Caulk Wood Plank Siding Before Painting

Caulk adheres very well to clean bare wood and vinyl.

Caulk wood plank siding before painting.

Under normal circumstances you can apply caulk before priming. This is the beginning of rotting wood water stains mold and mildew and possible flooring damage. Don t caulk the horizontal joints on siding where the siding courses overlap. Joe i think your image is specifically for colorplus where they don t recommend caulking.

Some specialty caulks may need a primer before paint is applied but most caulking is paintable. However if you re working on certain surfaces the caulk will not stick without a primer base coat. Is the old caulking removed before new coats are applied. If the siding joint is so tight that the caulk only bridges the gap it may split again.

The different kinds of caulking for your home. This allows for the caulk to get in and fill the gap correctly. There are several different types of caulking on the market. For regular hardiplank lap siding the kind you paint after installation caulking at butt joints is optional.

Basically any crack on the exterior of the house should be filled. Sometimes the old caulk in the siding joint is cracked and you need to cut the old caulk out with a razor knife. When exterior caulking becomes defective it allows moisture and rain to seep between siding boards behind the trim and eventually reach the drywall of the interior. For caulk that will be painted over a latex caulk should be used.

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. If doing so exposes bare wood recaulk all cracks between any two nonmoving materials. Let the caulk cure for a few days before power washing the exterior. Old caulking that has failed and allowed water to migrate behind the siding can cause wood rot decay and if left undetected mold will most likely grow in your walls.

A high quality paintable caulk is recommended. Caulk should dry before painting over it otherwise it can cause new paint to crack and warp. Caulk and seal all cracks in the siding as well as any open seams joints or gaps with a quality acrylic or siliconized acrylic caulk. Scrape away any peeling paint adjacent to the caulked areas.

Unfortunately it will not stick well to stained surfaces. The nails holding up the siding should not be caulked. For best results use caulks that comply with either astm. This can cost hundreds to thousands of dollars to eradicate.