Caulk Shiplap Siding

Smooth out the caulk with your finger or putty knife.

Caulk shiplap siding.

When to use caulk on exterior siding siding caulk can be used on several different areas of your exterior siding to help prevent water damage and moisture buildup. 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. Bottom of siding boards should not be caulked. The siding expands and contracts with temperature and humidity.

Make the seams as smooth as possible. Also avoid caulking tongue and groove siding boards together. Insert the new piece of shiplap siding into the cut out area and nail with concrete covered siding nails. It is specifically designed for exterior siding and is manufactured using recycled materials that are extremely dimensionally stable and resistant to rot and decay.

Some of the most commonly caulked areas of siding include both corners and crevices as well as some butt joints and window and door trim boards. Step 6 seal with caulk. Water is meant to exit through the bottom of each board. Cut a tiny opening with a utility knife not the cutter on the caulk gun.

Unpainted caulk is impossible to clean and attracts dust. Patch the holes and caulk the cracks installing the planks will leave you with a ton of nail holes plus there will be cracks in the corners along the ceiling and a variety of other places. Don t apply too much caulk. Caulk makes the entire project come together and look seamless.

Run a bead of caulk along the edge of the newly installed shiplap siding. Use this product for exterior siding outdoor living areas bathrooms exposed to high levels of steam and moisture or any other area where weather or moisture may play a role. While paint does tend to somewhat glue these pieces together caulking them is never advised and can cause permanent damage. Press any excess caulk on your finger into each gap created by the lap siding and then smooth.

The process of filling them all is tedious and slow but in my opinion very necessary. Smooth and evenly distribute the caulk into the gaps by dragging your finger along the bead of caulk. For best results use paintable caulk.