Caulking Cedar Siding Seams

In my opinion caulking between the seams in any lapped siding either horizontal or vertical is not good practice but not just because of any potential vapor barrier effect.

Caulking cedar siding seams.

Me i would powerwash the house let dry overnight caulk the seams and around the edges with cedar colored caulk then stain. The answer depends on the manufacturer and installation method used when the siding was first installed. Because the staing will tint the caulk slightly. When deciding how to use caulk on your siding however it is generally more important to consider where you should not use it.

Caulking around windows doors eaves and trim edges gives added insurance that leaks will not occur. Use around sinks tubs and showers. I m not a painter but i do install cedar siding and i always caulk all the joints. Paintable silicone caulk can be used around the outside of window units to properly seal the window and the siding edge or around the entire door unit.

Think of a wood home as a living thing. If overused or incorrectly placed siding caulk can cause more damage to your exterior than good. It needs to move and breathe. When caulking seams between windows and masonry siding including basement windows and windows on stucco or brick homes you ll need an exterior caulk that s compatible with.

It is generally not a good idea to use caulking on wood siding. Don t use a filler like wood filler as it will not move with the cedar siding. If i install a non finished product i usually go with a 3m paintable caulk. If i am installing a prefinished product which i do mostly i use a color osi match caulk.

Use when installing bath fixtures to seal gaps between shower tiles between sinks and counters and around the base of the toilet. Natural siding boards are designed to expand and contract with the elements and we do not want any adhesive to prevent their natural movement. Generally we do not recommend caulking butt joints on cedar siding.