When one thinks of log homes they tend to think of men. Rugged men, strapping men, men of field and forest, strong and solid. Men take these timbers and toil to construct. Their brawn provides them the leverage and strength to hoist these heavy loads, cut, chop, heave and hoe. Men are good at these things there is little doubt however, when it comes to chinking it takes a woman’s touch.

It is often stated that men are better at those manly things like building and that women are better at refining the thing that the man built into a home. Well guys, I may touch a nerve but I must tell you - women are better at log home chinking than men. And here are five reasons why:

Read more about Women and Log Home Chinking

Sue recently asked a question with regard to chinking and exposed logs in a bathroom.

Hi there,

I just discovered your Bearfort website and want to thank you for the interesting reading and the recipe and process for chinking.

I want to ask your advice regarding my old farmhouse. Unless you went to the attic, you wouldn’t know that it is an original hand hewn log house since it is covered with brick and clapboard externally. I am not certain of the exact date of construction, but the PA deed goes back to 1810.

My dilemma comes with the need to replace plaster walls due their extreme deterioration. I have salvaged plaster in all the public rooms but then we come to the current downstairs bathroom which the previous owner “remuddled” in the 1970’s. Log home magazines never seem to dwell on bathroom interiors.

Read more about this bathroom project

Perched atop a a 40′ ladder is not my idea of fun when it comes to chinking but you do what you have to do. Im not afraid of heights by any means - its just an awkward place to work.

A section of chinking was found to be loose way atop the north face. The 100 year old chinking had begun to give way and needed to be replaced. Had it been at eye level that would be fine but this was a foot below the roof line along the chimney. Oh well.

Read more about log home chinking

I came across this video of a couple of guys chinking a log home using traditional mortar chinking.

Recently a reader asked a question about chinking a hand hewn log home:

Am trying to figure out what is best to seal between logs [our log home is 100+ yrs. old.]. Most important consideration is keeping rodents out. .. Am sealing from the inside because clapboards are still outside. How can I apply mortar without it dripping out? .. Will Permachink keep rodents out?

Sounds like a great project Brian…

I dont know how large your logs are — but lets assume that they are anywhere from 8″ to 10″ tall by about 6″ thick. The gap between the logs may be about 8 ” on average as well.

Traditionally the space would be filled with a mixture of rocks and mud or rocks and mortar.

Read more on log home chinking

I have been away for a while.

Now that the weather is, for the most part, staying consistently warm it is time to continue with re-chinking exterior of the lodge.

Over the past several days I have taken an inspection walk around the outside and examined chinking. The original chinking is still intact however there are areas in which chinking will need to be removed and new chinking applied.

As you know I use my own mixture for chinking and not the commercially available synthetic chinking. There are previous posts that explain my reasoning.

Read more about log home chinking

It is always exciting to hear from readers of Bearfort Lodge.

Not too long ago I heard from the Ryans who had left a comment on a previous post– [Just purchased and starting to renovate an 1830's log "dog-trot" farm house. Can't tell you how much your articles on log restoration and chinking have helped us. We don't feel quite so overwhelmed now. Thanks.]

I contacted them to thank them for their comment, express my excitement over their project and offer further chinking information should they need it. I learned that they had purchased what they thought was a standard construction 1830s farmhouse with the desire to restore. It was when they started to dig in that they learned what they actually had was a log home….

Below is the email and photos -

Read more about the Ryans' hand hewn home

Paul, as addressed in the previous post, is tackling a major rebuilding and restoration of an outstanding hand hewn log home that he disassembled and moved from Pennsylvania to his property in West Virginia.

Disassembling a log home is a long laborious process. Each log, its position and adjoining logs must me marked properly before dismantling so that the pieces fit back together when reassembled.

Paul says that he is not exactly sure of the age of the original log home. “the logs are apparently old growth yellow pine and heavy as heck” he writes.

Replacement of some of the logs was necessary as over the years there had been some modifications with the addition of doors and windows leaving a structure that he felt was a bit unstable.

Read more on Paul's project

I received an amazing email from someone that had purchased a home and soon discovered upon beginning restoration and remodeling that underneath the clapboard siding was a hand-hewn log home. What an exciting find!

Some may grimace at such a find as it does open up a host of unanticipated situations with which they must tackle beyond the norm of home restoration. A find such as this may also drastically change the original plans.

Hand-hewn log homes are a different beast than the typical log home. Where natural logs (round logs) are used to build a home the intention is to leave the logs exposed - no further siding would be used. But historically the hand hewn log home was a method used to construct walls - both interior and exterior to which an exterior or interior wall surface would be adhered. The log construction was merely a method but not intended as a finished surface.

Read more about chinking hand hewn log homes

The chinking continues here at the lodge.

I have been replacing chinking damaged by the previous owner who smeared the original chinking with synthetic material. The synthetic chinking trapped moisture within causing the original material to disintegrate. For the initial chinking I make mine light on water — I just want it wet enough that when I form a ball with it - it holds.

The old material that I removed is damp and falls apart like sandstone and the logs in the affected area are also damp, wet or worse and need to be dried, stabilized and repaired.

Read more for a chinking recipe