Applying Chinker's Edge Chinking

Proper substrate preparation and application are imperative for product longevity.
Read this entire label and the Data Tec sheet, CHE 002, before applying any product.
If you do not have this Data Tec sheet, call us at 719 547 2135 and we will be happy to provide it.

Weather Conditions
1. Best results are obtained when Chinker’s Edge is applied to clean, dry, stained wood. Make certain there is compatibility between your stain and Chinker’s Edge. Call Western Log Home Supply for guidance if in doubt.

2. Check the weather forecast. Finishing products are best applied in moderate weather conditions, i.e., out of direct sunlight, dry conditions and warm.

3. Check the log surface temperature. The ideal application range is between 50-90°F.

4. Install a bond breaker, either backer board or backer rod, depending on the style of log, to provide 2-point adhesion. Chinker’s Edge is especially well suited for use on white styrene bead-board. We do not recommend the use of blue or pink styrene board.

5. If backer board is being used, tape the entire joint with either mylar or duct tape.

6. Gun the chinking over the backing material. Ideal sealant depth is 1/2 of the joint width, but no less than 1/4”, nor more than 1/2”.

7. Tool Chinker’s Edge to ensure good contact with the log surfaces, especially to the upper log; this will greatly aid adhesion.

8. All chinking products may occasionally “blister”.

To avoid blistering:

Do not apply in direct sunlight.

Protect from direct sunlight for 1-2 days after

application with white plastic sheeting tacked over the fresh chinking.

Surface Preparation

Best results are obtained when Chinker’s Edge is applied to wood that has been previously coated with a compatible stain. If newly stained, the stain should be thoroughly cured before Chinker’s Edge application. If the stain is older but still intact, clean the log surfaces thoroughly to remove dirt, pollen, bird droppings and other surface contaminants.

The USDA Forest Products Laboratory and other researchers around the world have recently reported that surface wood exposed to sunlight for as little as 1-2 weeks can become significantly damaged and unsound which may lead to premature adhesive failure of coatings. Such surface wood damage has the potential to, also, harm adhesion. So, once bare wood has been properly cleaned and prepped to remove unsound wood, Chinker’s Edge should always be applied as soon as possible.

Some coatings that contain high levels of wax must only be applied after Chinker’s Edge has been applied and allowed to cure. Additionally, coatings that are based on non-drying oils, like motor oil, should never be used in combination with Chinker’s Edge—neither before nor afterwards— since such oils can migrate to the bondline and destroy adhesion. We maintain a list of some of the treatments, which should be applied after applying Chinker’s Edge, making sure Chinker’s Edge is thoroughly cured.

Sashco can also test the compatibility of stains. Please allow a minimum of 6 weeks for testing. Call Sashco for more information. If a stain is applied over Chinker’s Edge, it will be tinted the stain color, but will be affected differently than the surrounding wood. Test appearance before widespread use.

Methods of Application

When using 5-gallon pails, use the patented Snorkler Pumping system, grout bags or bulk loading guns may be used. Although Chinker’s Edge is freeze-thaw stable, it will dispense easier when it is kept warm before use.

When using a cartridge, cut the spout at a 45° angle to desired bead size. In wider joints, multiple beads may need to be run until the entire joint is filled with chinking.

Round Logs: To use a foam brush, work the material smooth with a damp brush, keeping a rag handy to pick up drips of water and excess Chinker’s Edge.

Square Logs: Use a putty knife to strike off excess of Chinker’s Edge, making the joint level with the logs. Use a damp foam brush to smooth the material, keeping a rag handy to absorb drips and wipe off excess Chinker’s Edge.
Not only do these techniques give an aesthetically pleasing chinking line, they also ensure a proper seal between the Chinker’s Edge and the log surface.

Applying Chinker's Edge to Slab Siding

Slab siding can pose a special challenge due to the very rapid and large amount of movement it often exhibits after being installed. This movement shows up as extreme shrinkage, bowing and twisting, and can stress sealants more than logs do. To best help reduce this problem, the slab siding should be installed with heavy screws, rather than with nails. Use dry slab siding, and verify moisture level with a moisture meter.

1. Start with clean wood that has already been treated with a preservative and stain compatible with Chinker’s Edge. We recommend PeneTreat as a preservative and either

Capture/Cascade or High Sierra Log Stain. The coated wood should also be well cleaned immediately before the Chinker’s Edge is applied.

2. It used to be possible to apply chinking directly to Tyvek™ house-wrap, but with recent changes made to this house-wrap product, this is no longer true. So, mylar or duct tape should be applied to wrinkle-free Tyvek™ wrap before Chinker’s Edge is applied. Wrinkles left in the wrap will “telegraph” or show through.

3. If the boards are thick enough to install backer rod, we recommend that Half Rod™ backer rod be used with the round portion of the profile facing out from the building.

4. Apply Chinker’s Edge by use of trowel, grout bag, bulk loading gun, pre-loaded cartridges, or commercial machinery, such as the patented Snorkler Pump.

5. The width of the contact surface of the Chinker’s Edge on the edges of the siding should not be less than 3/8" (to insure good adhesion) — and the Chinker’s Edge should be firmly tooled for good contact with the top and bottom siding boards.

6. Don’t forget to chink or caulk (with Chinker’s Edge, Log Builder or Conceal) the butt joints where moisture could otherwise gain entry in driving rains.

NOTE: Ideal joint design allows for the chinking to form an hour glass shape, as in this drawing, with the half rod backer material. Some slab siding undergoes extreme shrinkage which can lead to some early-on maintenance of the chinking.

Clean-up and Disposal

Dispose of Chinker’s Edge in accordance with local regulations. Do not dispose of in drinking water supplies.

Hands, surfaces and equipment may be cleaned-up with water.

Warning: Blisters May Occur

Blisters are a phenomenon commonly found in the caulking and sealant industry. They form when moisture from the chinking accumulates in voids beneath the bead and gets hot from the sun. Blisters appear as “bubbles” in the material and vary widely in size.

Shield freshly chinked walls from the sun with white tarps. If this cannot be done, keep a close eye on the chinked wall for the first 24-48 hours. If a blister begins to develop, puncture a hole in the middle of it, and gently push the material back into place. 3-5 days later, touch-up the repaired blister with Chinker’s Edge.

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Applying Chinker's Edge Chinking

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