Should You Choose Energy Seal or Perma-Chink?
LogFinish.com is a stocking distributor of Perma-Chink products. The following article was provided to LogFinish.com for re-publication by Perm-Chink Systems, LLC.
Which Log Home Sealant Should I Use?
We are asked this question very frequently about our two biggest selling log home sealants. Both of these sealants were formulated to weatherproof joinery in log and log sided buildings. Our simplest answer is that in general, Perma-Chink should be used in applications where the seam width is one inch or wider and Energy Seal is a better choice in sealant seams that are narrower than one inch or where joinery was not intended to have chinking applied to it. However, this answer is overly simplistic when you consider the variety of log profiles and joinery types and many different surfaces that come together to make up a finished log structure.
What is the Difference?
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Perma-Chink is our original log home sealant (and the company namesake). It was formulated to look like the concrete mortar that was typically used on full-log construction at that time. It is the original elastic log home sealant. Today Perma-Chink is available in eight different colors, some of which look like concrete, the others are various wood tones.
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Energy Seal was formulated at the request of our customers at a much later date. These customers had homes that were usually built with log profiles that did not use chinking, but required weatherproofing some time after they were finished and in use. Because the application surfaces were never intended for a sealant application, they don’t have proper geometry that includes a caulking well to allow for sealant and backing material installation. Consequently, we formulated Energy Seal to have higher elongation performance. Energy Seal comes in a wide selection of 12 colors for customers who would prefer to conceal the sealant or even to match the chinking on their log home.
Energy Seal is a Better Choice in the Following Situations:
In general, Energy Seal is a better choice for very demanding, narrow seam application where more stretch is required in a narrow sealant seam. It is also the best choice if you would like the sealant to blend in with the wood surface and not be easily seen. Energy Seal is an excellent choice for use in sealing around doors and windows, butt joints, corners, and junctions between log walls and other surfaces such as beams, rooflines or framed walls.
Perma-Chink is a Better Choice When:
Many log homes are designed, manufactured and constructed with chinking an integral part of the building envelope. Perma-Chink is the clear choice in this situation. Additionally, Perma Chink is ideal to use when sealing up the junction between wood walls and concrete, brick or stone features like fireplaces, stone accents and walls.
If the gap is smaller than ¾ inch use EnergySeal. If larger than ¾ inch use Perma-Chink.
For best results, you should use a backer rod. Log caulk sticks to the wood above and the wood below, but otherwise floats over the Backer rod
However, our Perma-Chink contract does not allow us to ship into Canada! Try scontacting Canadian Log Home Supply.
I’m ready to caulk the exterior of a Bunkie Life (Haven Ultra) building located in mid-northern Ontario. Which is best to use; Perma – Energy Seal or Perma-Chink?
Hi Ike,
I apologize for the delay in my response. Temperature is very important when applying Perma-Chink products. Application temps for Perma Chink Log Chinking and Energy Seal are 40-90° Fahrenheit. Since temps are getting into the 30’s, I would recommend waiting until Spring. We appreciate your questions!
Using permachink how critical is the lower temperature application range. It’s 30 at night. Do I have to wait till spring?