Wall decoration in a log house. The most important thing about the interior decoration of a log house
The creation of a log house design begins at the planning and construction stage. The house is decorated with special dressings of corners, a five-wall configuration, and the presence of a bay window. As a rule, interior decoration, which helps to keep warm, gives the walls a more attractive look, is required for an old house. If the house is new and the construction work is done according to the rules, and the insulation between the crowns looks neat, it is not necessary to sheathe the walls.
When should finishing work begin?
If we are talking about a new house, it is advisable to start finishing work after shrinkage is over. The shrinkage period depends on the quality and type of building wood material. For example, if you used:
- glued laminated timber, then it will take about 3-4 months to shrink;
- log or ordinary timber - at least a year.
The shrinkage rate is influenced by humidity and air temperature.
What work is done inside the house
The interior decoration of a log house includes the following works:
- Organization and finishing of the floor.
- Installation of double-glazed windows, window sills, finishing of doorways. If necessary, they are painted or varnished.
- They erect the base of the ceiling, which is the floor for the upper floor or attic. Next, the ceiling is sheathed with clapboard, panels or drywall, followed by plastering.
- Wall decoration with the use of facing materials is carried out last.
Basic Rule– do all the dusty work first, then the finishing work. Decorative elements are installed at the final stage.
Floor
Installation of the floor begins after the divorce of communications. Layers of materials are successively laid on the subfloor:
- waterproofing membrane;
- mineral wool insulation;
- vapor barrier membrane;
- counter-lattice along the lags;
- board or plywood flooring.
The next step is finishing the floor. In bathrooms and other rooms where tiling is supposed to be done, the screed is made with a thin layer of concrete.
Preparatory work for the walls
First of all, the walls are caulked, this allows you to eliminate drafts, reduces heat dissipation. Caulking is performed in two stages:
- The first time - a few weeks after the walls were assembled.
- The second - six months later or a couple of months before complete shrinkage.
They use sealing and heat-insulating material, work begins from the bottom of the walls, both outside and inside, around the entire perimeter of the building.
Instead of caulking, it is allowed to seal the seams with special sealants.
In order to protect against decay, fungus and mold, the tree is treated with a special antiseptic. The application of a flame retardant layer can significantly increase its fire resistance.
On our website you can find contacts of construction companies that offer home finishing and insulation services. You can directly communicate with representatives by visiting the exhibition of houses "Low-Rise Country".
wall decor ideas
Designers offer several options for finishing the log house inside:
- A style that is as close to natural as possible, involving minimal changes in the texture of the walls. In this case, methods are used that hide interventional heaters and at the same time emphasize the beauty and quality factor of the tree.
- The walls are sheathed with clapboard or decorative lath. The color of the sheathing should be in harmony with the tone of the tree itself.
- A popular option is to use standard gypsum boards, decorative plaster, natural or artificial stone, ceramic tiles and other modern finishing materials.
Often it is the kitchen or bathroom that is finished in a modern style, with materials that can provide comfort and beauty for a long period.
Video description
A selection of photos of interesting embodied ideas for the interior design of a log house - in this video:
Finishing work is simple. They proceed to them without waiting for the shrinkage of the house, it is not necessary to pre-finish the floor and ceiling. Option, the most profitable from an economic point of view.
However, the method does not allow you to hide communications, the coverage will have to be updated every five years.
According to the fire safety rules, in wooden houses the main part of the electrical wiring is laid on the outside of the building, so it will not have to be hidden.
Work order
Wall decoration in a natural style is done as follows:
- Logs (outside and inside the house) are ground with a grinder and petal circles of different grain sizes, 36-150 units. Grinding removes mechanical damage, irregularities obtained during the construction of the building. Internal grinding should be carried out in several layers, special polishing agents are used. Often, grinding is carried out at the construction stage.
- Next, the tree is impregnated with a special agent. The impregnating agent can be colorless or tinted to a specific color. After impregnation, the surface becomes more even, matte.
- Coating wood with protective varnishes that make the color of the wood more saturated and the texture contrast. Apply at least 2-3 layers
Wood treated in this way looks very impressive, while it almost does not absorb moisture and dust.
Application of jute rope
Often, a jute decorative rope is used for the interior decoration of a log house assembled from rounded timber.
The sequence of work when laying a decorative rope:
- Cut the rope to the desired length.
- The edges of the rope are wrapped with thread, varnished or glued by dipping.
- The rope is impregnated with water-repellent agents.
- Thermal glue is squeezed out into the interventional joints with a gun.
- A jute rope is laid, while nails 15-20 cm long are driven into it.
- Coated with varnish.
The rope is not expensive, it allows you to hide defects between the joints, additionally protects against drafts, and gives the wall a more sophisticated appearance. But finishing with a rope becomes a more time-consuming process.
Finishing a log house with clapboard has a number of features, they should be taken into account when choosing a material. There are several methods for laying lining:
- vertical, more suitable for small houses, with a wall height of not more than 2.5 m;
- horizontal.
The lining is made from different types of wood, up to 220 mm wide. According to the configuration of the transverse profile is divided into:
- standard,
- block house,
- softline,
- land house,
- American.
Before installation, the lining is treated with agents that enhance the fire-resistant characteristics, as well as the level of protection against fungi and insects.
Frame organization
Experts recommend attaching the lining to the frame. In this case, the result is as even as possible, besides, the gap between the lining and the wall allows you to close the wires and communications, lay a layer of insulation, ensure air circulation and dry the walls.
The frame is erected from wooden bars or a metal profile, the guides are placed horizontally every 0.5 m, along the entire perimeter of the wall.
In a house made of profiled or glued beams, the walls are already quite even, and a frame for attaching the lining is not necessary.
Ways of fastening lining
Installation clapboard start from the corner. The thorn-groove grip ensures that the boards fit snugly against each other. The wooden lining is fixed to the crate in several ways:
- special clamp - kleimer;
- self-tapping screw;
- galvanized nail.
The nail is inserted into the groove and hammered at an angle of 45 0. For a self-tapping screw, a hole is made to a depth of up to half the thickness of the board. The self-tapping screw is screwed in and closed with a pin, the surface of which is compared with a board by grinding.
The assembly of wooden lining is simple, it is an environmentally friendly, natural material. The lining, which has passed chamber drying, is distinguished by quality, but also by a higher price.
Putty finishing
Sometimes putty is chosen for the interior decoration of a wooden frame. The work is simple, does not require experience, is performed in two stages:
- A special mesh is attached to the frame with self-tapping screws.
- Apply putty.
The main advantages of putty:
- Allows you to level the unevenness of the timber.
- Low cost of materials.
- Wide choice of color shades.
It is better to choose putty based on mineral or acrylic components. It protects the tree from moisture and destruction by insects. After about five years, the coating is renewed.
Modern, aesthetic material, loved by many designers. Popular types of panels:
- wooden;
- bamboo;
- glass;
- plastic;
- leather.
Finishing an old wooden house
Finishing work inside an old wooden house must be approached especially carefully. Previously, with a knife or a screwdriver, the walls are checked for strength, evaluated in a tree:
- darker and lighter places;
- parts that differ in texture, density.
If the wood is susceptible to destruction, you should contact a specialist who will determine the amount of restoration work.
When choosing a material for sheathing a log house from the inside, they take into account not only its external attractiveness, but also study performance characteristics and assembly technology. It is advisable to use natural, breathable materials, otherwise it makes no sense to build a house from a wooden beam.
Do not forget about the foundation, the tape version is not designed for heavy structures. Installing a fireplace will require strengthening the support under it, the installation of a vertical chimney through the ceiling is carried out taking into account the beams.
Outcome
Interior decoration, done correctly, prolongs the life of the house, provides comfortable living. A variety of modern materials allows you to realize the most original design wishes of the owners of the house.
Despite the fact that rounded log cabins have an aesthetic appearance, the walls, floor and ceiling need additional finishing, which is carried out at the final stage. In terms of labor intensity and financial costs, the interior decoration of a log house takes about 30% of all types of work. This process is responsible and is carried out in several stages. It is very important to initially decide on the choice of finishing materials, with which it will be possible to achieve the desired result. For log houses, natural wood cladding is best suited.
For the arrangement of interiors and giving a finished appearance to wooden houses, the following types of finishing work are provided:
- Grinding the walls is carried out using a grinder and sandpaper of different grains. This procedure involves the removal of the top layer, as a result of which the surface of the logs becomes smoother and more even.
- Treatment of walls and ceilings with special antiseptic compounds, which ensures reliable protection of wood from bark beetles, harmful insects, fungi, mold and various microorganisms. A properly selected antiseptic agent is able to penetrate deeply into the layers of wood without compromising the environmental and aesthetic characteristics of the wall material.
- Treatment of all surfaces with special compositions - flame retardants. After applying the product to the surface, the resistance of wood to open fire increases. It is extremely important to treat with such compounds: they help to significantly increase the fire safety of a wooden structure.
Each type of home decoration from a log must be completed within a certain time frame. This will avoid unwanted problems in the further operation of the log house.
Finishing a log house is carried out only after shrinkage
Structures made of logs have one feature that every developer should be aware of. During the year, after assembly, the walls shrink. This figure is 7-10% of the total volume of logs. As a result, the height of the box can decrease by about 5 cm per meter, which is fraught with deformations and distortions in different parts of the building. Such a process also negatively affects rigidly installed door and window structures, roofing, flooring, therefore, finishing work must be started no earlier than a year after the log house is assembled. "Under shrinkage" is a temporary roof and floor. All types of interior finishing work are shown in the video
Finish options
Finishing of the house from a log in three directions is carried out - a covering of a ceiling, a floor, walls.
A wide variety of modern materials allows you to choose the best options for cladding, with their help you can significantly improve the decorative characteristics of the interior.
Ceiling
The most common materials for decorating the ceiling surface in a wooden house are:
- Lining, eurolining, block-house (imitation of round logs).
- Sheets of plywood.
- Veneered chipboard and MDF panels.
- False beams.
- Array elements.
Clapboard ceiling lining
Lining made of natural wood is ideal for interior cladding of log cabins. Lamellas (narrow boards) are assembled into a single coating using special joints - grooves and tongues. It is not difficult to work with such material, which means that even a person without experience can handle it. Lining has such positive properties as highly aesthetic indicators, good sound insulation, resistance to mechanical damage, and a long service life. Environmental friendliness is provided by natural wood species. Budget options are pine and cedar products, more expensive counterparts include oak, larch, mahogany. Clapboard cladding technology involves the use of thermal insulation, which is laid between the beams.
Plywood ceiling
Plywood sheets are a budget option for finishing a rounded log house. With their help, a neat ceiling surface is created in a cozy home style. For country unheated houses, dachas, you can use laminated sheets, which have increased rates of aesthetics and moisture resistance. The outer layers of plywood are made from birch, maple, aspen, and coniferous trees are used for the inner layers. Plates are selected according to the type of processing and grade (1, 2, 3, 4, E - elite). For ceiling covering it is rational to use plywood, processed on one side. Manufacturers offer options for imitation of natural wood, with a plastic coating and with a top layer of asbestos paper.
Another available type of cladding is chipboard and MDF sheets, covered with a layer of veneer that imitates valuable wood species. Veneered panels are equipped with locks, which greatly facilitates installation work and allows you to cope with the work yourself, without putting much effort. Due to the naturalness of the wooden sheathing, the ceiling "breathes", which has a positive effect on the microclimate in the premises.
High rates of decorativeness are inherent in false beams and solid wood. It is desirable to install such elements in spacious rooms with high ceilings. Each type of finish looks stylish and impressive. With the help of false beams, you can decorate the ceiling surface and hide communication networks. The array is in harmony with the clapboard, veneered panels.
Options for finishing the ceiling in a wooden house
Flooring
Internal finishing works include the replacement of the rough base with a finishing one. The most common option is the construction on support beams - logs, which are attached to the lower crown and have a rigid connection. To create a final flooring, hardwoods are used - cedar, larch. Necessarily wooden elements are treated with antiseptic soil compositions.
The flooring consists of a multi-layer "pie", consisting of:
- rough base boards;
- film waterproofing;
- finish coating.
Arrangement of the floor in a timber house
For the top finish coating, mainly natural materials are used, which are in harmony with the walls. Floorings made of parquet, parquet and tongue-and-groove boards, laminate, cork fit well into the interior of a wooden structure. What will be the flooring, each owner of the house decides for himself, but the main thing is that the coating is in harmony with the overall interior.
Walls
As a result of the shrinkage of the logs, gaps and holes are formed between the crowns, through which cold air and moisture will penetrate into the premises. Therefore, the interior decoration of the house made of logs is very important, and in particular the insulation of the space formed between the crowns. This procedure must be carried out, even if interventional insulation is laid.
There are several ways to seal interventional gaps:
Skinning inside and out - finishing a wooden house
A special place in the decoration of walls is occupied by grinding or sanding. This is a rather laborious and lengthy process of finishing a log house. Grinding logs outside and indoors is carried out in several stages and with the help of a special tool:
- A coarse abrasive is used to treat open areas. The tool is designed to eliminate roughness, small cracks and irregularities.
- Fine abrasive makes the surface perfectly smooth, pleasant to the touch. The log acquires a neat appearance.
- Felt circle, with which the fibers raised by the primer are removed from the surface of the wood.
Log sanding
When the cracks are sealed and the surface is carefully sanded, a primer is applied to the logs. The composition protects the wood from bacteria and pests, and also contributes to the uniform distribution of the impregnation. To achieve the desired layer of protection and color, a special impregnation composition is applied with a brush several times (from 2 to 4). Depending on the impregnation chosen, the walls can be given the desired shade, texture and gloss.
Timber house painting
Painting a house from a log inside is carried out in stages in three passes. The first layer is an antiseptic primer, on which two layers of paint are applied. It is very important to choose the right paintwork material. The painted surface should create reliable protection for wood from moisture, external influences, microorganisms. The paint should also not be toxic. Products of BIOFA, TIKKURILA, BELINKA, OSMO trademarks have proven themselves well.
A wooden house made of logs or timber is a wonderful country house where you can enjoy comfort and coziness, magnificent landscapes and clean air. When building a cottage, you can choose the desired area, layout, number and purpose of rooms. The main advantages of suburban housing include the absence of neighbors behind the wall and environmental friendliness. Wooden building materials will support and maintain this environmental friendliness.
Logs and beams are 100% eco-friendly, natural and safe materials. They create a favorable microclimate in a log house due to the regular renewal of oxygen, the healing properties of wood and a pleasant forest aroma. In addition, wood is characterized by strength, reliability and durability, high thermal insulation.
Due to its light weight, wood does not require a massive deep foundation, and log or timber walls look aesthetically pleasing and finished, so they do not need decorative finishing. Materials are easy to customize and install. Therefore, a wooden house is distinguished by the affordable cost of construction and decoration, installation in a short time.
Timber and logs are aesthetic and visually attractive materials that will allow you to build a house of any design. You will find many interesting projects of wooden country cottages, country houses, bathhouses and gazebos in the MariSrub catalog. But now the house is built and the question arises, what design to choose for a wooden structure?
Not every style, materials, furniture and accessories are combined with wood. In addition, the selected materials should not violate the aesthetics and environmental friendliness of wood. Let's figure out which log house interior design to choose.
Log house interior
Work on finishing and arranging the interior inside the house begins only after shrinkage of the log house. A structure made of timber shrinks in 6-12 months, from a log - 9-18 months. In any case, it is impossible to start work earlier than six months after construction. At this time, the maximum shrinkage of the log house occurs, which can lead to distortion of window and door frames, damage to the finish.
Today, many customers choose a zero finish without the use of decorative materials. After all, wood is a noble, refined material that looks luxurious and harmoniously fits into the surrounding bus stop. In addition, logs and timber in their natural form preserve the environmental friendliness of wood. In this case, the materials need only be treated with protective agents against the negative effects of moisture and insects.
For protective treatment choose varnish and/or paint. You can choose transparent products that preserve the texture and color of the wood. In addition, manufacturers offer varnishes with matte and glossy gloss, wood paints of any color. If you wish, you can not only protect the material, but also get the desired color, shade or shine.
Of course, you can apply other options and styles. But remember that for any design, the selected materials and the interior design of a log house should preserve the unique atmosphere and environmental friendliness of a wooden structure, emphasize the natural beauty of wood. Therefore, choose natural and safe finishing materials!
Our experts will help you choose the right design and durable reliable materials. In "MariSrub" you can order the construction and finishing of a turnkey wooden house! We guarantee the quality and efficiency of work.
It is obvious that interest in suburban housing in general, and in wooden houses in particular, has grown. We can say that wooden houses are experiencing a rebirth. If earlier they bought houses built many years ago, and then remodeled them for themselves, now a lot of houses are built from scratch and it is from wood. And this fact cannot but rejoice. Where, if not in Russia, one wants to see beautiful wooden houses, in which one can immediately guess the famous traditions of Russian architects, and not the senseless and ugly heap of bricks with which we were “littered” in the 90s. Where, if not in Russia, is it nice to see modern and - ordinary and rounded, as well as from a bar, which both preserved traditions and were made using new technologies.
Observers are interested in seeing the external beauty of a wooden house, and their owners also want to see the inner beauty of their homes. And at the same time, you don’t want to give up the benefits of civilization, and why? Therefore, the decoration of a wooden house inside is a complex and multi-level process, which is designed to become a kind of bridge in time. A bridge between the centuries-old folk traditions and the modern benefits of civilizations. In this case, neither one nor the other side should be infringed. Is it possible? Practice shows that yes!
Requirements for the interior decoration of a wooden house
Wood is a unique natural material that will never be surpassed by any artificial one, which is trying to give the properties of what Mother Nature has created. It is not for nothing that so many floor and wall coverings are made “under the tree”. Wood-look laminate, wood-look MDF panels, wood-look ceramic tiles and many other things made for this material. Why is this being done? Is it really impossible to just apply this very tree and do nothing at all. Of course you can! A person will always build wooden houses, but one must understand that in addition to the obvious advantages, wooden houses also have weaknesses.
The fact is that not only we people love a tree. He is also loved by other inhabitants of our planet, who perceive him as food or arranging a home in him. We cannot but take into account their needs, so we have to take this into account. For this, certain barriers are made in the form of chemicals that will repel unwanted living creatures. And measures for the biological protection of a wooden house are made precisely at the stage of interior decoration.
The tree loves another of the most beautiful and powerful elements of our world - the element of Fire. And there is no escape from this either. We, as humans, cannot force Fire to stop loving a tree. We can only take measures to ensure that there are no conditions for its uncontrolled occurrence in our house. That is, we can also “agree” with Fire if we take certain measures. The first measure is to reduce the likelihood of its development, and the second is that even when it appears, you need to resist to the last, you need to prevent it from burning unhindered. Fire protection measures are also carried out at the stage of interior decoration of a wooden house.
A modern wooden house is very different from its "remote ancestors", where the only engineering systems were a stove and lamps. The power supply of housing in our time is very large. This includes electrical wiring, a heating system, a water supply system, a sewerage system, computer networks, a telephone, video surveillance, and television. All these engineering systems require a place for their placement, they must be calculated and made in such a way as to perform their functions and be safe for the house and the people living in it. And all these activities are also done at the stage of interior decoration of a wooden house.
If earlier wood was the most common and affordable building material, now it has become an elite one and building a wooden house is far from a cheap pleasure. For all the undoubted advantages in the form of environmental friendliness, hygiene, aesthetics, you have to pay a lot of money. And, of course, when decorating a wooden house inside, only those materials should be used that will only emphasize all its advantages.
Taking into account all of the above, you can present a set of requirements for the interior decoration of a wooden house:
- Firstly, the interior decoration of a wooden house should include measures for biosecurity and fire protection of the house. This is done with the help of special compounds, which, in addition to the protective function, can also perform a decorative one.
- Secondly, a feature of wooden houses is that it is impossible to ditch walls or make concrete screeds in them, as in stone houses. It turns out that all engineering communications have to be hidden behind the interior decoration.
- Thirdly, at the stage of finishing a wooden house, walls are also caulked and additional insulation, if required.
- And finally, when decorating a wooden house, natural materials should be used inside for the most part, for obvious reasons. Very often it is justified not to cover the walls or ceiling with anything at all, but to leave them open, having previously treated them with protective and decorative compounds.
A feature of wooden houses is that they shrink, and this process can continue for several years. This cannot be ignored when interior decoration, so it is done in stages. Let's call these steps:
- Treatment with bioprotective and flame retardant compositions.
- Caulking (caulking) of walls.
- Laying of engineering communications.
- Interior wall decoration.
- Ceiling arrangement.
- Floor covering flooring.
- Staining and painting.
Treatment of a wooden house with antiseptics and fire retardants
As mentioned earlier, wood needs protection both from adverse environmental factors and from various representatives of the world of plants, fungi and animals. Of natural influences, wood least of all loves the effects of ultraviolet rays, which are present in the solar spectrum and destroy lignin, a compound that is the main one in the structure of woody wood cells. This is what determines the ability of wood to withstand static and dynamic loads. When it is destroyed, we can observe how the surface of logs or timber becomes dry, rough and loses its natural color.
The most terrible for wood is a fungal infection, and it can be wood-staining or wood-destroying. If the first only creates spots on the surface, but does not affect the physicochemical properties, then the second leads to the destruction of the structure. This process is known to us as putrefaction. And if someone claims that it is possible only at high humidity, they will be wrong, since already at a level of 18-20%, destructive fungi can develop quite successfully. Initial moisture and lack of air exchange will only contribute to their growth, since further moisture will be obtained from decay products.
Some fungi are able to infect a tree only during its lifetime, while others, more dangerous for us, develop already in felled trees. Therefore, in good industries, wood is immediately protected in order to provide protection during storage, transportation and construction. But such protection is short-lived and lasts from 2 to 6 months, which, in principle, is enough for construction. But then you should apply the composition of a longer action. What should you pay attention to when choosing.
- Firstly, you should take into account the duration of the composition, the longer it is, the better, but also more expensive.
- Secondly, each composition has its own purpose: for external or internal processing, special compositions for baths, for terraces and railings, for processing the ends of logs, etc.
- Thirdly, it is necessary to take into account the composition of the antiseptic. Water-based materials are preferred.
- Fourthly, it is necessary to take into account the influence of the composition on the human and animal organisms. Some products are strictly not recommended for indoor use.
- Fifthly, some protective compounds are recommended to be used together with protective coatings: wear-resistant varnishes or paints.
- Sixth, you need to consider the area to be cultivated and the number of layers required.
- And, finally, it is advisable to get acquainted with the experience of using a specific composition, and not read it on the manufacturer's website or on a thematic forum, but personally verify the effectiveness of the example of a specific treated structure. So you can be sure of the optimal ratio of price and quality.
Let us give a brief overview of some of the most common antiseptics in Russia produced by Senezh Preparations, which are known under the Senezh trademark. These drugs have proven themselves well in Russian conditions.
| Image | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
 | "Senezh Aquadecor" | Designed for long-term protection against precipitation, UV radiation, woodworms and various fungi. It has a tinting effect, made on an acrylate basis. |
 | "Senezh Ecobio" | Designed for indoor use. Protects against insects and all types of fungi. The term of protection is up to 25 years. Water based composition. |
 | "Senezh Ultra" | A versatile, water-based protective compound that can be used both indoors and outdoors. Validity - up to 30-35 years. Gives the treated wood a pistachio tint. |
 | "Senezh Bio" | General purpose water-based, hard-to-rinse antiseptic for heavy-duty applications. The validity period is 30-35 years. Gives the tree a greenish tint. |
 | "Senezh Ognebio Prof" | Designed for comprehensive protection indoors and outdoors under a canopy from insects, fungi, as well as from fire and the spread of fire. Water based composition. |
 | "Senezh Tor" | Designed to protect the ends of large-sized logs from uneven drying, cracking and biological damage. It can be used to protect the ends inside structures. Composition based on water-borne polymer. |
The table shows only some protection products from the Senezh Preparaty range, which, in principle, show the areas of application. In addition to this manufacturer, there are other well-known world brands Tikkurila, Belinka, Pinotex and others. For each house, depending on the operating conditions, specialists select those who will fulfill their task. Water-based compounds can be used as a primer before finishing varnish or paint, which increases their protective properties and service life.
The compositions are applied to dry wood, cleaned of dirt and dust. Application methods are standard: brush, roller or spray. Autoclave processing is carried out only in industrial conditions. Usually any composition is applied in at least two layers. The consumption of a particular drug depends on its specific brand and the condition of the wood. In any case, it is necessary to use the instructions for use attached to each product.
One of the best ways to apply protective compounds is by spraying. Video: How to choose a wood preservative - fire protection, biosecurity, bleaching agents and impregnations
Caulk of the walls of a wooden house
With all their advantages, wooden houses have a significant drawback - they shrink, and for quite a long time and still experience seasonal fluctuations in geometric dimensions. This can lead to cracking of the solid wood, and also leads to the fact that the seams between the logs or timber also change in size and there is no way to do without sealing.
Natural materials for caulking
From time immemorial, architects naturally knew about this problem and took measures to seal the seams, which they called caulking or caulking. For these activities, three main materials were used:
- Moss caulk. This method is the oldest and time-tested. The material used was cuckoo flax - moss, which grows in abundance in forests, as well as in swampy meadows. Most probably know the tufts of this moss in the form of soft bright green pillows. Another type of moss that has been and is still used is sphagnum, which grows in abundance in swamps, it is not difficult to get it in the required quantity.
- Seal the seams with tow. This material based on coarse linen is still used today, especially at the stage of building a log house. Excellent insulating properties, centuries-old traditions and a low price determine the widespread use of tow.
- Caulking with hemp is made with special ropes, which are made from jute or hemp fiber. These natural materials are widely used now in order to give the seams an aesthetic appearance, which only emphasize the natural naturalness of the house.
Primary caulking is always done during the construction of the log house or immediately after. The secondary is done after the final after its shrinkage, that is, after 18-24 months. Although these works seem simple, they require special care, since caulking is done first from the outside, and then inside, and you need to move one crown after another from the bottom up and nothing else. In no case should seams be sealed on a single wall, since a log house can greatly change its geometry - it can skew.
For these works, a very simple tool, tested for centuries, is used. This is a set of special caulking blades and a wooden mallet. Caulkers are often made of wood so as not to damage logs or beams during insulation. Dried natural insulation is twisted into bundles and carefully hammered into interventional gaps. The technology of caulking can be seen in the video.
Natural materials for caulking, of course, have advantages precisely in the form of their naturalness. But it would be foolish in the 21st century not to consider other options for sealing interventional joints, especially since science and production technology have gone a long way since our distant ancestors had no choice but moss or hemp. The weak points of natural insulation are:
- Any natural insulation in the interventional gaps is still an alien material that reacts differently to the effects of temperature and humidity than wood. From this, gaps will inevitably appear anyway and periodically it will be necessary to make repairs.
- Humans are not the only ones who like natural fibers, so rodents and birds will want to steal some of the valuable fiber for their nests at any opportunity. For insects, this is, in general, an ideal habitat.
Filming from the crime scene. Theft of tow by birds in especially large sizes - If the humidity in the joints reaches critical values, then it is natural materials that will contribute to the development of fungal infections of the tree. Illiterately executed caulking, on the contrary, contributes to the decay of the log house precisely at the joints.
Video: Caulking log cabin baths
Synthetic materials for caulking a wooden house
The first place among synthetic sealants for wooden houses is considered to be acrylic. And this happens for obvious reasons:
interventional sealant
- Acrylic compositions have thermal conductivity and coefficient of thermal expansion very close to wood, which allows them to respond equally to temperature changes.
- Acrylic primers have very good adhesion to wood, they penetrate deep into the composition of the wood, forming an almost monolithic structure, they also have good elasticity and a long service life.
- Acrylic-based compositions have excellent bactericidal and antiseptic properties. There will be no living creatures in the seams treated with acrylic sealants.
- Acrylic primers are available in a wide range of colors, which allows you to realize any design idea. In addition, they can be easily painted after drying.
- Acrylic-based sealants designed for indoor use are absolutely harmless to humans and animals.
- Acrylic sealants are very easy to apply. The main condition is a temperature above +5°C and relative dryness indoors or outdoors.
The high price of acrylic sealants is more than offset by their undeniable operational advantages.
Polyurethane-based sealants have also found use in caulking seams with synthetic compounds. Although they have good adhesion to wood, their thermal conductivity and thermal expansion differ from wood. That is why it is better to still use acrylic sealants.
On our portal, the process of choosing an interventional sealant and its correct application is described in sufficient detail in the corresponding one. We will simply give a few examples of acrylic-based sealants, and also provide readers with the opportunity to calculate the approximate number of them, depending on the width and depth of the joint.
| Image | Name | Brief description of the sealant |
|---|---|---|
 | Acrylic sealant Energy Seal, packing - cartridges 325, 840 ml, bucket 19 l. Country of manufacture - USA. | Designed for sealing narrow and normal joints, as well as cracks up to 2.5 cm wide. Can be used both indoors and outdoors. Available in 12 colors. |
 | Acrylic sealant Perma-Chink, packing - cartridges 325, 840 ml, bucket 19 l. Country of manufacture - USA. | Designed for sealing wide joints - from 2.5 to 15 cm. For indoor and outdoor use. Available in 8 colors. |
 | Sealant acrylic Therma Chink, packing 600 ml, 7 kg, 15 kg. Country of origin - Russia. | For sealing the seams of wooden houses both outside and inside the house. Available in 5 colors. |
 | Sealant acrylic Eurotex, packing 600 ml, 3 kg, 6 kg, 25 kg. Country of origin - Russia. | For sealing the seams of wooden houses both outside and inside the house. Available in 4 colors. |
The table deliberately lists two US-made sealants of impeccable quality and two Russian-made sealants, which are also of very good quality. For comparison, we will give the order of prices for imported goods and imported goods and make sure that the domestic manufacturer should still be trusted. For example, a bucket of 19 liters of Energy Seal sealant will cost 33,000 rubles as of the summer of 2016, and 15 kilograms of the Russian Therma Chink will cost 7,500 rubles. If converted into kilograms, then 1 kg of imported sealant will cost 1089 rubles, and 1 kg of Russian - 500 rubles. Therefore, the choice is yours, our dear readers.
For an approximate calculation of the amount, we present a calculator with which you can calculate the approximate amount of sealant. It is very difficult to accurately calculate the amount, since the seam between logs or timber rarely has a strict geometry, and the consumption is very dependent on the skill of the master.