Caulk Shiplap Siding

Shiplap barn siding is quickly gaining popularity both inside and outside the house.

Caulk shiplap siding. Smooth out the caulk with your finger or putty knife. On most new homes the trim goes up after the siding is installed which creates a large gap that should not be caulked. Caulk by its adhesive nature will try to limit this movement leading to widespread failure and cracking in the caulk over time. In addition there are several other factors to keep in mind when choosing the right caulk for your siding.

Tips for painting shiplap. When searching for the right kind of caulk for your exterior siding quality is obviously important as with any home improvement project cheaper does not always mean better. In the old days the builder would install the trim bring the siding up to it and caulk the corner. We need air circulation behind these boards and the opening acts as a water exit should water ever go behind the boards.

It is thus sometimes referred to as the poor man s tongue and groove. After the caulk is dry use the. The siding expands and contracts with temperature and humidity. Unpainted caulk is impossible to clean and attracts dust.

Caulk makes the entire project come together and look seamless. Run a bead of caulk along the edge of the newly installed shiplap siding. This will seal the edges of the planks and keep the watertight and prevent drafts or leaks from coming through the shiplap. Step 6 seal with caulk.

Pull the tip of the caulk tube slowly along the joint of the window trim and the siding holding the caulk gun at a 45 degree angle. Think of a wood home as a living thing. The finished look of shiplap joints is similar to that of tongue and groove joints but the former involves less work and less expense than the latter. If you are doing the faux planks like we did here then you will see the wall between every board and painting it beforehand is so much easier then painting it afterward.

Maintain steady pressure on the trigger while moving at a. Be sure to paint the caulk even if it s the same color as your shiplap. My gut wants me to apply a bead of phenoseal under the overlap to prevent water from getting behind the boards. Choosing the right caulk for your siding.

Step 7 sand the edges. Paint the wall the color you plan to paint the shiplap. The most important part of adding trim to shiplap is caulking the edges. Insert the new piece of shiplap siding into the cut out area and nail with concrete covered siding nails.

For best results use paintable caulk. Don t apply too much caulk. When you try to restrict either it is at your peril. It needs to move and breathe.