Caulking Old Cedar Siding

Caulk comes in two forms.

Caulking old cedar siding.

The western red cedar lumber association publishes a number of downloadable booklets concerning the design installation and finishing of cedar siding. Corner boards are applied to the sheathing with siding fitting tightly against the narrow edge of the boards allowing for expansion and an adequate caulking bead. The wood s structural integrity will remain unless the wood is exposed to excessive moisture which can cause curling cracking and wood rot. I ve tried re caulking in one or two places where i ve had water infiltration around sliding door units mostly but the types i ve used seem universally to not stick to the cedar.

If you re shopping for the best caulk for cedar siding here is what to look out for. Thickness of the corner board will depend on the thickness of the siding. Basic maintenance repair and painting of cedar wood siding using gardner flex n fill and behr premium plus exterior paint. 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.

Below is a link to their installation guide. The siding expands and contracts with temperature and humidity. 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.

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. But if done incorrectly it can lend a sloppy amateurish look. Other technical resources can be found elsewhere on their website.

The most common are 3 4 inch or 1 1 4 inches thick. 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 your house has siding on the exteriors caulk is a product you might want to install. I m not a painter but i do install cedar siding and i always caulk all the joints.

Width is a matter of taste and proper proportion. I don t know what the builders of my 7 year old house used but it dried out and peeled off in places after only a couple years. Similar to paint previous coats of. Think of a wood home as a living thing.

If i install a non finished product i usually go with a 3m paintable caulk. Is the old caulking removed before new coats are applied. It needs to move and breathe.