Caulking Wood Siding House

If the siding joint is so tight that the caulk only bridges the gap it may split again.

Caulking wood siding house.

Placing caulk over large portions of wood siding prohibits the natural movement of the wooden panels and can cause extensive damage to the exterior of your home. Prime if necessary some specialty caulks may need a primer before paint is applied but most caulking is paintable. Good for gutters siding and concrete. Work the primer into gaps but don t try to fill them with primer.

Sometimes the old caulk in the siding joint is cracked and you need to cut the old caulk out with a razor knife. It comes in rolls and is used most often for weatherstripping windows and doors. Use top quality caulk outdoors where it needs to withstand extreme temperature changes and remain flexible for 30 to 50 years. They re good for easy touch ups around the house such as sealing shower tile or the kitchen sink.

Basically any crack on the exterior of the house should be filled. Metal flashing or any metal to wood joint should not be caulked another water exit pathway that should never be sealed. The nails holding up the siding should not be caulked. So if caulking is part of a painting project it s best to prime before you caulk.

This allows for the caulk to get in and fill the gap correctly. Applied properly it usually lasts one to two years. Siding nails should not be caulked another item that needs room to play is siding boards themselves. Before caulking joints between dissimilar materials make sure that the manufacturer recommends the caulk for both materials.

Caulk should dry before painting over it otherwise it can cause new paint to crack and. Also avoid caulking tongue and groove siding boards together. When it comes to wood or wood based materials like hardboard primer sticks better than caulk and provides a great adhesion surface for caulk. This could include applying caulking patching or bondo to exterior wood that has been repaired due to wet or dry rot.

But if done incorrectly it can lend a sloppy amateurish look. The best exterior caulk for roofing construction and repairs since it can withstand extreme temperatures and creates a strong insulating and water tight seal. Many professionals like those at james hardie also agree that you should not use caulk on fiber cement siding unless there is no metal flashing underneath.