Caulking Around Wood Siding

Item 157140 model 11532.

Caulking around wood siding.

Here s how to make the right choice. If the siding joint is so tight that the caulk only bridges the gap it may split again. Use around sinks tubs and showers. Siding nails should not be caulked another item that needs room to play is siding boards themselves.

The selection in the caulk aisle at home centers is mind boggling but actually choosing the right one is pretty simple. Caulking windows to give them a finished look inside and out and seal out leaks and drafts is a fairly common diy task. The nails holding up the siding should not be caulked. As homeowners with this kind of siding know wood naturally expands and contracts with fluctuations in temperature and precipitation.

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. Applied properly it usually lasts one to two years. Elastomeric polyurethane latex or silicone. These siding joints can be caulked successfully if the gap is wide enough for the caulk to get into the crack.

It is generally not a good idea to use caulking on wood siding. Use when installing bath fixtures to seal gaps between shower tiles between sinks and counters and around the base of the toilet. Dap alex plus 12 pack 10 1 oz white paintable latex caulk. Most of the caulk on store shelves is basically one of four types.

They re good for easy touch ups around the house such as sealing shower tile or the kitchen sink. Metal flashing or any metal to wood joint should not be caulked another water exit pathway that should never be sealed. Also avoid caulking tongue and groove siding boards together. The ge silicone i all purpose caulk can be used on any kind of surface around the house including door frames and window sills sidings and trimmings vents pipes and wires.

Siding windows and doors. So pressure treated wood is lumber than has been chemically treated to resist against rot fungus insects and other random grossness that happens when things live outside. Sometimes the old caulk in the siding joint is cracked and you need to cut the old caulk out with a razor knife. But if done incorrectly it can lend a sloppy amateurish look.

Because it actually makes total sense i just didn t realize it. If overused or incorrectly placed siding caulk can cause more damage to your exterior than good.