Chinking & Caulking FAQ's

Should I chink or stain my log home first? It is best to apply a stain that is compatible with the chinking first. The stain acts as a primer for the chinking and normally improves the overall adhesion of the log chinking material. Additionally, it makes the clean up process for the chinking material much easier.
Triple Stretch chinking has a higher viscosity making it easier to tool for a clean, crisp edge, faster drying, and more penetration resistant while still providing the necessary adhesion and elasticity. View our Chinking Comparison Chart for more details.
Usage depends on the width of the joint and the thickness of application. Let our Chinking Estimator or Caulking Estimator help assist you with your quantity details.
We recommend application to be approximately a ¼” thick. Do not exceed ¼” as additional thickness will start to impede elasticity.
Chinking is an elastic sealing material that has a coarse surface which is designed to look like old-fashioned mortar and is typically used on larger joints. Caulking is a highly elastic sealing material that has no surface texture and is mainly used in smaller joints.
Chinking can be applied using a bulk loading gun, prepackaged tubes or commerical pump. Once it has been applied to the joint, it should be tooled into the joint using a margin trowel or regular spatula with a 50/50 water/isopropyl alcohol mix sprayed on the trowels/spatulas as a release agent.
It is recommended to install backer rod prior to Triple Stretch chinking as to allow for maximum product elasticity and performance.
The surfaces to be chinked must be clean, dry (below 25% surface moisture content) and free from parafins, waxes, nondrying oils, lose or aged wood fibers, and other contaminants.
All Weatherall Company, Inc. products are waterborne acrylics and cannot be applied during freezing temperatures or when freezing temperatures are expected before the material has completely cured. If application during freezing temperatures is unavoidable, the structure must be tented and heated until the material is completely dry. It is also recommended that the material not be applied when temperatures exceed 90° F.
Do not attempt to apply the products if rain or other inclement weather is imminent unless tenting and heating is provided as specified in the question above. If the logs are exposed to moisture, allow several days to dry. Check the moisture content a minimum of one inch into the wood with a lignometer (moisture meter) and confirm a reading below 18%. This is especially important in areas with high humidity. Check the product specification sheets for appropriate cure times.
When properly applied, our chinking and caulking materials should last the lifetime of the structure which is why ALL Weatherall chinking and caulking products come with a lifetime limited warranty.
It depends on how long the stain has been on the logs and how the stain has weathered. Also, it depends on the type of oil stain and what ingredients are in the stain. We recommend that you test the chinking or caulking over an area that has been protected from the weather, such as under eaves. Allow 2 to 3 days for the chinking or caulking to cure. Then see if you can pull the chinking or caulking off of the stained surface.
Yes. There is a one time custom color fee of $250 and the process normally takes 10-15 working days from the time the color has been approved. Call us for minimum quantity requirements.
Ideally the cementitious chinking should be removed and replaced with one of our backer rod which will greatly improve the energy efficiency of the joint and provide the optimum joint design. However, if the cementitious chinking is in sound condition and free from any cracks or loose or crumbly surface conditions, Triple Stretch chinking can be applied over it as a seal coat. Recognize that our chinking will adhere to both the cementitious chinking and the wood at both edges thus eliminating any possibility for the chinking to stretch.
UV GUARD® Mortar Match is the best choice for a non-structural finish over new or existing mortar joints. It is an excellent restoration/repair product for previously applied mortar. Its elasticity is ideal for sealing over cracked and deteriorated mortar joints, eliminating air and water infiltration.

Generally yes. Our caulk colors are intended to blend with our stain colors. However, since the actual finished stain color is so dependent on the color of the wood it is applied to, the caulk color may not be an exact match. We recommend that you use the color chart on our brochure or a sample tube to check the actual color match on your finished stained logs or log sample.

**Note: Pine caulk is generally the best match for the Sunlight stain color while Light Brown caulk better matches the darker Honey Brown and Amber stains.