Caulking Siding Tips

White caulk on brick or concrete looks terrible.

Caulking siding tips.

In this instructional video we demonstrate how to use proper caulk techniques on lp smartside products pre finished with diamond kote which recommends dap. It will also extend the life of your soffit and fascia boards. If after reading up on the whats and whens of siding caulk you decide to complete this home improvement task on your own there are a few things you should keep in mind. Diy caulking tips and tricks.

Caulk is by necessity a sticky gooey substance and as such it smudges easily. Do ride the smooth edge when caulking a seam between a window and textured siding. But outdoor caulking deserves some extra attention. And when an outdoor seal fails water gets in and serious trouble follows.

Here s how to make the right choice. Brick concrete and stone may seem impervious to water but caulking anywhere wood siding meets the siding is critical. The nails holding up the siding should not be caulked. Caulking around windows doors eaves and trim edges gives added insurance that leaks will not occur.

Exterior caulking is a lot like interior caulking. Caulk behind the fascia boards for a neat finished appearance. Caulking your home s siding is a simple process but not necessarily a foolproof one. Start your siding project today.

And many homeowners over caulk applying caulk where it doesn t belong and potentially compromising the performance of their siding. Brick and concrete caulking tips. So here are some tips for caulking that lasts. Elastomeric polyurethane latex or silicone.

Siding windows and doors. Is the old caulking removed before new coats are applied. Most of the caulk on store shelves is basically one of four types. Your goal is a neat looking seal over cracks and gaps.

These siding joints can be caulked successfully if the gap is wide enough for the caulk to get into the crack. Siding is often textured and if you slide the tip of the tube along the bumpy texture the bead of caulk will. When james hardie siding products butt into wood based materials a 1 8 gap will allow for expansion and contraction of the wood based product. If the siding joint is so tight that the caulk only bridges the gap it may split again.

A diyer or a novice painter might attempt to achieve a cleaner look by caulking the siding nails but the nail is guaranteed to push the caulking material out within a few months. Sometimes the old caulk in the siding joint is cracked and you need to cut the old caulk out with a razor knife. Similar to paint previous coats of.