Caulking Between Hardiplank Siding

The nails holding up the siding should not be caulked.

Caulking between hardiplank 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. Step 1 dampen a dry rag with denatured alcohol and wipe the area surrounding the crack. You need to have the best caulk for hardie siding to help your walls and wooden surfaces to get rid of open cracks and thin spaces between joints. Always prime or paint any cut edges that are inserted into a window j channel.

This video is about how to like a pro. 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. Siding nails should not be caulked another item that needs room to play is siding boards themselves. When james hardie siding products butt into wood based materials a 1 8 gap will allow for expansion and contraction of the wood based product.

Caulking around windows doors eaves and trim edges gives added insurance that leaks will not occur. James hardie also does not recommend applying caulk to the horizontal overlap between siding planks see figure 2. If you use sashco s acrylic latex caulking sealant you can have any interior or exterior as good as new. 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.

James hardie does not recommend using caulk or h jointers for the butt joints of hardieplank siding with colorplus technology. Wherever hardie siding meets a trim board the company recommends you leave a 1 8 gap between the siding and the trim and apply a 3 8 bead of approved caulking to protect and seal the edge of the siding. Do not caulk between siding and any built in receiving channels located at or around windows. Leave a 1 8 gap between the siding and the trim or other materials to allow for structural movement.

Vertical trim gap caulking. This cleans all visible dirt and residue from the surface and prepares a clear foundation for caulking. Joint flashing butt joint horizontal lap treatment june 2014 james hardie does not recommend caulking.