One of the premier tasks of the sealing system is to protect the structure by prohibiting standing water from prolonged contact with the logs. If the outside sealant or chinking separates from the logs or cracks, water can come in contact with the interior insulation, degrading the insulation properties of the material and acting as a "collector" that prolongs wet surface contact with the logs. A sealant material structures and provides continuity in its overall appearance. Gaps or cracks that reveal exposed synthetic sealing material detract from the natural beauty of the structure and provide areas for water to accumulate.