Houses made of timber have a lot of features that distinguish them from buildings made of other materials. One of them is that after construction is completed, the house begins to dry out. This process is inevitably accompanied by a change in shape and the appearance of gaps between the crowns. These openings open the way for cold air from the street, which, when meeting warm air condensation forms from the house. As a result, mold and even rot can occur in the premises.

Shrinkage is a natural process and therefore cannot be prevented. Even logs and beams that have been dried according to all the rules will certainly shrink. The only thing that remains for the owner is to fight the formation of cracks. It is for this purpose that caulking is carried out - necessary procedure, during which the gaps that arise between logs or beams are manually sealed.

Materials for caulking

For all the time that a person has been engaged in construction wooden houses, he was able to compile a list of the most effective insulation materials, the best among which are natural materials:

• felt;
• red moss;
• tow.

But before you start caulking the log house, you need to prepare the selected material in a special way.

Red moss was also used by our ancestors. It has not lost its relevance in our time. If you decide to opt for this traditional material for insulating a house or bathhouse, then you need to learn how to properly caulk a log house with moss. Moss is rot-resistant and antibacterial, but if it's too wet, then after caulking the wood will begin to rot.

Very dry moss also has its drawbacks - it will not be possible to make high-quality caulk with it, since it will inevitably crumble and break. To make it suitable for use, it must be moistened. The main disadvantages of this insulation are related to the difficulties when laying it on beams. This problem is easily solved by mixing moss with tow.

Tow is one of the most popular building materials. This excellent thermal insulator is made from flax and hemp waste. Tow, like moss, perfectly protects wood from rotting.

Felt cannot be called the most suitable material for caulking a log house.. The reason for this is that it is more susceptible to rotting than all other insulation materials and has very low strength. In addition, before use, felt must be soaked in formaldehyde or another product that can protect against moths. Otherwise, after some time you can find in the felt a large number of moth larvae that will happily eat this heat insulator.

When building houses and baths from logs, not only traditional, but also modern thermal insulation materials are used, the most famous of which are jute and flax wool.

Jute is modern insulation, which is made from a shrub of the linden family. The material has mass positive qualities- high strength, density, resistance to moths and rotting, low hygroscopicity. Jute is not able to absorb wood moisture, but releases it well when the wood dries out.

In room, where is the air humidity is maintained at a fairly high level (80% and above), jute insulation will effectively perform its task. Remaining dry, jute not only perfectly protects the wood from rotting, but also insulates the log house, maintaining a healthy microclimate in the house.

In stores you can find another material with a similar name, which is often identified with jute. It's about about jute fiber, which has little in common with jute and differs from it not only appearance, but also quality of workmanship and cost.

Jute tape is soft to the touch and very pliable material. It is used mainly when sealing the crowns of houses made of timber, as well as around doors and windows in combination with various impregnations. It is also used to seal gaps and cracks in wood and concrete. It can also be laid on wet beams.

Manufacturers produce jute tape in skeins different thicknesses and width. U professional builders this material is very popular, because, according to their words, this is the easiest and clean way insulation. A significant advantage of this material is the ability to quickly perform caulking, since the insulation can be immediately laid on the frame.

Linen wool differs from jute in its composition. For its production, only flax fibers are used. However, this does not prevent it from demonstrating the same performance properties as jute tape, although it is more rigid in structure. In stores, flax wool is offered in the form of rolls, which makes it very convenient for caulking in stretch.

Tools for work

Before you start caulking a log house, you need to resolve the issue of a log caulking tool.

For insulation log houses use devices made of metal and steel. Some owners perform this operation using homemade devices, made from a block of oak, walnut or beech.

Particular attention should be paid to the handle of the tool, which should be made of embossed rubber. The tool intended for caulking must have a non-sharp blade, otherwise there is a risk of damaging the insulation used. In addition, the tool should not have any roughness, otherwise the material may catch on them and be removed from the gap.

To fill the insulation, use a tamping hammer - a mallet..

Gap sealing technology

Caulking a log house is uncomplicated technological process, which you can do yourself. This is one of important stages building a house, which involves a number of stages.

Caulking begins with sealing gaps in the walls of the house at the stage of its assembly. Primary insulation is not able to completely eliminate all seams. After all, upon completion of construction, a house made of timber undergoes shrinkage and drying out, which inevitably leads to the appearance of new gaps.

With the onset of cold weather, precious heat begins to escape through them, which negatively affects comfortable living. In the bathhouse, because of this, the temperature in the steam room quickly decreases. In addition, the heat lost at low temperatures causes the appearance of frost with outside facade. This excess humidity negatively affects the condition of the wood.

All this forces re-caulking after shrinkage of the walls of a wooden structure already 6 months after completion construction work. During this time, the timber manages to dry by 90%. The time required for shrinkage depends on several factors - the quality of the material, the time of its preparation, humidity and weather conditions. The complete shrinkage of the structure is completed in 3 years. The final third caulking is carried out before finishing the walls, when the log house has completely shrunk.

Houses made of rounded logs differ in many respects from buildings made of logs. Due to the ideal shape and size, the gaps in the logs are very narrow. But even in this case, caulking is necessary. Although there's no way around it on our own It won't work anymore. You will have to seek help from specialists. After all, you can overdo it and stuff small gaps with too much insulation material, and this can cause the walls to warp.

Caulking methods

Caulking of log houses is carried out using two main methods: stretched and set. Sometimes they are used simultaneously. Each of them allows you to use tow as insulation.

Stretch

This method of sealing cracks is used for narrow gaps in a log house. A small amount of tow is applied to the crack, and then stuffed inside using a caulking chisel. But during this operation it is necessary to leave 4-5 cm of free edge. The roller made from tow is wrapped in the remaining free edge, as if intertwining them, after which they are driven into the gap between the crowns using caulk and a hammer.

I would like to draw your attention to the fact that while twisting the roller you need to grab nearby strands. If this is not done, the roller will simply fall out of the slot. You can make sure that the caulking was done well by gently pulling the roller. The work is considered completed correctly if the roller remains in the same place. If, as a result of such actions, you managed to pull it out, this means that the gap was not completely filled.

Included in the set

This caulking method is used primarily for sealing large and wide cracks. First you need to prepare long bunches of tow, form them into skeins, and then cast on loops that fill the gaps. The loop should have a thickness comparable to the size of the gap being sealed. First, you need to stuff the insulation at the top of the gap, helping yourself with caulk, and then move on to sealing the bottom, using a “road builder” as a tool.

Features of the operation

Although caulking a log house is a time-consuming process, it is worth the effort spent. If it is carried out correctly, the log house will last at least 8 years. But this work must be carried out in accordance with a certain algorithm.

When caulking a log house, you must be extremely careful, trying not to miss the slightest area. You shouldn't hit it with a hammer too often. One blow should be made per blade width. Therefore, it is best to go through the row again to avoid overstuffing the insulation.

The technology of building log houses has a lot of nuances. One of them is that after completion of construction work the house cannot be considered ready for use. After this, shrinkage occurs, which is a natural process and takes from 6 months to three years. During this time, new gaps appear between the crowns of the log house, which must be eliminated. This is why every owner needs to caulk.

In order to properly seal new cracks, it is necessary not only to choose the right caulking tool, but also insulation. Considering that stores offer a variety of various materials, it is important for the owner to become familiar with the features of each insulation in order to avoid problems both while working with the material and after sealing the cracks.

Any caulk wooden bath must be carried out in two stages: after completion of construction and after a year of shrinkage. For the work, the same insulation is used, which is laid between the links during construction. Traditionally, for caulking baths, they use: moss, felt, tow, and hemp. Readers will learn how to properly caulk a bathhouse with their own hands, what tools are needed and the intricacies of the work by studying the article to the end.

The bathhouse will have to be caulked in any case. The main thing is to do the work carefully.

When assembling the bathhouse box, insulation is laid between each log or timber. But wood shrinks regardless of chamber drying material or natural humidity. When shrinking, space appears between the logs, so it is necessary to caulk the bathhouse the first time to seal the seam and the second time to eliminate the resulting cracks.

It is easier to caulk the log house of a bathhouse using special tools: caulk and a rubber mallet or mallet. If there is no caulk, then you can use a regular chisel.

What material is better to caulk a bathhouse?

To caulk a log cabin, natural insulation materials are used: moss, hemp, tow, and felt. All materials are available, but each one must first be prepared in its own way.

Preparing moss for caulking

Insulation of seams with moss traditional way, which our grandfathers used. You can collect moss yourself or purchase ready-made moss at a hardware store.

Moss for caulking is one of the most environmentally friendly materials.

The price of moss starts from 250 rubles, so it’s cheaper to collect it in the forest. The collected moss is laid out under a canopy and left to dry for 1–2 weeks. It is necessary to stir the moss every 2-3 days to prevent it from rotting. Using wet moss will cause mold to form and destroy the wood. But it is necessary to ensure drying, as overdried moss will be fragile and difficult to work with.

Pros of moss:

• Cost-effective (can be dialed for free in the forest).
• Natural means that environmental friendliness is not compromised.

The material has more disadvantages:

• When dry it becomes brittle.
• It's difficult to caulk a bathhouse.
• Afraid of moisture and mold.
• Short-lived.
• Burns well.

Choosing moss to caulk a log house is only necessary to save money. From the point of view of practicality and durability, it is better to pay attention to something else.

Preparing felt for caulking

Felt is a natural material based on wool. But modern felt may consist of refined fibers. Moreover, the composition is: 60% wool and 40% artificial fiber, 70% artificial fiber and 30% wool. For a bathhouse, choose completely natural felt or felt with a high wool content. The fact is that natural material does not burn, but simply smolders. Artificial felt is a fire hazard.

Felt for caulking baths is suitable natural or with a small addition of artificial fibers.

Before work, the felt must be treated with a formaldehyde solution; it will prevent moths from breeding in the wool. After spraying, the felt is hung in the sun and thoroughly dried.

The main advantages of felt include:

• Naturalness.
• It's easy to caulk a log house.

• Natural material is afraid of moisture and rots.
• Mice and birds love to use felt to build their nests, and pick out the material from cracks in the log house.
• High price of natural insulation.

Preparing tow for caulking a bathhouse

There is no need to prepare the tow before work. But moths and other insects love to settle in natural material, so tow is impregnated with any protective compound, for example, formaldehyde.

Tow for caulking baths can be bought in bales.

The main advantages of using tow:

• Low price.
• Natural material.
• Ease of operation.

• Afraid of moisture.
• Over time it may begin to rot.
• Mice live in insulation.

Tow is an alternative to moss, since the price of the material starts from 70 rubles.

Jute and flax fiber for bath caulking

Modern insulation options: jute and flax fiber can also be used to caulk a log house. But despite the manufacturer’s assurances that insulation materials are natural, most of them contain artificial additives. They make jute and flax fiber durable, but the environmental friendliness is reduced.

Yuan jute is sold in ribbon form.

Natural jute is made from bast wood from the linden family. Jute has high strength, durability and moisture resistance. When water gets on the material, it does not linger on the jute fibers, but quickly erodes.

Flax fiber is made from flax waste. The material performed well construction sites. Does not rot and does not absorb moisture. But there are pitfalls; sellers offer the buyer flax wool instead of flax fiber. The materials are similar in composition, but the batting is 40% artificial fiber. You can distinguish one from the other by color; linen batting is light, while natural insulation fibers are darker.

Available in the form of tape or cord. To caulk the frame of the bathhouse, tape jute or flax fiber is used.

You need to caulk the frame of your bathhouse with insulation that meets your requirements and capabilities.

It is necessary to caulk a bathhouse in two stages:

• immediately after installing the box;
• after the bath shrinks.

It is difficult to re-caulk a log house made of profiled timber, since the lock will not allow the work to be carried out efficiently. Therefore, it is better to take chamber-dried or glued material with a profile. Thus, shrinkage will be minimal and there will be no need to caulk again. All other types: log, simple timber, rounded timber need to be re-caulked. You need to work with special tools, as shown in the video:

Tools for work

To caulk a log house they use different kinds caulking:

• typesetting;
• curve;
• breaking;

A mallet (mushkel) is also required. The tool is used to strike the caulk during work. The mallet can be replaced with a regular rubber hammer. A road builder is needed, a tool helps to level the seam after punching with caulking.

What subtleties do you need to know when caulking a bath?

The walls of the bathhouse need to be caulked from the bottom up along the entire perimeter. Moreover, the work is done by first caulking one row from the inside and outside, then the second, etc. The fact is that when caulking, the bathhouse is raised by 5–15 cm. If you do not work sequentially, the structure will warp. By caulking the bottom groove along the entire perimeter, outside and inside, then the second one, the bath structure will rise smoothly and evenly.

The caulking of the bath begins from the bottom, along the entire perimeter.

It is necessary to take care of the chimney before caulking the log house. The pipe is released at the junction with the ceiling and roof or removed temporarily so as not to damage it.

You can caulk a bathhouse using two methods:

• to the set;
• stretched out.

Let's look at each in more detail.

Sauna caulking set

It is necessary to caulk the set when sealing large cracks and grooves. The selected material is twisted into a 15-20 mm rope and, for convenience, wound into a small ball. The tourniquet is placed against the crack and hammered in using caulk and a mallet, as in the photo.

Caulking set and stretched.

First from above, then from below. They level everything with the help of a road worker.

Stretched bath caulk

The insulation does not need to be twisted into a bundle. It is simply pushed into the gap between the links and then punched through with a mallet. The work is carried out until the insulation no longer fits between the logs of the bathhouse frame.

It is necessary to caulk the log house slowly, carefully sealing every crack. Places where it is difficult to reach with a tool are simply foamed with polyurethane foam.

We answered the question of how to properly caulk a bathhouse various methods. After the bathhouse frame has finished caulking, it must be sanded and coated protective compounds. We'll talk about this next time.

After installing the log house, there is still a lot of work to be done, including caulking the bathhouse. This must be done to close the gaps between the timber or logs and to insulate the walls. Without proper caulking, the bathhouse will be ventilated, and the heat will quickly leave the room. In addition, logs or beams will soon become unusable, crack and become damp.

You can easily caulk a bathhouse with your own hands, since this process is not very complicated. But it is important to choose the right materials and carefully follow the technology. Let's find out how to properly and what is the best way to caulk a bathhouse made of logs or timber.

Features of bath caulk

It is important to perform this procedure correctly, otherwise installation errors will cause the walls to warp or cause serious cracks and cracks. Is not difficult process, but quite long and monotonous. Therefore, you need to be patient! Caulking is done six months after the installation of the log house, when most of the shrinkage of the tree has passed. After this caulking, you can already install windows and doors.

If a second caulk is needed, the procedure is performed a year after the first (1.5 years after installation of the log house). Depending on the quality of work and material, another caulk may be required after 4-5 years. In any case, this procedure is very important for wooden buildings.

Bath caulk performs the following useful functions:

• Reliably closes cracks and gaps in wooden walls ah between crowns and ceilings, logs and crowns, in window and door frames;
• Eliminates cracks in a wooden frame that form during the shrinkage process. Caulking prevents the growth and appearance of new cracks;
• Strengthens thermal insulation qualities wood and retains heat indoors for a long time, which is especially important for a bathhouse;
• Protects the room from wind penetration, internal wooden walls - from negative impact moisture;
• Seals cracks in an already built house or bathhouse.

Among the materials for caulking there are natural and synthetic species. Natural jute, tow and moss are traditional products that have been used for a long time. From modern artificial materials use industrial sealants. Each product has its pros and cons, and which one to choose is up to each owner to decide. Also among the tools for caulking you will need a hammer, a 20 mm chisel and a rubber mallet.

Natural materials for caulking

The oldest and most proven method is to caulk a bathhouse or house with moss. This is an environmentally friendly and safe material that will preserve the natural properties and aesthetics of a wooden structure. It effectively resists the negative effects of bacteria and prevents the formation of fungus or mold, quickly absorbs moisture and does not rot. However, it is not very convenient to use. Moss is optimal for baths and sealing cracks in a wooden house.

Processing with jute is also good for baths, as this environmentally friendly material saves natural properties and tree safety. This fiber is distinguished by high strength, thermal insulation, resistance to moisture and decay. Roll material with an even structure it is easy to lay between the crowns. However, jute often becomes a breeding ground for moths, so it is recommended to treat the material with a moth repellent before use.

Tow represents waste after the primary processing of natural fibers of jute, flax or hemp. This is a very difficult and inconvenient material to work with. In addition, when a log house shrinks, it gains moisture, rots and turns into dust.

As a result, this rot has to be cleaned out and the bathhouse frame caulked again. Among the advantages of tow, we note the environmental friendliness and safety of the fiber, high antibacterial and thermal insulation properties. However, due to its complexity and fragility, tow is not recommended for caulking baths or at home.

Sealants

Modern sealants have long been filled construction market. These are quick, convenient and easy to use products that are well suited for independent work. However, in this case, it is important to choose high-quality sealants from a reliable manufacturer, since some do not tolerate exposure to sunlight and wind.

As a result they lose beneficial features and are blown out. Additionally, some types of sealants can damage the wood fibers when they dry. To avoid this, use elastic products (acrylic) that contract or expand with the wood.

At the same time, sealants have a large number of advantages, including not only easy and quick installation. Such products are characterized by high thermal insulation qualities, resistance to moisture, cold and temperature changes. In particular demand today warm seam using acrylic sealants. This product contains rubber, which gives elasticity and prevents small hidden cracks from cracking further.

Acrylic sealants are safe and environmentally friendly, so they are perfect for treating a wooden bathhouse or home. They do not emit toxic substances and allow the wood to “breathe”. These products can withstand high temperatures, do not have unpleasant smell, differ in operational and light finishing. They do not allow wood to rot and have wide choose color range. Read more about acrylic sealants and “warm seam” technology read.

Features of caulking using different materials

If you are using moss, the material must first be completely dried and re-moistened before use. To do this, soak the material for 30-60 minutes and squeeze thoroughly. The soaked moss is laid out between the crowns in an even layer so that the ends of the material stick out on both sides of the log or timber. After this, the too protruding and long parts of the material are trimmed and tucked into the cracks of the log house. After a year, re-caulk must be done.

When using tow, it is better to choose rolled tow, as it is easier to use. If you choose tow in blocks, a strip of material is pulled out of the block and a rope is twisted, which is then placed into the seam. Take jute with a fiber length of more than two centimeters. Short fibers fall out easily and are blown out.

Caulk natural materials carried out using two methods. The “stretching” method assumes that the material is divided into separate strips and placed in the gaps between the rims. The insulation remaining outside is rolled into a roller and driven into the groove. The “set” method means that the fibers are separated into strands and wound into a ball, and then pushed into the spaces between the logs or beams.

When choosing a sealant, first lay a heat-insulating cord made of polyethylene or jute fiber in the cracks. This will reduce the consumption of the main product and increase the thermal insulation properties of wood. And then sealant is applied over the cord in a wet state with a layer thickness of 4-6 mm.

Then the layer is leveled with a spatula or spatula, and the remains are cleaned with a rag. The sealant is left to dry for two days, while it is important to protect the seam from moisture. Detailed instructions Directions for use can be found on the packaging of each product.

Bath caulking technology

• Before starting work, logs or beams are cleaned of dust and dirt. Can be closed wooden surface construction tape or masking tape so that the insulation does not get on the walls of the log house;
• Start with lower crown and move along the perimeter of the bath, first from the outside, then process the lower crown along the perimeter inside. Only then move on to the next crown! Each crown should be caulked in turn, without skipping rows;
• Pay special attention to the corners of the bathhouse, as in these places there are a large number of cracks and large gaps;
• During the process, carefully monitor the evenness of the walls of the log house and check how the insulation fits. The material should lie tightly, evenly and not form bubbles;
• Do not use under any circumstances polyurethane foam for caulking a wooden bathhouse or home! It violates the naturalness and environmental friendliness of materials, reduces the service life of insulation;
• After completing the work, check the quality of the work. To do this, try removing the material or piercing it with a sharp object. If you can remove an entire strip or pass a sharp tool through the insulation, the work was not done well.

When laying insulation, it is very important to follow the technology, otherwise incorrect actions will not allow you to get maximum efficiency from caulking. The room will be ventilated, and the caulking itself will have to be done again every two to three years. In addition, mistakes can lead to skewed walls, rotting of logs or beams, and lumber falling out of locks!

To avoid possible problems and get quality work, turn to professionals. The masters of the MariSrub company will reliably and quickly carry out caulking and insulation of the log house of a bathhouse or house. We carry out full list services for the construction and finishing of wooden buildings.

The scope of work includes the production of lumber and the creation of a project, installation of a log house, installation of the roof and foundation, installation and connection utility networks, finishing. We provide high-quality insulation and caulking of log houses, and seal seams!

A log bathhouse is a tradition that, even after several hundred years, has not lost its relevance. The tree has the most high level thermal insulation among building materials, while the weight of the log structure does not go beyond the permissible limit. The only drawback of this technology is the presence of gaps between the stacked logs.

When laying and adjusting logs between individual elements, horizontal through cavities will inevitably remain along the entire perimeter of the bathhouse, and before its operation it is necessary to caulk them.

To learn how to properly caulk a bathhouse, you need to understand all the intricacies of this matter. The process of caulking cracks itself does not contain any difficulties, however, there are several special points that need to be taken into account.

This article will describe step-by-step instruction and the main points on the topic - “how to caulk a bathhouse with your own hands.” In addition to a description of the technology, it will also provide detailed information about what they use to caulk a bathhouse, since in this case right choice The material plays a decisive role in the success of the entire process.

Selection of material

Forest moss is the most traditional material that our great-great-grandfathers used for caulking log houses. This is the most environmentally friendly material of all analogues used, since it is of natural origin, assembled by hand and is not treated with chemicals. It has bioactive properties - it does not grow moths and mold.

Moss is especially valued for its antiseptic properties - it does not rot even when exposed to high humidity. At the same time, moss caulking is not only not subject to rotting, but also protects nearby areas from damage, which is especially important.

Also, using moss as a material for caulking allows you to significantly save on the purchase of material, since it can be collected in the nearby forest with your own hands. Even if this is not possible, its price in stores is quite affordable. Natural moss is the most rational decision The question is, what is the best way to caulk a bathhouse?

The most common material for log caulking due to its cost, but flax has the lowest quality characteristics. Before caulking a bathhouse with flax, you should take into account that it contains practically no natural antiseptics - therefore, putrefactive bacteria, which damp wood contains in abundance, will quickly destroy the formed seam, after which nearby areas will undergo degradation.

It quickly deteriorates under the influence of high humidity - its service life is from 1 to 3 years, after which the seam begins to crumble. Insects love it - moths, beetles; in its raw state, mold and mildew quickly grow. Without chemical treatment, you may find a large number of insect larvae in it the next season of operation.

Note!
Some of the disadvantages of this material can be mitigated through chemical impregnation, but this will negatively affect the atmosphere of the bathhouse.

Of all the analogues used, flax can be called the most undesirable solution to the question: how to caulk a bathhouse?

IN Lately expert opinion on the question of what is the best way to caulk a log bathhouse? — is increasingly leaning in favor of jute fiber, which recently appeared on the domestic market.

And this is not without meaning - natural jute is a durable material containing a large amount of natural lingin, which gives it water repellent properties. Also, jute is much less damaged by insects than flax.

Note!
Not to be confused with jute felt, which contains a certain proportion of flax, and accordingly all its negative qualities are present.
It is quite simple to distinguish them from each other - 100% jute is gray in color.

Caulk

IN this process there is practically nothing difficult - the main thing is to choose the right material for sealing the seams. You will need a mallet ( wooden hammer) and a set of caulks. There are two technologies for caulking seams - stretching and tapping.

Stretch

• The insulation is pushed crosswise into the cavity with fibers; this is done either by hand or with caulk, depending on the width of the cavity. The material is hammered inside until about 4–5 cm of the insulation edge remains outside;
• Then a roller of the appropriate diameter is made from the insulation, which is wrapped into the remaining edge, after which it is hammered into the cavity using a caulking chisel;

Recruitment

• For this method the insulation must be twisted into strands like a rope, the diameter of which is selected based on the size of the cavity between the log house;
• The finished strands are pushed into the slot using a caulking chisel - first pushed top part, and then the bottom one. A road worker is used to level the seam;

• During caulking of cracks, the frame rises a little, and therefore it is necessary to hammer in each crack along the entire perimeter and only then move on to the next level, otherwise the bathhouse may “skew”;
  
• If it is necessary to free it so that the structure raised due to caulking does not damage the masonry.
  To do this, it is enough to free up space by a few centimeters;

Bottom line

Caulking a log house in a bathhouse is one of the simplest construction processes

Correct selection of material and our useful tips will help you carry out these manipulations without any difficulties. You can learn more clearly about the process of caulking a bath by watching the video in this article.

There is almost no reduction in the number of people wanting to build own house made of wood. Moreover, wooden buildings have a lot of advantages in comparison with frame, concrete and brick buildings.

But often many people forget that wooden frame, whether it is built from logs, rounded logs or timber, has such a significant drawback or, rather, feature as shrinkage and high deformability wooden elements. For this reason, construction wooden house is always more time consuming - first you need to wait for the frame to shrink, and only then can you start finishing work.

But it leads not only to a change in the geometric dimensions of the logs, but also to the appearance of cracks and leaks, which subsequently need to be sealed. Without this, the house will be cold, damp and uncomfortable. To eliminate any defects that have arisen, the walls are caulked.

What is caulking

The process of caulking is to eliminate gaps between the elements of the log house thermal insulation material, which is designed to prevent cold air flows from entering the house.

This one would seem simple work requires patience, accuracy and quite a lot of time from the performer. Caulking technology has remained virtually unchanged over the past centuries, so many developers prefer not to do caulking themselves, but use the labor of professionals.

The caulking process has several purposes:

• correction of defects made during the assembly of the log house;
• by eliminating cold bridges;
• elimination of gaps that inevitably arise in the crowns, corners of the house, between windows and the frame;
• giving the house a finished look.

You should not think that it is enough to caulk the house once and all problems will be solved.

Only at the first stage - during the construction of a house - caulking is carried out twice:

• after the initial shrinkage of the log house (about six months after its assembly);
• before starting finishing work.

In ancient times, the main materials for insulating a log house were moss and wool. They are still used today, but other materials have appeared on the market, varying in price and raw materials. Therefore, anyone, even those limited in funds, will be able to find suitable material to insulate your home.

In order to choose the right material for caulking, you need to know the properties that it should have (or at least most of them).

These are properties such as:

All materials used to insulate a log house are divided into two groups: natural and synthetic.

• tow;
• hemp;
• felt;
• flax wool;
• jute.

• mineral wool;
• foamed polyethylene;
• foam;
• sealants.

Of the artificial insulation materials, only sealants deserve attention.

Other insulation materials should not be used, as this will lead to undesirable consequences:

• good insulation, but it is afraid of moisture and can lead to the development allergic reactions in some people;
• foamed polyethylene is a closed-cell material that retains heat well, but does not breathe, which can lead to rotting of the log crowns;
• foam rubber and other materials with open pores are not able to protect the seam from freezing, since air and water get into the pores (in addition, foam rubber sags under the weight of logs and decomposes in the light).

Seams can also be sealed using sealants. This is a much simpler and faster process than traditional caulking. Some sealants (for example, Neomid) have good adhesion to wood and high elasticity. Sealants are applied using a construction gun. The seams obtained in this way are not afraid of moisture, do not decompose under the influence of UV rays, do not turn yellow or mold.

But, no matter how good modern sealants are, most owners prefer to caulk their homes using natural materials.

Moss- This is the oldest and to this day quite effective insulation for log houses.

It has such necessary properties as:

• excellent hygroscopicity (capable of absorbing moisture in a volume 20 times its own);
• the presence of lignin in the structure of the fibers, which resists deterioration of both the moss itself and the logs;
• bactericidal properties - moss is able to destroy microorganisms.

Before caulking, dry moss is moistened in a solution prepared from 200 g of soap and 500 g of oil, dissolved in a bucket of water. Of all the types of moss, only two types are used as caulk: forest moss (cuckoo flax) and red swamp moss.

The moss is not laid after the frame is assembled, but during it. To do this, the moistened material is distributed in a layer of at least 10 cm along the crowns with the stems across. The ends of the stems, 10–15 cm long, are released outside for subsequent caulking. The disadvantage of this method is the high labor intensity of preparing the moss (it must be cleared of soil residues and dried) and the rather complex process of caulking.

Tow It can be used, but it is not advisable.

There are several reasons:

• it is difficult to twist tow so that it does not fall apart;
• it absorbs water vapor well, so it is almost always wet and deteriorates;
• in the heat, the material crumbles into dust;
• Birds love tow and use it to build nests.

Thus, the log house will have to be caulked too often. The tow is first treated with a formaldehyde solution and then dried. This protects it from pests. Working with tow is not very convenient, because it is too hard and it is very difficult to achieve a dense filling of the seam.

Hemp– made from hemp stem fibers, which are highly durable and resistant to various influences.

– non-woven material, made from felted wool. For caulking, it is cut into strips. It requires pre-treatment with protective compounds, as it is easily damaged by moths and other pests. Currently, you can purchase impregnated felt that has already been treated with bitumen or resin.

Linen– it is advisable to use dry wood or wood to insulate the house. The material does not have high density and is afraid of prolonged exposure to moisture, which can cause rotting processes in it. The shade of flax caulk is usually gray.

Lnovatin– made from flax and jute, which together form good insulation. The material is resistant to external influences, has good density and the ability to restore its size. After the wood dries, leading to the formation of cracks, the material reliably fills all the resulting voids.

Jute- its properties resemble moss, but it is much easier to work with. The material has sufficient density to keep the cold out and keep the heat out of the house. Jute is a breathable, hygroscopic material. Besides all these positive properties jute has a beautiful golden hue, which greatly decorates the house.

Insulation technology for log walls

From ancient times to this day, two main technologies have been used to insulate wooden walls.

Stretching - used mainly for caulking narrow cracks:

• a strand is formed from the selected insulation, placed in the slot and pushed through with a spatula, leaving an edge of the material about 5 cm long outside;
• then a thin roll is rolled out of the insulation, which is wrapped into the left free edge of the insulation and carefully, using a chisel, hammered into the groove.

Included in the set - used for caulking large grooves and cracks between logs:

• the sealant is twisted into long strands up to 15 mm thick and wound into balls;
• then it is carefully unwound, while simultaneously hammering the material into the cracks using a caulking chisel;
• if there are gaps different sizes, then for larger required thickness The insulation is collected by twisting it into loops.

• caulks (they are different: type-setting, curved, broken);
• wooden mallet or rubber hammer with a wide striker.

Caulking tools have a steel blade that must be soft and smooth, otherwise it may damage the seal.

Work order:

• The caulking process itself begins from the bottom, from the very bottom crown and continues upward. It must be taken into account that caulking the seams changes the height of the log house.
• One seam must be caulked along the entire perimeter of the log house, first from the outside, then from the inside. This will avoid distortions in the walls of the house.
• Then the next highest seam is processed. And so on until the very top.

Caulk separate walls This is not possible, this may cause the wall to deviate from the vertical.

As you can see, the process of caulking a log house is not that complicated, but it requires great care and careful execution of all operations. Then your home will be protected from atmospheric influences, and the facades of the house will take on a finished look.