing an old log house, only the blued areas of wood are cleaned and sanded.

An important part of the work is priming wooden surface. The primer must be applied in two layers. First, an antiseptic is applied, then a primer is applied to degrease the areas where the insulation will be installed. The material is rubbed into the joints between the logs using a coarse brush.

Sealing is necessary not only to waterproof the house, but to protect it from wind and cold. Therefore, before the log house is sealed with sealant, the inter-crown joints are caulked. Caulking of seams and casing is done using natural materials: jute, tow, linen old technology. But most often, a special polyethylene cord with a diameter of 6 to 80 mm is used to seal the joints, which serves as additional thermal insulation for the house and also saves sealant.

The last stage is applying sealant, for this they use mounting gun with nozzles. The sealant is applied in an even layer to the inter-crown joints, previously sealed with a cord. Then it is smoothed well and the finishing grout is carried out. The sealant is produced different colors, so it’s easy to match it to the shade of the wood. Subsequently, finishing is done on top of the insulation. decorative materials: with a tourniquet, rope or rope.

Insulation of a wooden house using sealant has now been achieved widespread due to its undoubted advantages, among which are:

• high speed of insulation, subject to professional performance of the work;
• absence of dust, dirt and noise during installation;
• the material is not of interest to insects, rodents and birds, fungus and mold do not form on it;
• a warm seam is made once, its service life is about 50 years;
• The sealant withstands high and low temperature, not afraid of moisture and dampness;
• The material is resistant to both mechanical stress and aggressive chemicals.

However, this insulation method has some disadvantages that also need to be mentioned:

• high cost of material;
• artificial insulation is used;
• a warm seam on a rounded log outdoors can only be done in above-zero and dry weather;
• For complete drying, the sealant requires from twenty days to a month.

What difficulties can you encounter when working independently?

Application technology for wooden houses and log buildings warm seam, at first glance, seems simple. Actually that's enough difficult work, the quality of which largely depends on the knowledge and experience of the master. When faced with sealing for the first time, unprepared people will probably experience many problems, which begin already at the very first stage. It is very important to choose the right sealant and tool for the job, to choose right size cord.

Particular attention should be paid to surface preparation; if it is done poorly, it can negate the entire further work. Laying insulation and applying sealant also causes difficulty. Both must be done very carefully. It is necessary to strictly adhere to the technology; any violation can lead to undesirable consequences.

Log house sealing services

The Master Srubov company offers professional services for sealing wooden houses using the warm seam method. Our company has everything you need for high-quality execution work - qualified craftsmen who are fluent in this technique, a sufficient supply of knowledge and experience, necessary tool and readiness to start work at any time convenient for you.

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We use only certified sealants; their price will be minimal for you, since we work directly with manufacturers. We apply loyal pricing policy, which provides various discounts for regular customers. You can contact us using the coordinates on the page.

When it comes to finishing the seams between beams or logs, literature alone will not be enough, since a dozen books will provide the same number of caulking options for your consideration. Of course, deliberately false information rarely appears on the pages of reference books, but it still happens, and identifying it among other data is quite difficult.

The most reliable advice on how to seal the cracks between logs can only be given by experienced master, or at least a person who has actually tried what he is talking about. And, interestingly, many agree that moss is one of the most effective materials for caulking. Often on the outskirts of swamps you can see a whole carpet of sphagnum, which, while still wet, easily packs into the joints between the crowns.

Only the kind of caulk that can be called high-quality is one in which a sharp awl fits into the gap between the logs no less hard than into the wood.

A more common and equally environmentally friendly way to seal cracks is to fill them with tow coated with plaster or cement mortar or simply compacting this accessible to everyone consumables without any additives. You can use hemp or jute fiber instead. The difference between hemp and tow is insignificant - the first is a derivative of flax, less often hemp, the second is obtained only from hemp.

Our ancestors also used these materials, so today they will perform no worse. The only thing that can create inconvenience is if you suddenly need to saw through a new window or make another opening for the frame, it will be difficult to use a chainsaw - tow and hemp clog the flail and dull it.

Modern putty for logs

In addition to natural materials for sealing seams between the crowns of a log house (some of which you don’t even need to buy, just go to the forest or swamp), modern industry can offer a lot of synthetic ones. There is no need to talk about environmental friendliness here, but reliability is definitely observed, which is, in fact, what is required from such putties.

Some “experts” advise using silicone sealant, but such a method of sealing joints will only aggravate the situation, since wood tends to absorb moisture, and if it evaporates worse somewhere, rot will almost certainly form there.

In stores you can find many special polyurethane-based sealants that are not afraid of ultraviolet radiation and temperature changes. This log putty is suitable for filling joints both outside and inside the log house. Under no circumstances use polyurethane sealants in cylinders, as they generally do not like sunlight.

It is important to know: to seal the seams, a sufficiently elastic material is needed, since a wooden house “breathes”, it absorbs moisture and releases it, heats up and cools down, due to all these factors, a slight but constant movement of the logs occurs. Under such conditions the same polyurethane foam It will just burst in a few months.

How is caulking and laying between logs done?

Before caulking the seams between the logs, think about what you will have under the caulk. The fact is that it is irrational and uneconomical to completely fill the cracks with sealants, since they can turn out to be quite deep, and in a log house there are usually at least 40 such seams.

Therefore, you should immediately decide whether you will use natural filler or synthetic filler. Natural materials for caulking we mentioned above, as for artificial ones, many craftsmen agree that it is best to use a cord made of polyethylene foam, it can be different diameters, can be selected according to the width of the slots.

Having hammered the seams as tightly as possible, we begin to cover the caulk with sealant. To begin, stick it on both sides of the gap. masking tape so as not to stain the entire log with putty. If, when laying logs or beams, you used a felt pad between the logs (some people recommend moss as such a layer, it is better not to use glass wool), fill the cracks with a breathable material, such as tow.

Now as for the grout itself: you can do it with your fingers, but it will be ugly; it is better to use a special rubber spatula for joints, which is successfully used when applying grout for tiles. To finally close the joints, you can nail down strips that will fit perfectly into the general style log structures.