Caulking Cedar Siding Joints

The answer depends on the manufacturer and installation method used when the siding was first installed.

Caulking cedar siding joints.

It needs to move and breathe. 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. The siding expands and contracts with temperature and humidity.

It dries in just an hour and serves for up to 35 years. Think of a wood home as a living thing. 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.

If i am installing a prefinished product which i do mostly i use a color osi match caulk. If i install a non finished product i usually go with a 3m paintable caulk. Natural siding boards are designed to expand and contract with the elements and we do not want any adhesive to prevent their natural movement. Caulking on the exterior siding joints at the corner board if done carefully does not need to be smoothed with a finger.

Where two pieces of siding meet. 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. I m about to put up siding on a building enclosure that includes a wrb taped xps and furring strips. The hole should be about 3 16 of an inch for most caulking joints.

The siding will be a combination of lap wood siding front and colorplus hardie plank the rest. All butt joints will be flashed. Caulk by its adhesive nature will try to limit this movement leading to widespread failure and cracking in the caulk over time. Should they always be caulked.

When you try to restrict either it is at your peril. 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. I m not a painter but i do install cedar siding and i always caulk all the joints. Siding caulk can be used on several different areas of your exterior siding to help prevent water damage and moisture buildup.

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.