Caulking Old Wood Siding

Here s how to make the right choice.

Caulking old wood siding.

When you try to restrict either it is at your peril. Most of the caulk on store shelves is basically one of four types. The caulk not only protects the wood but gives a nice clean look to the architectural details of the structure by removing shadow lines. These siding joints can be caulked successfully if the gap is wide enough for the caulk to get into the crack.

Removing all the silicone is difficult to accomplish as there is almost always some residue and when you remove it from wood it inevitably grips onto the wood fibers and pulls them with it resulting in a mutilated work piece that requires lots of repair. Elastomeric polyurethane latex or silicone. Score the calk on the edges as the ends split easily. Placing caulk over large portions of wood siding prohibits the natural movement of the wooden panels and can cause extensive damage to the exterior.

When it comes to things like old windows traditional glazing putty is a much better choice. Wash it down with a hose once the caulk has dried the outbuilding can be given a good rinsing with a garden hose and scrub brush to knock off dirt sawdust and other debris that may prevent paint. Fill any dents and holes with either a wood or epoxy filler. Think of a wood home as a living thing.

Remove the old siding. Be sure to remove any caulk where the siding overlaps as old houses need to breathe. If the siding joint is so tight that the caulk only bridges the gap it may split again. Apply an epoxy consolidant to soft wood and coat the rest with.

It needs to move and breathe. Caulk by its adhesive nature will try to limit this movement leading to widespread failure and cracking in the caulk over time. As homeowners with this kind of siding know wood naturally expands and contracts with fluctuations in temperature and precipitation. It is generally not a good idea to use caulking on wood siding.

Sometimes the old caulk in the siding joint is cracked and you need to cut the old caulk out with a razor knife. Pull out loose nails and renail using stainless steel siding nails. Here are the step by step procedures as discussed in our painting and stripping old wood siding overview page. In the old days the builder would install the trim bring the siding up to it and caulk the corner.

On most new homes the trim goes up after the siding is installed which creates a large gap that should not be caulked. The selection in the caulk aisle at home centers is mind boggling but actually choosing the right one is pretty simple. Trim boards that sit on top the siding. The siding expands and contracts with temperature and humidity.