Caulking Cemplank Siding

A mark parlee a general contractor in des moines iowa responds.

Caulking cemplank siding.

Do not caulk between siding and any built in receiving channels located at or around windows. Always caulk between the siding and the trim. V caulk replacement when sealant is in need of replacing carefully remove existing caulk and replace with a high quality paintable latex caulk. In my experience water that gets trapped against fiber cement siding can be absorbed by the material causing joints to swell and shrink during freeze thaw cycles.

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. The nails holding up the siding should not be caulked. Leave a 1 8 gap between the siding and the trim or other materials to allow for structural movement. Dents chips cracks and other minor surface damage in james hardie siding and trim products can be filled with cementitious patching compound.

On our jobs we typically don t leave gaps for caulk at butt joints because this detail can contribute to the problem. Always prime or paint any cut edges that are inserted into a window j channel. Instead we snug the joints up tight and. Is the old caulking removed before new coats are applied.

Similar to paint previous coats of. Cemboard siding provides the look and texture of wood with proven fiber cement performance at an exceptional value. Vertical trim gap caulking. Caulking sealant must be applied in accordance with the caulking sealant manufacturer s written instructions or astm c1193.