Caulking Cedar Lap Siding

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.

Caulking cedar lap siding.

If overused or incorrectly placed siding caulk can cause more damage to your exterior than good. Whether you are repainting replacing a window or replacing the siding on your house the caulking around the window trim is a very important element. The answer depends on the manufacturer and installation method used when the siding was first installed. When you try to restrict either it is at your peril.

It needs to move and breathe. I m not a painter but i do install cedar siding and i always caulk all the joints. How to caulk the window trim on lap siding. Natural siding boards are designed to expand and contract with the elements and we do not want any adhesive to prevent their natural movement.

Caulk by its adhesive nature will try to limit this movement leading to widespread failure and cracking in the caulk over time. Think of a wood home as a living thing. When deciding how to use caulk on your siding however it is generally more important to consider where you should not use it. The siding expands and contracts with temperature and humidity.

Width is a matter of taste and proper proportion. It is generally not a good idea to use caulking on wood siding. The corner boards and the ends of the siding are nailed to the corner studs which anchors the wood for a maintenance free joint.