Caulking Old Wood Siding

Score the calk on the edges as the ends split easily.

Caulking old wood siding.

Fill any dents and holes with either a wood or epoxy filler. When it comes to things like old windows traditional glazing putty is a much better choice. Siding windows and doors. Be sure to remove any caulk where the siding overlaps as old houses need to breathe.

Painting and repairing old wood siding step by step. It needs to move and breathe. Here s how to make the right choice. These siding joints can be caulked successfully if the gap is wide enough for the caulk to get into the crack.

If the siding joint is so tight that the caulk only bridges the gap it may split again. Most of the caulk on store shelves is basically one of four types. Removing all the silicone is difficult to accomplish as there is almost always some residue and when you remove it from wood it inevitably grips onto the wood fibers and pulls them with it resulting in a mutilated work piece that requires lots of repair. Sometimes the old caulk in the siding joint is cracked and you need to cut the old caulk out with a razor knife.

As homeowners with this kind of siding know wood naturally expands and contracts with fluctuations in temperature and precipitation. The siding expands and contracts with temperature and humidity. Pull out loose nails and renail using stainless steel siding nails. Placing caulk over large portions of wood siding prohibits the natural movement of the wooden panels and can cause extensive damage to the exterior.

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. When you try to restrict either it is at your peril. On most new homes the trim goes up after the siding is installed which creates a large gap that should not be caulked. In the old days the builder would install the trim bring the siding up to it and caulk the corner.

The selection in the caulk aisle at home centers is mind boggling but actually choosing the right one is pretty simple. It is generally not a good idea to use caulking on wood siding. Trim boards that sit on top the siding. Carefully use a pry bar to remove the siding.

Here are the step by step procedures as discussed in our painting and stripping old wood siding overview page. Think of a wood home as a living thing. Elastomeric polyurethane latex or silicone. Apply an epoxy consolidant to soft wood and coat the rest with.