Caulking Between Hardiplank Siding

Although it is convenient hardiplank siding is still susceptible to cracks which requires a caulking treatment to repair.

Caulking between hardiplank siding.

Joint flashing butt joint horizontal lap treatment june 2014 james hardie does not recommend caulking. 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. 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. Vertical trim gap caulking.

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. If you use sashco s acrylic latex caulking sealant you can have any interior or exterior as good as new. Step 1 dampen a dry rag with denatured alcohol and wipe the area surrounding the crack.

Siding nails should not be caulked another item that needs room to play is siding boards themselves. The nails holding up the siding should not be caulked. Leave a 1 8 gap between the siding and the trim or other materials to allow for structural movement. 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. But here the main problem is people usually don t find the right type of caulk for their works. Caulking around windows doors eaves and trim edges gives added insurance that leaks will not occur. This cleans all visible dirt and residue from the surface and prepares a clear foundation for caulking.

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. Always caulk between the siding and the trim. James hardie also does not recommend applying caulk to the horizontal overlap between siding planks see figure 2.