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Log Home Checks (Cracks in Logs)Most log home checks leave the home owners thinking that the checks in the logs give the home character and should be left alone. This is true they do give the logs character but if they are on the exterior of your home these voids might need to be sealed. However if they are on the interior they do not need to be filled. These cracks are one of the major areas where log rot can get started if they aren't sealed properly. If water is allowed to enter into these areas it is obsorbed into the wood causing a wet spot. These wet spots are just what mold, mildew and log rot need to get started. You don't have to seal all of the checks that you see in a log. The ones that you have to worry about are the ones that are at least 1/8" in width and on the top half of the log. Any that are on the bottom half of a log don't necessarily need to be sealed. I have seen many cases though where the checks will start out on the top half of a log and curl down to the under side of the log. In a case like this you should go ahead and seal the whole check just to be on the safe side. Sometimes you will have them on an outside corner or an inside corner that will run and disappear into the corner. These you want to make sure you seal because there is a good chance they might be allowing air and possibly water to infiltrate into your home. For sealing these log home checks you shouldn't use a latex or a silicone caulking product. The latex caulk tends to get hard over time and won't stay flexible so it will tear away from the sides of the void. The silicone stays flexible but it usually doesn't provide good adhesion to the sides of the crack and tears. For sealing log home checks I use a product that is specially made for this type of maintenance job. The product is called Check Mate (CM) and comes in a wide variety of colors to choose from. With this wide range of colors to choose from you should be able to find one that will come close to the color of the stain on your home. Checks in the logs and gaps in butt joints are the two main areas where when I am doing a log home inspection I find log rot. Check Mate can also be used for filling any gaps in butt joints that you might have. If you need more information on Checks or Check Mate please fill out the Information Contact Form below.
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