Calking Damp Siding

The rot is often found when homeowners decide to install a.

Calking damp siding.

The siding expands and contracts with temperature and humidity. A caulk gun can come with nozzle cutters or a swing out wire to puncture caulk tube seals. Caulking the bottom. Bottom of siding boards should not be caulked water is meant to exit through the bottom of each board.

Some of the most commonly caulked areas of siding include both corners and crevices as well as some butt joints and window and door trim boards. Specialty caulks are also an option designed to complete specific tasks. Caulk can be either sanded or unsanded. Siding caulk can be used on several different areas of your exterior siding to help prevent water damage and moisture buildup.

If the siding joint is so tight that the caulk only bridges the gap it may split again. Simply attach strips of painter s tape along both edges of the seam approximately 1 8 away from the seam itself. It needs to move and breathe. It ll help you make a uniform bead but once you get the hang of it you might be able to do just as well with a wet finger.

Caulking them is a mistake and the caulking is likely to fail prematurely. Think of a wood home as a living thing. Silicone caulk is best for nonporous surfaces only and is a great choice for gaps or cracks that may expand or contract. Use sanded caulk any time you use sanded grout and in joints 1 8 inch or wider.

Then run the bead of caulk and smooth it off as described above. Like windows cracks and gaps between a door and the siding or threshold permit water to enter making them prime spots for wood rot. Unsanded caulk has a smooth appearance and texture. Practice on a piece of cardboard or a tucked away area before tackling visible projects.

While paint does tend to somewhat glue these pieces together caulking them is never advised and can cause permanent damage. It has a grainy texture and appearance. You ll want to apply this kind in wet areas around sinks or tubs to keep water from leaking and pooling on the floor. Sometimes the old caulk in the siding joint is cracked and you need to cut the old caulk out with a razor knife.

These siding joints can be caulked successfully if the gap is wide enough for the caulk to get into the crack.