Caulking Cedar Siding Seams

Me i would powerwash the house let dry overnight caulk the seams and around the edges with cedar colored caulk then stain.

Caulking cedar siding seams. If overused or incorrectly placed siding caulk can cause more damage to your exterior than good. Think of a wood home as a living thing. I m not a painter but i do install cedar siding and i always caulk all the joints. The answer depends on the manufacturer and installation method used when the siding was first installed.

When deciding how to use caulk on your siding however it is generally more important to consider where you should not use it. Use around sinks tubs and showers. Natural siding boards are designed to expand and contract with the elements and we do not want any adhesive to prevent their natural movement. Grumpy chicago gutters.

The siding expands and contracts with temperature and humidity. It is generally not a good idea to use caulking on wood siding. If i install a non finished product i usually go with a 3m paintable caulk. When caulking seams between windows and masonry siding including basement windows and windows on stucco or brick homes you ll need an exterior caulk that s compatible with.

If i am installing a prefinished product which i do mostly i use a color osi match caulk. Paintable silicone caulk can be used around the outside of window units to properly seal the window and the siding edge or around the entire door unit. Use when installing bath fixtures to seal gaps between shower tiles between sinks and counters and around the base of the toilet. Don t use a filler like wood filler as it will not move with the cedar siding.

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. Generally we do not recommend caulking butt joints on cedar siding. It needs to move and breathe.