Caulking Old Cedar Siding

Basic maintenance repair and painting of cedar wood siding using gardner flex n fill and behr premium plus exterior paint.

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. If i am installing a prefinished product which i do mostly i use a color osi match caulk. The nails holding up the siding should not be caulked. 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.

It is generally not a good idea to use caulking on wood siding. 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. Caulking windows to give them a finished look inside and out and seal out leaks and drafts is a fairly common diy task.

The wood s structural integrity will remain unless the wood is exposed to excessive moisture which can cause curling cracking and wood rot. Think of a wood home as a living thing. It needs to move and breathe. Caulk by its adhesive nature will try to limit this movement leading to widespread failure and cracking in the caulk over time.

Grumpy chicago gutters. Below is a link to their installation guide. Left unstained cedar s red hue will fade to gray within about a year. 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. 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. Caulk comes in two forms. When you try to restrict either it is at your peril.

Other technical resources can be found elsewhere on their website. I m not a painter but i do install cedar siding and i always caulk all the joints. Similar to paint previous coats of. The siding expands and contracts with temperature and humidity.

Recommendations for caulks are located on page 10. But if done incorrectly it can lend a sloppy amateurish look.