Caulking Cedar Siding Knots

Preventative maintenance is the key to controlling cedar bleed.

Caulking cedar siding knots.

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. How to caulk to fill exterior wood holes. Grumpy chicago gutters. Left unstained cedar s red hue will fade to gray within about a year.

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. Whenever possible use the best available materials including pre primed and pre finished if possible clear vertical grain cvg cedar clapboards. Recommendations that are useful in the maintenance of your cedar siding are as follows.

Make sure the siding is installed properly. If i install a non finished product i usually go with a 3m paintable caulk. Generally we do not recommend caulking butt joints on cedar siding. Cedar is a relatively stable wood species one of the reasons that home builders favor it for exterior applications like siding.

While cedar stands up to the elements fairly well on its own putting a seal or a coat of paint on it can enhance the color and protect the wood from inclement weather. The wood s structural integrity will remain unless the wood is exposed to excessive moisture which can cause curling cracking and wood rot. If i am installing a prefinished product which i do mostly i use a color osi match caulk. The corner boards and the ends of the siding are nailed to the corner studs which anchors the wood for a maintenance free joint.

Natural siding boards are designed to expand and contract with the elements and we do not want any adhesive to prevent their natural movement. However if the wooden exterior of your new home is pitted with nail holes ice damage or other. I m not a painter but i do install cedar siding and i always caulk all the joints. Caulk is most often used to seal joints and cracks.

It is generally not a good idea to use caulking on wood siding.