Caulking Old Wood Siding

Most of the caulk on store shelves is basically one of four types.

Caulking old wood siding.

These siding joints can be caulked successfully if the gap is wide enough for the caulk to get into the crack. Score the calk on the edges as the ends split easily. When it comes to things like old windows traditional glazing putty is a much better choice. When you try to restrict either it is at your peril.

Here are the step by step procedures as discussed in our painting and stripping old wood siding overview page. Siding windows and doors. Fill any dents and holes with either a wood or epoxy filler. Apply an epoxy consolidant to soft wood and coat the rest with.

Sometimes the old caulk in the siding joint is cracked and you need to cut the old caulk out with a razor knife. It needs to move and breathe. Trim boards that sit on top the siding. The siding expands and contracts with temperature and humidity.

Placing caulk over large portions of wood siding prohibits the natural movement of the wooden panels and can cause extensive damage to the exterior. If the siding joint is so tight that the caulk only bridges the gap it may split again. Pull out loose nails and renail using stainless steel siding nails. Remove the old siding.

Wash it down with a hose once the caulk has dried the outbuilding can be given a good rinsing with a garden hose and scrub brush to knock off dirt sawdust and other debris that may prevent paint. In the old days the builder would install the trim bring the siding up to it and caulk the corner. The caulk not only protects the wood but gives a nice clean look to the architectural details of the structure by removing shadow lines. Think of a wood home as a living thing.

The selection in the caulk aisle at home centers is mind boggling but actually choosing the right one is pretty simple. Carefully use a pry bar to remove the siding. Be sure to remove any caulk where the siding overlaps as old houses need to breathe. Elastomeric polyurethane latex or silicone.

Caulk by its adhesive nature will try to limit this movement leading to widespread failure and cracking in the caulk over time. On most new homes the trim goes up after the siding is installed which creates a large gap that should not be caulked. It is generally not a good idea to use caulking on wood siding. Here s how to make the right choice.