Caulking Old Cedar Siding

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.

Caulking old cedar siding.

I m not a painter but i do install cedar siding and i always caulk all the joints. When you try to restrict either it is at your peril. The wood s structural integrity will remain unless the wood is exposed to excessive moisture which can cause curling cracking and wood rot. The western red cedar lumber association publishes a number of downloadable booklets concerning the design installation and finishing of cedar siding.

When deciding how to use caulk on your siding however it is generally more important to consider where you should not use it. Caulk comes in two forms. The siding expands and contracts with temperature and humidity. If overused or incorrectly placed siding caulk can cause more damage to your exterior than good.

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

If you re shopping for the best caulk for cedar siding here is what to look out for. It seals the spaces thereby protecting your home from invasion by pests and keeping the moisture and cold outside. If your house has siding on the exteriors caulk is a product you might want to install. But if done incorrectly it can lend a sloppy amateurish look.

Left unstained cedar s red hue will fade to gray within about a year. Basic maintenance repair and painting of cedar wood siding using gardner flex n fill and behr premium plus exterior paint. Grumpy chicago gutters. Recommendations for caulks are located on page 10.

If i am installing a prefinished product which i do mostly i use a color osi match caulk. It is generally not a good idea to use caulking on wood siding. Similar to paint previous coats of. Caulk by its adhesive nature will try to limit this movement leading to widespread failure and cracking in the caulk over time.

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. Think of a wood home as a living thing.