Caulking Cedar Siding Joints

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

Caulking cedar siding joints. It needs to move and breathe. It dries in just an hour and serves for up to 35 years. This is a high performance formula that comes in a 10 1 oz bottle. 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. If i am installing a prefinished product which i do mostly i use a color osi match caulk. Should they always be caulked. The answer depends on the manufacturer and installation method used when the siding was first installed.

Butt joints but not all butt joints. Caulk by its adhesive nature will try to limit this movement leading to widespread failure and cracking in the caulk over time. The hole should be about 3 16 of an inch for most caulking joints. Butt joints are a perfect example of poor joint design they re too small to accommodate a bond breaker so the caulk can t stretch properly once applied but they re also too large to simply leave alone.

Natural siding boards are designed to expand and contract with the elements and we do not want any adhesive to prevent their natural movement. Where two pieces of siding meet. Generally we do not recommend caulking butt joints on cedar siding. The siding expands and contracts with temperature and humidity.

Some of the most commonly caulked areas of siding include both corners and crevices as well as some butt joints and window and door trim boards. Siding caulk can be used on several different areas of your exterior siding to help prevent water damage and moisture buildup. Caulking on the exterior siding joints at the corner board if done carefully does not need to be smoothed with a finger. If i install a non finished product i usually go with a 3m paintable caulk.