Caulking Cedar Siding Seams

Think of a wood home as a living thing.

Caulking cedar siding seams.

I m not a painter but i do install cedar siding and i always caulk all the joints. When deciding how to use caulk on your siding however it is generally more important to consider where you should not use it. Me i would powerwash the house let dry overnight caulk the seams and around the edges with cedar colored caulk then stain. Use around sinks tubs and showers.

The answer depends on the manufacturer and installation method used when the siding was first installed. Don t use a filler like wood filler as it will not move with the cedar siding. It is generally not a good idea to use caulking on wood siding. If overused or incorrectly placed siding caulk can cause more damage to your exterior than good.

Generally we do not recommend caulking butt joints on cedar siding. When james hardie siding products butt into wood based materials a 1 8 gap will allow for expansion and contraction of the wood based product. When caulking seams between windows and masonry siding including basement windows and windows on stucco or brick homes you ll need an exterior caulk that s compatible with. Natural siding boards are designed to expand and contract with the elements and we do not want any adhesive to prevent their natural movement.

Use when installing bath fixtures to seal gaps between shower tiles between sinks and counters and around the base of the toilet. Grumpy chicago gutters. Paintable silicone caulk can be used around the outside of window units to properly seal the window and the siding edge or around the entire door unit. Caulking around windows doors eaves and trim edges gives added insurance that leaks will not occur.

In my opinion caulking between the seams in any lapped siding either horizontal or vertical is not good practice but not just because of any potential vapor barrier effect. The siding expands and contracts with temperature and humidity. If i am installing a prefinished product which i do mostly i use a color osi match caulk.