Silicone gets a lot of talk. You’ll find contractors who either love it and use it religiously or hate it for its tricky application prep and cure time. While silicone can be stickier and tougher than traditionally-used latex products and is often considered the go-to for waterproof caulk, it can malfunction in a number of ways that have contractors everywhere scratching their heads–or expending hours of precious time during reapplication.
To help ease the challenges of finding the right sealant, we want to present some alternatives to the infamous silicone. This article will dive into a few reasons why silicone might not be your best bet and we will discuss a better waterproof caulk alternative for your next job.
As a contractor, it can be difficult to find a balance between performance and productivity. Water-based sealants are very easy to use on siding and other exterior surfaces – but can they provide the quality you’re looking for? The answer is yes, but you’ll need to find the best exterior caulk for the job.
Roof leaks? No thanks. This month, we have a fun story courtesy of one of our resident paid geeks (aka Senior Chemist) Jim Barnes about an unconventional roof leak fix, along with a shameless plug for our Through the Roof!® roof and gutter sealant, just in time for fall and winter storms to hit.
To seal or not to seal? That is the question! In this month’s “Here to Help!”, we’re sharing our best caulking secrets to help you know when to seal checks on your log home.
Termite trouble, rot, and water damage. Call us crazy, but we’re betting this troublesome trio probably wasn’t part of the vision when you imagined your dream log home. Good news! Protecting your log home dream is possible. Check out this month’s “Here to help!” article for tips on how to save money, protect your home, and prevent big-time headaches!
Are you asking yourself, what is a LEED Certified Building? You’re not the only one. There have been many questions lobbied our way regarding Sashco products’ LEEDTM certification.
Here are some facts for you to know:
What does LEED stand for? Leadership in Energy &Environmental Design
What is LEED? LEED is an internationally recognized environmental program and is currently deployed in more than 30 countries. It provides a point system framework for verifying that a structure is designed and built in a way that will improve energy savings, water efficiency, indoor environmental quality, and reduce CO2 emissions. Points are given for various energy savings designs installed or environmentally favorable materials used. Those points add up to LEED certification.
Why do people care about LEED certification for their buildings? 1) Money; and 2) environmental friendliness.
1) Money: There are many tax credits available for LEED construction and some say the long-term energy savings also add up, along with increasing the LEED building’s value. There are many federal and state tax credit available that can add up to a lot. We found one mention of a contractor who received $1.80 per sq. ft. for a 20,000 sq. ft. building. That’s $36,000! The actual credits vary year-to-year with tax code changes, as well as by state, type of construction and total LEED points. It’s important to note that this is a tax CREDIT, not a deduction. Tax credits are for the full amount, far more advantageous than a deduction, of which only a small percentage is deducted.
2) Environmental friendliness: LEED certified buildings reduce waste sent to landfills, conserve energy and water and reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions. Plus, as an added bonus, LEED buildings lower operating costs and are said to be healthier and safer for occupants.
Are products LEED certified? No. Only the structure itself is LEED certified. Products used are allotted a certain amount of LEED points. The sum of the points is what makes a building LEED certified. The minimum points required varies by type of construction, but is generally 40-45. The more LEED points earned (all the way up to the platinum LEED certification max. of 136 points), the more tax credits they get – along with more bragging rights.
So, are any Sashco products worth any LEED points? YES. The Sashco products listed below are worth 1 LEED point.
Want to know more? Visit the main LEED certification website at www.usgbc.org/LEED, so that the next time someone asks “What is a LEED certified building?”, you can be the one to answer.
Don’t compromise at the end of a long and arduous journey by using an inferior stain not designed for logs. Capture and Cascade deliver performance worthy of the journey that got you here.
Moves with your logs and timbers
Won't hide the wood grain
Easy clear coat maintenance with Cascade(R) exterior clear coat
Backer Materials that Seal Things Right the First Time Backer Rod, Grip Strip, and Log Gap Cap all help you create the ideal joint desing for a long-lasting, durable seal
Logs are in constant dynamic motion. That's why there's Log Builder®, the sealant made for log structures. Stretches up to 500% of original size, while still maintaining tenacious adhesion to the wood.
When other chinking pulls away, Log Jam holds its seal With Log Jam chinking, you can keep the cozy feel and rustic look of a log home without compromising comfort and performance.
Easy to Use - Hard to See Keep out weather, bugs, and moisture without seeing it. Conceal disappears into the woodwork so you don't know the wood starts and the caulk begins.
It's Music to the Eyes Symphony works in harmony with the unique character of your logs and wood to reflect an atmosphere or cozy warmth and elegance while creating and scuff-resistant and durable surface that's easy to dust.
Right Color. Right Quantity. Right Now. Never run out of stain at the jobsite again. Stock exactly what you need in your truck or trailer at the jobsite.
Easy to mix
The same color, durability, and application you've come to expect from Capture Log Stain and Transformation Log & Timber
Maintenance Made Easy Now that Capture® Log Stain is applied, it’s time for Cascade® Clear Topcoat to bring out the depth and character of your unique woodgrain while protecting it against moisture, mildew, and algae. Predictable and affordable routine maintenance with Cascade throughout the years means your home stays protected and beautiful. Easy!
Keep the Color the Color Colorfast delivers the ideal canvas for stain application and leaves behind the strong foundation necessary for long-lasting color. It’s color confidence for your log home.
Rot, weather, insects, fungi all pose a serious threat to your logs. Protect your investment—treat your logs first to make them last. Tim-bor® helps protect your home from the costly damage caused by rot and insect infestation.
Bugs don't stand a chance
Easy to mix and apply
Prevents decay fungi
Costs 5 times less than glycol-based borate products
Remove Wood Felting and Raised Grain Remove wood fuzz (called felting) after power washing or media blasting, and knock down excessive raised grain with Sashco's finish sanding tools
Clean and brighten bare logs and wood, remove surface dirt, pollen, and kill mold for maintenance, and keep your logs looking fresh with CPR Log Cleaner and Brightener
