Ways to eliminate the gaps between the crowns of the log house. Sealing seams in a log house with sealant Decorative sealing of seams between logs

The final stage of work on the construction of a log house should be caulking. It is needed to insulate the seams and prevent the penetration of moisture between the structural elements. Wood is a natural biological material and needs special protection from external damaging natural factors, as well as damage by pests, fungi and bacteria. When caulking a log private house, various insulating materials and methods for sealing seams are used. Familiarization with them will allow you to easily carry out the whole process yourself.

Material selection

Before you start caulking a log house, you should decide on the choice of a suitable material. Previously, for this purpose, natural heaters were used - tow and moss. They are still relevant among lovers of eco-style. The former materials were replaced by modern ones - jute and lnovatin. When choosing a material, the main thing is that it is not harmful to health and performs its functions of warming the house.

Special attention should be paid to the choice of material

Qualities inherent in a good material for sealing seams:

• do 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 types of insulation designed to work with log houses. The most common of them:

• tow;
• red moss;
• jute;
• lnovatin.

Let's consider each type in more detail.

This is a natural material, a product of processing of bast crops (flax, hemp). It is used for thermal insulation and moisture insulation of wooden structures (caulking cracks, lining crowns, stuffing seams). It has a slight antibacterial effect. Due to its not as dense structure as that of jute tape, it can be used in log cabins of any type.

Most often used in combination with tow

White moss (sphagnum) grows everywhere, found in any swamp. In terms of its qualities, it is inferior to red moss, but since sphagnum is easier to prepare in any quantity, it is usually preferred.

Moss is an excellent material that has 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. It is able to create a favorable microclimate in the room, thanks to vapor and gas permeability. Moss is a worthy option for laying joints, as it allows you to smooth out moisture differences and thus provide insulation, as well as the durability of a log structure. In the process of work, moss is often combined with tow due to the difficulties in laying.

Red moss (cuckoo flax)

The material is difficult to prepare

It has a number of useful properties:

• durable;
• provides insulation;
• prevents mold and rot.
• durable, resilient;
• less hygroscopic than moss;
• light and long.

But it does not grow everywhere and it is difficult to stock up in the required quantities.

This material is popular and eventually replaces moss more and more. Obtained by processing the stem of the plant of the same name.

More expensive option

Material advantages:

• environmentally friendly;
• durable;
• has good heat-saving properties;
• easy and quick installation;
• contains a substance that prevents the decay of the material;
• has a beautiful color.

Its disadvantage is a higher cost, as well as caking and limited use in conventional log cabins. It is suitable for buildings made of timber and rounded logs.

Previously, flax was used along with moss. Now lnovatin is produced on its basis. "Eurolen" is a ribbon of woven fibers of this plant.

Material advantages:

Affordable and durable material

• 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 heaters, others occasionally use:

1. Mineral heaters.
2. Wool fiber.
3. Batting, synthetic winterizer, sealant.
4. Thermal insulation tapes.

This is fraught with the accumulation of excess moisture inside the insulation with further freezing of the seams. And some of them contribute to the release 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:

• "stretched out";
• "to the set".

With the “stretching” method, strands are twisted from the insulation, which are then wound into a ball for convenience. Loops are made from these threads, which seal the seams. Their number depends on the depth of the gap. First, the material is driven into the upper, and then into the lower edges. Then the insulation is trimmed with the flattened end of the tool. Corners should be given close attention. It is not very convenient to work with them. When sealing the walls, it will be correct to release about 15 cm of material at the corners.

Important! If caulking is done in a finished house, then a 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 at home must be done correctly, passing around the entire perimeter of the log house. You should start from the bottom of the house, then rise sequentially up in a circle.

When re-caulking, seams are sealed using the “set-up” method. This method is good for filling large cracks and gaps. For such work, a pre-prepared fiber roller is used. The thickness of the roller should be the same throughout. Closing large gaps occurs by folding the cord to form a kind of loop. The insulation is clogged with a caulk and a mallet.

Regardless of whether insulation was carried out during the construction of the log house, the seams are sealed 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 carried out in the same way. The insulation should be tightly hammered between the crowns, and in places with large gaps, insulation should be made with jute and hemp ropes.

Periodic, correctly executed caulking is designed to solve several problems:

• provide sufficient thermal insulation;
• protect the tree from destruction;
• avoid condensation;
• reduce house blowing.

Periodic caulking at home

You should annually inspect the house for the appearance of cracks, which must immediately be properly repaired.

Caulking of log buildings is not much different from working with other log cabins. The only thing you should pay attention to is the threat of overfilling the interventional space with insulation. The fact is that in log cabins the gaps are not as large as in the others. When working with jute, you should monitor the joints between the logs, as this is the weakest point.

Corner lock processing

To avoid alteration and unnecessary expenditure of funds, the caulking of a log house should be carried out correctly and efficiently, tightly clogging the gaps. Sealing must be carried out inside and outside the house. In the case of poor-quality work, even the smallest-looking gaps can significantly affect the temperature in the room.

Insulation of a log house is desirable to be carried out using the "set-up" method. The material roller has the necessary rigidity, which increases the efficiency of the seam sealing method.

To build a log house, you need to take into account many issues related to its construction. One of them, no less significant and important - how and how to close the gaps between the logs in order to protect
house from the influence of natural factors. There are many options for caulking the inter-log space. Which one you choose will determine the rest of your life in your new home.

How to close the gaps between the logs

How to close the gaps between the logs - natural materials

You will receive the most correct and practical advice from an experienced master or a person who himself
built a house.

• Caulking log house with moss

So, many
experienced experts come to the conclusion that sphagnum moss is one of
the most efficient and reliable gap sealing materials.

It is taken from the outskirts of the swamps still wet and stuffed between the crown joints. This type of moss is very light and supple.

The quality of the caulking of the walls is determined by a sharp awl, which is stuck between the caulked logs. If it enters the gap heavily, like wood, then the caulking is made on
conscience.

• Tow for caulking

Another
an environmentally friendly way to eliminate gaps is to use tow,
filled with cement or gypsum, as well as acceptable and dense tamping
pure material without any impurities.

Alternative material for
caulking - jute fiber or hemp fiber (hemp), which
differs from tow in that the first is made from linen, and the second is obtained from
hemp.

Our great-grandfathers
used these materials. They are relevant today. What is better than tow or
moh, it's hard to say. If the caulk is made with high quality, any material
good. That's only if you want to change the layout with a chainsaw,
a problem arises: tow or hemp can pretty much clog and blunt it.

How to close gaps between logs - modern materials

In addition to environmentally
pure materials that nature supplies us, there are modern
synthetic materials offered by domestic and foreign industry.
As for the environment, of course, one can argue, but the reliability of the manufacturing plant
guaranteed.

Putty for logs

• Silicone sealant

Puttying the seams with siliconeOne of these
materials is silicone. Because wood has
absorb moisture and evaporate it, then this termination method is doubtful, because
evaporation under the sealant layer will not be carried out, which sooner or later
will lead to rot.

• Polyurethane sealant

There are many
special sealants based on polyurethane. He is not
susceptible to temperature changes, resistant to ultraviolet rays. putty
based on it, it is quite suitable for sealing the seams of the crowns of the house.

Cannot be used for
joint putty polyurethane sealants that are sold in bottles - they do not
Designed for direct sunlight!

As you know, the house
wood "breathes". Processes of heating and cooling, absorption and evaporation of moisture
set the logs in motion. This means that mounting foam does not last long.
will last, after a while it will crack and crumble. Therefore, for
when sealing seams, use more elastic materials.

How to make a caulk - competent laying between logs

CaulkerBefore sealing the seams,
think about what material will be under the putty. cover up cracks
sealants is impractical and expensive, as they can be very deep
and count in tens.

So, calculate what is more profitable: the filler on what basis, industrial or natural.

We have already discussed natural, and as for synthetic, many
experts come to the conclusion: use a cord made of foamed polymer, which
goes on sale in different diameters, which is very convenient when fitting under the gap.

So when the cracks
packed as tightly as possible, cover them with sealant. To do this, paste on
length of the log with adhesive tape to avoid contamination with putty. As a spatula
We use a rubber spatula designed for seams. And completely close
the joints will help the flashings. They will even enhance the overall style of your log house.

Wooden buildings are extremely attractive, both in terms of environmental friendliness and protection from the cold, and their appearance. Now there is a real trend in the construction of houses made of wood, and similar buildings, obviously not built in Soviet times, can be seen in various regions of the country. However, all the advantages of wooden houses appear only if there are no gaps between the logs in their walls. And about how to close these seams with traditional and modern methods, we will tell you in this material.

But first, I would like to go through the many advantages of such buildings, which made them so popular among our compatriots, and on a global scale as a whole. So, let's focus on the main ones:

• Environmental friendliness. Houses made of natural materials, completely safe for the health of the people living in them. Moreover, a person in wooden houses gets sick less, has a higher body tone and vigor;
• Wooden walls, with similar durability and strength, will be much thinner than their brick counterparts. So there is more space in such houses;
• Wood is a very mediocre conductor of temperature. Thanks to this, in summer it is cool in such a dwelling, and in winter heat loss to the outside is minimal. Consequently, such a structure warms up faster, and less resources are spent on maintaining comfortable temperature conditions;
• Wooden houses are lighter than concrete or brick ones, so the construction of a massive foundation is not required;
• Wooden walls are very pleasing to the eye, so you can save a lot on finishing activities.

And this is only a small part of the advantages that such buildings have. Listing all or even most of them would be a very lengthy process. But already what is said above is enough to understand the reasons for the newly increased popularity of the tree. However, it is important that much of the above may not be available if the joints between the logs are not properly insulated.

How did our ancestors

Earlier, when there were simply no technologically advanced insulating materials on the market, our ancestors used moss, hemp or tow in their old log houses. However, even now many people decide to use such authentic methods. Moreover, many masters are still talking about their exceptional effectiveness. Finally, the advantages are that in this case we are talking about natural materials that are safe for health.

Moss can be placed in the gaps between the logs without any additives. However, finding sphagnum in sufficient quantities today is not easy. As for tow or hemp, in this case the ideal solution is to add a solution of gypsum or cement to them. Moreover, some experienced craftsmen in this matter can tamp these materials into the slots so firmly that sticking an awl into them will be no less difficult than into the wood itself.

Modern means of sealing gaps in wooden structures

There are no special means for sealing the seams between the logs, since sealants known to everyone are used for this. But not everyone is suitable for such work, and here's why.

Ordinary polyurethane foam is not suitable due to the constant, albeit small, mobility of the logs. Thus, the foam will only crack and flake over time. Silicone sealant is not suitable due to the fact that it does not absorb moisture well. And since the tree, as usual, does it very well, and also rots well, rot will necessarily form in those places of the log where there are problems with sufficient evaporation.

All of the above makes such sealants unsuitable for sealing joints between logs in wooden houses or barns. And the ideal solution is actually the use of polyurethane sealants. The latter can be actively used both inside and outside the building, as they perfectly tolerate temperature changes and retain their properties even in the most severe frosts. Such sealants are excellent, unless we are talking about those that are sold in cylinders, they also tolerate the effects of solar radiation, without reducing their insulating properties even from the most serious doses of ultraviolet radiation.

What needs to be placed under the sealant

First of all, it should be noted that there can be very, very many seams in a wooden frame - several tens and hundreds. However, there can be quite a lot of space between them. If you start to clog all this with sealant, you will get too much consumption, which will result in huge costs. Well, in the case of using natural ingredients, it is unlikely that you will be able to find so much moss at all.

All this speaks of the need to find something to put under the sealant. Experts say that the best material in this case is a cord made of polyethylene foam. Such a cord in itself is an excellent sealant, so it will not violate the thermal conductivity.

How to seal cracks in a wooden frame

Consider the process of sealing with modern methods, since there are few forests and swamps near the house in order to bring moss. While the same polyurethane sealant and polyethylene foam cord can be purchased at any outlet.

• First of all, we place a cord in the hole between the logs, trying to hammer it there as tightly as possible;
• We glue the edges of the logs with masking tape so as not to stain them during the application of the sealant;
• It is best to apply the coating with your fingers. However, if there is not enough experience in this matter, then it is better to use a rubber spatula, which will help make the insulation more beautiful.

Conclusion

Log houses can provide the highest quality of life. But only if the technology of their construction is strictly observed. Particular attention must be paid to sealing all seams, as well as proper processing of wood in order to increase its fire resistance, moisture resistance and protection from pests. We will cover the latter points in more detail in future articles.

"The ceiling is icy, the door is creaky,
Behind the rough wall, the darkness is prickly.
As you step over the threshold, frost is everywhere,
And from the windows the park is blue-blue.

Oh, I would not want to have such a bath! So that drafts do not fly through the cracks in the steam room - a log house is over insulated. The beam itself, from which the bath is assembled, cannot be insulated (except for additional wall insulation), but to close all the cracks from blowing, i.e. do sealing the interventional seams of the log house- even very possible. I would share the materials for insulation of interventional seams log house into 2 types: external - in contact with the street and internal - laid between the crowns. We will talk about interventional insulation. In this article, I will focus on the insulation-sealant of the joints, which is used outside the building. There are many reasons to consider this issue separately. Here are the most common aspects of the use of such sealing:

Sealant for the seams of the log cabin of the bath

1. From the leeward side, air pressure constantly acts on the walls of the beam, which is directed inside the log cabin of the bath. The pressure difference creates conditions for the penetration of cold air into the space between the timber. If the beam profile is selected with a large number of ridges, then the fit of the parts is so high that cold air has little chance of getting inside the log house. In some types of walls made of logs or profiled timber with two ridges, cold air is more likely to get into a warm steam room.

2. During slanting rains and side winds, water literally pours along the outer wall. With gusts of wind, such streams can seep into the bath. Such cases are especially common for timber, in which the height of the ridge is small and the shape of the lock is not provided with special drains. We talked about this in the article.

3. When building from raw timber, the timber almost always cracks and gets curvature along the longitudinal axis. This leads to the formation of additional gaps and cracks that are not provided for by our dream of a wooden frame. The size of the cracks is sometimes so impressive that even the birds cannot resist the temptation to tear out the insulation from the cracks and steal it to build their nest.

Wind, water and feathered builders will gradually make your log house windy and cold. This is where we turn to the sealant for help, which will not only block the access of sparrows to tow and jute, but also prevent water from entering the space between the log crowns.

Despite the fact that the site is dedicated to do-it-yourself bath construction technologies, for now we will omit the research “how to make a sealant with your own hands”. It's hard enough. Of course, there is a way to make the sealant yourself, but the first frosts and the sun will reduce your efforts to zero. It is difficult to produce synthetic materials at home!

Properties of sealants for sealing crowns and cracks

Many home-grown builders believe that wood putty, foam, or any plumbing sealant can be used to seal the wood structures of log cabins. You can, but you don't have to! We will live well, but not for long! What are the main properties that a sealing aggregate for the walls of a wooden bath or house should have?

1. The most important property: wood sealant should have high elasticity. which will not allow it to collapse during displacements and movements of wooden structures. Standard sealing means are designed for the invariability of the size of the holes that are insulated. Neither polyurethane mounting foam nor putty has this property and cannot provide sufficient tightness.

2. Silicone, sanitary polyurethane and other standard sealants do not have good adhesion to wood to provide a reliable bond patch to the surface of the wooden beam. In addition, due to the specificity of the raw materials for their production, many of these sealants are not allowed to be used for interior work.

3. The color of the sealant does not always play a decisive role in the choice of sealing material, but only specialized sealant pastes are made to match the color spectrum of the wood surface.

4. Frost - should not significantly reduce the plasticity of the joint sealant, and hot sun and temperature - should not give the sealant excessive fluidity. The heat resistance of the sealant is one of the main advantages of the insulation for sealing joints.

5. The container in which the sealant is located should play the role of a tool for applying it directly into the gaps and seams between the crowns. At the same time, excesses and sags should be easily removed without spoiling the appearance of the surface of the beam and the log house as a whole.

6. The total drying time of specialized sealants is long and amounts to 2-5 weeks. It is desirable that this period of time protect the applied sealant from the sun and water.

"Sealants" made from tow, jute fiber, moss and similar environmentally friendly products were good in the last century. They were available and not expensive. At the time of the kings, rubber, acrylic, etc. were not known.

After writing the article, I added it not only to the ““ heading, but also placed a link in the “log protection” heading, because sealing the interventional seams is protection against imperceptible decay of wood in the cavity between the crowns (timber) and has the right to lie on a shelf with experience on

There is an opinion that Sealing the interventional seams of a log house with a sealant does not allow the log house to dry out well if it has already gained moisture. But the uniqueness of wood lies in the fact that it dries 90% through the ends. End processing is a separate topic for conversation.

Ecologically clean wood has long been considered an excellent material for building a house. Huts or log cabins built of wood are good because they breathe easily. In summer, such buildings do not get very hot, like brick or stone houses, and it is comfortable to stay in them even in the heat, and in frosty winters, wooden walls keep heat well, not letting cold into the room. For these reasons, many people prefer to build their cottages and country houses from wood.

However, along with the above advantages, the tree also has many disadvantages. So, under the influence of natural factors, it undergoes deformation and deterioration. Moisture contributes to the swelling of wood logs, in dry weather they dry out. All this leads to the fact that gaps begin to appear between the crowns of the log house, through which wind and cold can enter the house, and rain and dampness are the causes of wood decay and its gradual destruction. But these processes can be prevented if the log house is insulated and the log joints are sealed in time. The salvation of the dwelling is the high-quality sealing of the seams between the crowns. What materials are better to use for sealing walls and how is seaming done in a wooden house correctly?

Is it worth caulking a wooden house?

The most famous interventional heaters are moss, hemp and tow. The advantages of these natural materials are resistance to temperature fluctuations, bactericidal and mold fungi, low thermal conductivity, good moisture absorption. But fewer and fewer people building log cabins use these materials to seal the seams in a wooden house. Why did the demand for moss, tow and hemp decrease so much?

The process of caulking the gaps and gaps between the crowns is quite laborious and time consuming, because it is required to carefully and evenly plug them with natural materials using a chisel. The walls cannot be caulked immediately after the construction of the log house, since it will take at least a year to shrink, and during this time the moisture can already begin its destructive work. The disadvantage of caulking tow and moss is the fact that this process will need to be repeated more than once. The thing is that birds love to “steal” materials from people to build nests. Pulling moss and tow out of cracks and joints, they violate the integrity of the seal and give the wooden frame a sloppy, disheveled look. Winds also worsen the appearance of the walls. As for material such as hemp, it is subject to attacks by moths, which, through their activities, harm the seal.

Knowing these shortcomings of natural heaters, manufacturers of building materials produce more advanced sealants to improve the quality of insulation of all cracks and seams of a wooden house. What are the advantages of modern wall insulation?

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How to insulate walls with tape tow and linen rope?

One of the improved sealants is natural tow in rolls. It is made from flax, which is first well combed on carding machines, then the fibers are polarized and turned into a tape 15 cm wide. Next, the fibers are cleaned of various impurities. The result is an excellent sound and heat insulating material with good waterproof properties.

Unlike ordinary tow, tape is easier and denser to fit between the joints, it is not so brittle due to its softness.

Due to the naturalness of the material, the log walls breathe well and do not rot. Tape tow seams are more durable, and it is not easy for birds to pull it out of the cracks. The rolled material is laid, like the usual one, along the crowns and along their edges with the help of a chisel or a special caulking spatula, carefully tucking the edges of the tape into each seam and slot. The result is a reliable seal between the logs, and the appearance of the log house is quite attractive.

A house insulated with linen rope looks even more beautiful. Such sealing of seams is called rope. As a heater, a three-strand linen rope is used, which is fixed to the seam with staples or nails. To work on the following materials and tools are needed:

• tape measure or ruler;
• scissors;
• linen rope;
• a hammer;
• short nails;
• metal staples;
• tassel;
• wood impregnation.

The acquired linen rope is placed along the line of the inter-beam seam and every 15 cm, pulling it well, a bracket or a nail with a small hat is hammered into the beam. At the corners of a wooden house, the distance between the fasteners may be smaller. In order for the rope sealing to look aesthetically pleasing, when driving in nails or staples, the following action is performed: first, a strand of rope is slightly opened, then fasteners are hammered in, the rope itself is tucked against the wall of the log house and pulled. The strand is closed, and the staple or nail head is hidden under it from prying eyes.

When the sealing of the seams with a natural linen cord is completed, care should be taken to preserve it for a long time. To do this, you need to take a protective impregnation for wood and carefully process all the rope edges with it. You can perform this procedure, impregnating at the same time the log walls themselves. Despite the fact that the process of sealing all the seams of a wooden house is quite long, it is not difficult, and you can do it without resorting to the help of other people. Rope insulation of seams in a wooden house is highly reliable, perfectly protects the log house from moisture and gives the structure an unusual but attractive look.