Caulking Old Cedar Siding

The siding expands and contracts with temperature and humidity.

Caulking old cedar siding.

When you try to restrict either it is at your peril. But if done incorrectly it can lend a sloppy amateurish look. Other technical resources can be found elsewhere on their website. It needs to move and breathe.

Caulking windows to give them a finished look inside and out and seal out leaks and drafts is a fairly common diy task. Caulk comes in two forms. The wood s structural integrity will remain unless the wood is exposed to excessive moisture which can cause curling cracking and wood rot. Caulk by its adhesive nature will try to limit this movement leading to widespread failure and cracking in the caulk over time.

Is the old caulking removed before new coats are applied. Similar to paint previous coats of. Left unstained cedar s red hue will fade to gray within about a year. If i am installing a prefinished product which i do mostly i use a color osi match caulk.

Recommendations for caulks are located on page 10. If i install a non finished product i usually go with a 3m paintable caulk. If overused or incorrectly placed siding caulk can cause more damage to your exterior than good. It is generally not a good idea to use caulking on wood siding.

The western red cedar lumber association publishes a number of downloadable booklets concerning the design installation and finishing of cedar siding. The nails holding up the siding should not be caulked. Grumpy chicago gutters. Think of a wood home as a living thing.

Basic maintenance repair and painting of cedar wood siding using gardner flex n fill and behr premium plus exterior paint. When deciding how to use caulk on your siding however it is generally more important to consider where you should not use it. While cedar stands up to the elements fairly well on its own putting a seal or a coat of paint on it can enhance the color and protect the wood from inclement weather. It seals the spaces thereby protecting your home from invasion by pests and keeping the moisture and cold outside.

A diyer or a novice painter might attempt to achieve a cleaner look by caulking the siding nails but the nail is guaranteed to push the caulking material out within a few months. If you re shopping for the best caulk for cedar siding here is what to look out for.