Perma-Chink Systems namesake product, Perma-Chink, is the leading sealant for log homes. We've extended the same performance and quality of Perma-Chink in our other sealants, Energy Seal and Woodsman.

Below are our Tech Tips for all our sealants, including our Chink Paint, which provides an excellent solution to refresh old, but sealed, chinking.

Sealants Application Guide

Perma-Chink Sealant Tech Tips

Repairing Perma-Chink |  Download PDF

Protecting Uncured Chinking |  Download PDF

Energy Seal Tech Tips

How to Apply Energy Seal And Woodsman |  Download PDF

Sealing with Log Gap Caps and Energy Seal |  Download PDF

Sealing Log Siding |  Download PDF

Check Mate 2 Tech Tips

The Color of Check Mate 2 |  Download PDF

How to Seal Checks In Logs & Siding |  Download PDF

Chink Paint Tech Tips

Chink Paint Versus Chinking |  Download PDF

Chink Paint (Textured & Smooth) |  Download PDF

General Sealant Application Tech Tips

Calculating Linear Feet |  Download PDF

Calculating Square Footage |  Download PDF

Application Temperatures |  Download PDF

Hot Weather Applications |  Download PDF

Why Use Backing Materials |  Download PDF

Drying and Curing Times |  Download PDF

Removing Old Caulk |  Download PDF

Equipment & Tools Tech Tips

About Bulk Loading Guns |  Download PDF

Energy, Environmental, and Misc. Tech Tips

The Thermal Efficiency of Chink Joints |  Download PDF

Energy Audit |  Download PDF

Finding Air Leaks |  Download PDF

Freeze-Thaw Stability |  Download PDF

Perma-Chink Systems have the best stains for log and timber homes. While we tend to call our stains "finishes," most consumers are used to the phrasing of "wood stain." Why the difference? The quick answer is that stains permeate the wood, while finishes form a film over the surface, protecting the wood. If you want to know more about the difference, our tips below can answer your questions.

The Tech Tips are grouped below by how our system works. Like most things in life, success is determined by a strong foundation. So the first section contains information on getting your log or timber home ready for the finish of your choosing. Following the surface prep section, we've consolidated information about our finishes for both exterior and interior. The final section is dedicated to known issues with log and timber homes that all homeowners have to deal with, regardless of which finish they choose.

Wood Finishes Application Guide

Tips For Surface Prepping, Cleaning, & Washing

TECH TIP	PDF	TECH TIP	PDF
Buying the System		Avoiding Metallic Contamination
About Sealers, Stains, and Topcoats		The Use of Steel Wool or Wire Brush
Application Temperatures		Calculating Square Footage
About Osborn Brushes		About Linseed Oil
Sanding Tips		Coating Shakes & Shingles
Cleaning Guidelines		Hot Weather Applications
About Spot Cleaning & Stripping		How to Clean Bare Wood Surfaces Using Wood Renew & Log Wash
Media Blasting Versus Chemical Stripping		About Pressure Washing
Washing Media Blasted Surfaces		About Pressure Washers
How to Remove Existing Finishes		The Dynamics of Weathering
Freeze-Thaw Stability		Why Log Homes Need a Pigmented Finish

Tech Tips About Stains & Finishes

TECH TIP	PDF	TECH TIP	PDF
What is a Breathable Finish		About Back-Brushing
Maintenance Coats of Finishes		About Using Quality Brushes
Peeling Issues on Logs & Siding		How to Repair Peeled Spots
Removing Dried Finishes, Sealants, Borates, and Cleaners From Surfaces		About VOCs
Mixing & Boxing Stains & Topcoats		About Log End Seal
Oil Based Stains Versus Lifeline Water Based Stains		Sealing Grayed Wood
Penetration of Film Forming Stains		Beading Water
About Handrails

Tech Tips For Exterior Finishes

TECH TIP	PDF	TECH TIP	PDF
How to Apply Lifeline Exterior		Applying Lifeline Over Oil-Based Stains
How to Use Defense Products - Log & Timber/Deck		About VOCs
Applying Lifeline Over Existing Stains		About UV Boost
About Clear Exterior Finishes		Stain and Topcoat Additives to Lifeline Finishes
About Prelude Clear Primer		Sealing Log Siding
The Role of Advance Exterior Topcoat		Mixing Advance Satin
Coating Shakes & Shingles

Tech Tips For Interior Finishes

TECH TIP	PDF	TECH TIP	PDF
How to Apply Lifeline Interior		Applying Sure Shine
Interior Color Coats & Topcoats		Finishing Floors

Tech Tips For Moisture, Mold, & Wood Issues

TECH TIP	PDF	TECH TIP	PDF
What is Mill Glaze?		About Water Stains
About pH		About Moisture Content
About Moisture Meters		About Mold & Mildew
About Resin Bleed		Preventing Mold Growth

Perma-Chink Systems has a full line of wood cleaners designed to clean, restore, and prepare your home for maintenance. We cover the basic cleaning, as well as how to handle known wood issues like resin bleed.

Tech Tip	PDF	Tech Tip	PDF
How to Clean Bare Wood Surfaces Using Wood Renew & Log Wash		Consequences of Using Chlorine Bleach
About Cedar Wash		About Oxcon and Oxalic Acid
Cleaning Guidelines		Freeze-Thaw Stability
Washing Media Blasted Surfaces		About Spot Cleaning & Stripping
Washing & Staining After Borate Treatments		About Linseed Oil
Removing Dried Finishes, Sealants, Borates, and Cleaners From Surfaces		About Resin Bleed
The Use of Steel Wool or Wire Brush		About Mold & Mildew
Preventing Mold Growth		About Water Stains

Perma-Chink Systems offers wood preservatives designed to protect your home from insects and wood rot. Below are our Tech Tips for our preservatives, along with some general product knowledge on storing procedures.

Tech Tip	PDF	Tech Tip	PDF
How Borates Work To Protect Wood		How to Apply Borates
Washing & Staining After Borate Treatments		Storing Borate Solutions
Removing Dried Finishes, Sealants, Borates, and Cleaners From Surfaces		Application Temperatures
Freeze-Thaw Stability		Hot Weather Applications
All About Wood Decay

Despite our best efforts, sometimes problems develop in wood that requires some more serious work than just stripping the finish or applying a new topcoat. Wood decay does happen, and it can be repaired if caught early enough. Perma-Chink Systems offers two-part epoxy products, M-Balm and E-Wood, to repair damaged logs.

If you're looking to restore your home's beauty through taking the wood down to bare wood and applying a new finish, we can help you with that, too. We offer S-100 and StripIt, environmentally-friendly water-based strippers.

Tech Tip	PDF	Tech Tip	PDF
About M-Balm & E-Wood Epoxies		Drying and Curing Times
How to Repair Large Voids in Logs		Inspecting Your Log Home
How to Use M-Balm & E-Wood		Log Home Inspection Checklist
Media Blasting Versus Chemical Stripping		Washing Media Blasted Surfaces
About Pressure Washers		About Pressure Washing
Applying Finish Removers Using Airless Sprayers		About Handrails

All homes have pests. Log and Timber frame homes have specific pests that like to chew up wood, or burrow inside. For many pests, Perma-Chink Systems offers specific products to treat the wood, aimed at preventing damage from pests.

Tech Tip	PDF	Tech Tip	PDF
Pest proofing your home		Woodpeckers
Carpenter ants		Ladybugs and boxelder
Carpenter bees		Parasitic wasps
Wood boring beetles		Wildlife damage

We have a collection of videos covering common home maintenance tasks specific to log and timber homes. Below are our videos, which are also available on our YouTube channel.