A reader recently asked if the chinking recipe provided on previous posts could be tinted or colored. Yes.
Here is an excerpt from his email:
I am restoring an old log cabin in WV and have gaps several inches wide (4-5 inches). I am going to use a stainless steel mesh as used for stucco as my backing. My question concerns coloring. If I want to color may chinking per your method, recipe, what color agent would you suggest?
Thanks – Paul
My response to Paul:
Hello Paul – Thank you for reading and your email…
Coloring chinking can be handled in a few ways – although I am curious as to why you would want to color the chinking, what color are you trying to achieve?
If you would like a nice white chinking then use a white portland cement in the recipe in previous posts. If you are choosing to color the chinking material to give it a more aged look or earth tone you can simply add a masonry colorant to the mix.
You can find the dyes at local hardware or masonry supply stores. Some will come in the form of powder and some liquid and it is mixed right into the chinking mixture. Make sure to follow the direction on the dye package and read about the proportions carefully.
You will need to experiment, use a little at a time as a little goes a long way and too much will bring you to a point of no return.
If you are to use one of the colorants (which can be combined to achieve other colors to a degree) you may want to experiment with using white portland cement as well as regular portland cement as the color will vary in intensity with each.
Paul – Keep in mind that after you chink – you are most likely at some point in the future going to be applying a preservative /stain to the logs. If you use a sprayer — the fastest and most thorough method of application you most likely get some on the chinking. This alone will color your chinking in a color compatible way with your logs.
I will add more coloring information and ideas in an upcoming post as well as a couple of photos of Paul’s beautiful hand-hewn log home.
THANKS!
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We have a very old log house. When we moved it to our land and rebuilt about 20 years ago, we spent about $1000 on synthetic chinking. At the time, I thought it was great stuff, but now I hate it. It’s actually peeling away from the styrofoam behind. So, I’m starting again, the old fashioned way. I’ve started restoration of not only the logs, but the chinking, working in one small section at at time. But, in the small section I’ve started, I’ve used mortar mix. Should I switch, or will this work? My other concern is this. Our house is very old, as I’ve said, it is square-cut with dove-tailed corners and the chinked spaces are wide, 4-8 inches. I’m concerned with the seasonal expansion and contraction and the effect on the mortar. I appreciate that it will need occasional maintenance. Such is the lot of owning a house like this.
I’d be grateful for your thoughts. Thanks.
Lorraine