Caulking Cedar Lap Siding

Width is a matter of taste and proper proportion.

Caulking cedar lap siding.

When deciding how to use caulk on your siding however it is generally more important to consider where you should not use it. When you try to restrict either it is at your peril. If overused or incorrectly placed siding caulk can cause more damage to your exterior than good. It needs to move and breathe.

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. I m not a painter but i do install cedar siding and i always caulk all the joints. If i install a non finished product i usually go with a 3m paintable caulk. Caulk by its adhesive nature will try to limit this movement leading to widespread failure and cracking in the caulk over time.

The siding expands and contracts with temperature and humidity. 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. The answer depends on the manufacturer and installation method used when the siding was first installed.

Think of a wood home as a living thing. 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.