Caulking Cedar Siding Joints

When you try to restrict either it is at your peril.

Caulking cedar siding joints.

I m not a painter but i do install cedar siding and i always caulk all the joints. If i install a non finished product i usually go with a 3m paintable caulk. The answer depends on the manufacturer and installation method used when the siding was first installed. Most other areas were caulk is necessary should be lightly smoothed with your finger.

Think of a wood home as a living thing. If you re in the market for the best exterior caulk for cedar siding you will appreciate what the red devil 077010 has to offer. Caulk by its adhesive nature will try to limit this movement leading to widespread failure and cracking in the caulk over time. The siding will be a combination of lap wood siding front and colorplus hardie plank the rest.

If i am installing a prefinished product which i do mostly i use a color osi match caulk. All butt joints will be flashed. Generally we do not recommend caulking butt joints on cedar siding. Siding caulk can be used on several different areas of your exterior siding to help prevent water damage and moisture buildup.

It needs to move and breathe. Natural siding boards are designed to expand and contract with the elements and we do not want any adhesive to prevent their natural movement. Should they always be caulked. The siding expands and contracts with temperature and humidity.

Caulking on the exterior siding joints at the corner board if done carefully does not need to be smoothed with a finger. I am in agreement with martin not to use caulking as it seems to cause more. A lot of moisture from rain snow misdirected sprinklers or exuberant water fights can get in there enough to do some serious and expensive damage. Butt joints but not all butt joints.

I m about to put up siding on a building enclosure that includes a wrb taped xps and furring strips. It dries in just an hour and serves for up to 35 years. The hole should be about 3 16 of an inch for most caulking joints. This is a high performance formula that comes in a 10 1 oz bottle.

My question is limited to the seams in which the siding contacts vertical trim.