Wooden houses create coziness and comfortable living. Wood is a natural and sustainable material that does not harm the environment. That is why many people dream of having their own country house made of beams or logs.
But there were some drawbacks. A year after construction, the house begins to shrink, and characteristic cracks appear in the logs. In the beginning, they are almost invisible. But over time, their size becomes so large that the whole view deteriorates.
There is an opinion that in order to avoid this problem, it is necessary to saw off the logs along their axis. It is necessary to make perfectly smooth grooves with a depth of no more than 20% of the total diameter. Their thickness should be about 7-9 millimeters. Such grooves are called “unloading” slots.
I decided to test this theory and talked to experienced builders. They said it was not worth making “relief” cuts, as the tree might behave differently after a few years.
Our distant ancestors never made cuts. Instead, they chopped down logs and left them for several years. They dried naturally and became durable. There were no cracks on them either.
If a crack of more than 6 millimeters appears on the beam, then precipitation will most likely begin to get there. This will provoke rapid decay of the tree. Also, pests in the form of beetles can settle there, which will begin to eat up the timber from the inside.
Cuts are the most vulnerable places for cracking. To combat this problem, sealants are used. They treat all cracks where moisture can get in the future. So it will not be able to go beyond the outer layer and will simply dissolve.
Varnish, wax solution or oil-based paint are also suitable for processing cuts. Previously, ordinary lime was used for these purposes.
How to repair cracks in logs
Only the most effective methods that my friends and I have used will be described here.
- 1. It is necessary to take sawdust and PVA glue. Their number should be such that, in the end, the mixture resembles a putty. Mix thoroughly and spread in places where there are cracks. It is best to use a spatula for this purpose. With the help of it, the solution will get into the most inaccessible places. If the cracks are very large, then you need to pay attention to other methods.
- 2. You can use an acrylic filler, which is ideal for cracks smaller than 3 mm. If you cover it with larger sizes, then the acrylic will quickly crack.
- 3. We buy acrylic sealant from the store that is suitable for small crevices. If the dimensions of the cracks are more than 5 mm, then first they must be sealed with a tourniquet, and then secured with a sealant from above. The tourniquet will act as an additional fastener.
Every year more and more builders refuse to use sealants. They do this due to the fact that the structure of the sealant does not allow the tree to "breathe", and the internal moisture does not evaporate anywhere. Because of this, an active decay process occurs. That is why it is worth paying attention to the old, but time-tested method.
- 4. Many villagers used to put moss in the cracks. Before that, they moistened it and rolled it into bundles. The moss fit perfectly into the cracks and after a while began to swell.
This method is really very good. Moss is breathable and does not harm wood.
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