Caulking Wood Siding House

Metal flashing or any metal to wood joint should not be caulked another water exit pathway that should never be sealed.

Caulking wood siding house.

Siding nails should not be caulked another item that needs room to play is siding boards themselves. This allows for the caulk to get in and fill the gap correctly. Use top quality caulk outdoors where it needs to withstand extreme temperature changes and remain flexible for 30 to 50 years. So if caulking is part of a painting project it s best to prime before you caulk.

Caulk is a substance designed to seal a joint between two surfaces and to fill small holes. Good for gutters siding and concrete. Caulk should dry before painting over it otherwise it can cause new paint to crack and. They re good for easy touch ups around the house such as sealing shower tile or the kitchen sink.

When it comes to wood or wood based materials like hardboard primer sticks better than caulk and provides a great adhesion surface for caulk. It comes in rolls and is used most often for weatherstripping windows and doors. Best for use with aluminum metal concrete mortar plastics rubber stone vinyl and exterior wood. Also avoid caulking tongue and groove siding boards together.

Before caulking joints between dissimilar materials make sure that the manufacturer recommends the caulk for both materials. If the siding joint is so tight that the caulk only bridges the gap it may split again. Sometimes the old caulk in the siding joint is cracked and you need to cut the old caulk out with a razor knife. Prime if necessary some specialty caulks may need a primer before paint is applied but most caulking is paintable.

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. 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. But if done incorrectly it can lend a sloppy amateurish look. Work the primer into gaps but don t try to fill them with primer.

Basically any crack on the exterior of the house should be filled. Applied properly it usually lasts one to two years. Caulking windows to give them a finished look inside and out and seal out leaks and drafts is a fairly common diy task.