Caulking Clapboard Siding

In this how to segment we talk about the proper way to use exterior caulking and get the job done clean and correct.

Caulking clapboard 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. If more than one clapboard is needed to span a wall snap a chalk line between the marks on the corner boards on top of the course being overlapped. First to help avoid any future insect damage back prime the cedar with oil based primer image 1.

Similar to paint previous coats of. Caulk is a substance designed to seal a joint between two surfaces and. After notching the siding to fit around the bottom of the window apply sealant under and around the windowsill. Cracks and holes in any surface collect water which causes paint to peel.

It seems that general practice is for the intersection of horizontal clapboards and corner boards to be caulked a bead of caulk over this intersection after siding installation. 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. Filling cracks and holes with caulk in your home s trim and siding before painting not only makes the paint job look better but also makes the paint last longer. Carefully slide the notched piece of siding into place.

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. Re first a disclaimer. We used cedar siding to replace the rotted clapboards. The nails holding up the siding should not be caulked.

Nail the clapboard to the studs. But i ve also seen advice about not doing this because the caulk can will fail and trap water. The corner boards and the ends of the siding are nailed to the corner studs which anchors the wood for a maintenance free joint. When deciding how to use caulk on your siding however it is generally more important to consider where you should not use it.

Width is a matter of taste and proper proportion. Before the siding can go up 1x4 starter strips of treated lumber should be nailed to the sill where the lower most course of siding will go up image 2. Do you caulk all of the joints between the vertical boards of vertical board siding when prepping to paint a house.