Do You Need To Seal Checks On Your Log Home?

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.

There are many opinions about sealing up small checks in wood. However, there is one thing that’s not up for debate: It’s important to flood checks of any size with stain – period. So then, which checks should be sealed after staining? The answer is anything 1/4″ wide or wider should be sealed, especially if they’re upward-facing.

Here’s why: Checks of that size can take on enough water to cause localized regions of very high moisture content. This is bad because it often leads to several things including:

If the moisture can’t escape, it leads to mold, mildew and rot (as seen in the photo above…eek!)
If the moisture escapes through any coating put on the wood, it is at risk for peeling.
If the moisture stays in the wood and gets frozen, it expands and causes more severe checking.

So, now you know when to seal a check, but with what sealant? Sashco’s log home sealants are a great place to start. Conceal^® is lightly textured to match wood grain and comes in colors that closely match the most popular stain colors, including the brand new Weathered Gray. Log Builder^® is a traditional smooth sealant available in three colors that closely match wood. Sashco has the chinking, caulk and sealant solutions you need to keep your log home moisture free and airtight.

Or, find all you need to know about caulk and sealants in the How-To Zone.