The final stage of the construction of a log house should be caulking. It is needed to insulate joints and prevent moisture from entering between structural elements. Wood is a natural biological material and needs special protection from external damaging natural factors, as well as damage by insect pests, fungi and bacteria. When caulking a log-private house, various insulation materials and methods of sealing joints are used. Familiarization with them will allow you to easily carry out the entire process yourself.
Material selection
Before proceeding to the caulking of a log house, you should decide on the selection of the suitable material. Previously, natural heaters - tow and moss were used for this purpose. They are still relevant among lovers of eco-style. Previous materials were replaced by modern ones - jute and flax. When choosing a material, the main thing is that it is not harmful to health and performs its functions of warming the house.
Qualities inherent in good grouting material:
- not promote the growth of bacterial and fungal associations;
- be unattractive to birds and insects;
- have low thermal conductivity;
- do not contain toxic substances;
- have a neutral smell;
- be resistant to temperature extremes and high humidity;
- maintain their working properties for many years.
Types of materials
There are several varieties of insulation designed for working with log houses. The most common ones are:
- tow;
- moss;
- red moss;
- jute;
- flax.
Consider each type in more detail.
Tow
This is a natural material, a product of the processing of bast crops (flax, hemp). It is used for thermal insulation and moisture insulation of wooden structures (caulking of cracks, laying crowns, stuffing seams). It has a slight antibacterial effect. Due to its not so dense structure as that of a jute tape, it allows its use in any type of log cabins.
Moss
White moss (sphagnum) grows everywhere, found in any swamp. It is inferior in quality to red moss, but since sphagnum is easier to harvest in any quantities, they usually prefer it.
Moss is an excellent material with the ability to absorb moisture in large quantities due to its high hygroscopicity. It can pass air well even when wet. In addition, sphagnum moss is endowed with antifungal, antibacterial and disinfectant properties. Able to create a favorable microclimate in the room due to vapor and gas permeability. Moss is a worthy option for laying joints, since it allows you to smooth out moisture differences and thereby provide insulation, as well as the durability of the log structure. In the process, moss is often combined with tow because of difficulties in laying.
Red moss (cuckoo flax)
It has a number of useful properties:
- durable
- provides warming;
- prevents the formation of mold and rot.
- strong, resilient;
- less hygroscopic than moss;
- light and long.
But it does not grow everywhere and it is difficult to stockpile in the required quantities.
Jute
This material is popular and over time displaces moss more and more. It is obtained by processing the stem of the same plant.
Material Advantages:
- environmentally friendly;
- durable
- has good heat-saving properties;
- easy and quick to fit;
- contains a substance that prevents rotting of the material;
- has a beautiful color.
Its disadvantage is its higher cost, as well as caking and limited use in conventional log cabins. It is suitable for structures made of timber and logs.
Flax
Previously, flax was used along with moss. Now flax batting is produced on its basis. "Eurolene" is a tape of woven fibers of this plant.
Material Advantages:
- durability;
- environmental friendliness;
- slight hygroscopicity;
- healthy microclimate in the house;
- availability, low price;
- good insulation;
- softness and elasticity.
Other heaters
In addition to the above insulation, occasionally use others:
- Mineral insulation.
- Woolen fiber.
- Batting, synthetic winterizer, sealant.
- Thermal insulation tapes.
It is not recommended to caulk the walls of a wooden house with sealant, polyurethane foam.
This is fraught with the accumulation of excess moisture inside the insulation with further freezing of the joints. And some of them contribute to the formation of condensate at the joints of wood and insulation, which can contribute to the destruction of the wooden structure.
Caulking methods
Caulking of a wooden house is carried out by two methods:
- "Stretch";
- "To set."
In the “stretch” method, strands are twisted from the insulation, which are then wound into a ball for convenience. From these threads make loops, which are seams. Their number depends on the depth of the gap. First, the material is clogged to the upper, and then to the lower edges. Then the insulation is trimmed with the flattened end of the tool. Angles should be given close attention. Working with them is not very convenient. When closing walls, it will be correct to release about 15 cm of material at the corners.
Important! If caulking is done in the finished house, then the log house can increase its height by 10-15 cm. Therefore, in order to avoid damage to the pipe, it is freed from putty for the duration of the work. Caulking of the house must be done correctly, passing along the entire perimeter of the log house. You should start from the bottom of the house, then rise sequentially upwards in a circle.
In case of repeated caulking, the repair of joints is done using the “set” method. This method is good for filling large gaps and gaps. For such work, a pre-prepared fiber roller is used. The thickness of the roller should be the same throughout. The closing of large gaps occurs by folding the cord with the formation of a kind of loop. The insulation is clogged with caulk and mallet.
Regardless of whether insulation was carried out during the construction of the log house, joint repair is done after a year. During this time, the structure shrinks and the logs fall into place. After another year, complete shrinkage occurs, and new cracks form, which must be properly repaired. Regardless of the material from which the house is built, caulking is the same. The insulation between the crowns should be tightly hammered, and in places with large gaps do insulation with jute and hemp ropes.
Periodic, correctly performed caulking, is designed to solve several problems:
- provide sufficient thermal insulation;
- protect the tree from destruction;
- avoid condensation;
- reduce house blowing.
Periodic caulking of the house
It is necessary to inspect the house annually for cracks, which immediately must be properly repaired.
The caulking of log buildings is not much different from work with other log cabins. The only thing you should pay attention to is the threat to overshoot the interventional space with a heater. The fact is that in the log cabins the gaps are not as large as in the rest. When working with jute, you should monitor the joints between the logs, as this is the weakest point.
In order to avoid alteration and excessive consumption of funds, caulking of a log house should be carried out correctly and efficiently, tightly clogging the gaps. Sealing of joints should be carried out inside and outside the house. In the case of poor-quality work, even the smallest-looking slots can significantly affect the temperature in the room.
It is advisable to warm the log home using the “set” method. The material roller has the necessary rigidity, increasing the efficiency of the method of sealing joints.