Caulking Cedar Siding Seams

When deciding how to use caulk on your siding however it is generally more important to consider where you should not use it.

Caulking cedar siding seams.

Don t use a filler like wood filler as it will not move with the cedar siding. Paintable silicone caulk can be used around the outside of window units to properly seal the window and the siding edge or around the entire door unit. When caulking seams between windows and masonry siding including basement windows and windows on stucco or brick homes you ll need an exterior caulk that s compatible with. In my opinion caulking between the seams in any lapped siding either horizontal or vertical is not good practice but not just because of any potential vapor barrier effect.

If overused or incorrectly placed siding caulk can cause more damage to your exterior than good. Grumpy chicago gutters. If i am installing a prefinished product which i do mostly i use a color osi match caulk. Me i would powerwash the house let dry overnight caulk the seams and around the edges with cedar colored caulk then stain.

Generally we do not recommend caulking butt joints on cedar siding. Use around sinks tubs and showers. If i install a non finished product i usually go with a 3m paintable caulk. Natural siding boards are designed to expand and contract with the elements and we do not want any adhesive to prevent their natural movement.

It is generally not a good idea to use caulking on wood siding. It needs to move and breathe. Think of a wood home as a living thing. When james hardie siding products butt into wood based materials a 1 8 gap will allow for expansion and contraction of the wood based product.

The answer depends on the manufacturer and installation method used when the siding was first installed. The siding expands and contracts with temperature and humidity. Use when installing bath fixtures to seal gaps between shower tiles between sinks and counters and around the base of the toilet.