Caulk The Siding Behind The J

Sent from my iphone using tapatalk 07 14 2014 08 15 pm.

Caulk the siding behind the j.

Leaking behind the siding down the house wrap till the water finds a nail and nail hole and then into the house. Many vinyl siding installers do not realize the importance of the house wrap and its job as the sole water barrier because many people incorrectly believe that vinyl siding keeps the water out. Use a caulking gun to apply a continuous bead of silicone sealant along the vertical seams between the vinyl j channels and the exterior window casings. I was just wondering how many guys caulk the j channel to the window trim anyway.

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. Fiber cement boards are caulked only when there is no metal flashing behind them. Caulking your home s siding is a simple process but not necessarily a foolproof one. My point is that is far better than water getting in behind the siding.

Inspect the area above the leak including both indoors and out. I know it looks like there s a big gap there but that s pretty typical. Caulking windows to give them a finished look inside and out and seal out leaks and drafts is a fairly common diy task. Siding caulk can be used on several different areas of your exterior siding to help prevent water damage and moisture buildup.

But if done incorrectly it can lend a sloppy amateurish look. And many homeowners over caulk applying caulk where it doesn t belong and potentially compromising the performance of their siding. Caulk is by necessity a sticky gooey substance and as such it smudges easily. Some manufacturers do not require the metal flashing therefore we caulk the butt joint to keep the pieces together and also prevent moisture.

Check to be sure weep holes are open along bottom of window openings. If they need if it needed to be caulked they would have done that. And you generally don t have to caulk between the back of the j channel and the side of the window.