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To caulk or not to caulk

rayholley | Posted in Construction Techniques on April 5, 2003 08:00am

Hi all,

This is my first post. I’m the editor of a weekly newspaper in a Northern California town, and I work part time as a carpenter, since it pays twice what the news busines does, and that helps with the mortgage. I’m going to paint the exterior of my house this year. I just read the painting article in the new issue (FHB 154) and it helped, but I have a caulking question. My house has horizontal fiberboard lap siding, which has not been painted since it was applied eight years ago. The vertical joints expand and contract, especially on the side facing southwest. They go from looking flush, to having about an eighth-inch gap. The joints were obviouly caulked at one time, but it’s all cracked and stretched now. Should I cut that stuff out and caulk them again? If so, what should I use? And, when should I do it? When they’re open or closed?

Thanks,

Reply

Replies

  1. CAGIV | Apr 05, 2003 08:12am | #1

    In my opinion

    Yes, clean them out

    Re-caulk with appropriate caulk, I would use Dap Alex Plus

    When they are open.

    Wait for further advice from others....

    View ImageGo Jayhawks
    1. Handydan | Apr 05, 2003 11:33am | #2

      CAG has it right in my opinion, Alex Plus, may not be best, but i sure use a lot of it.  You  want to make sure the joints are sealed to keep water out, number one enemy of homes in my opinion, and many that are smarter than me!  Have fun.

      Dan

  2. andybuildz | Apr 05, 2003 02:26pm | #3

    Just make sure the joints are really cleaned out. Be sure to use a "siliconized" caulk of good quality. Price usually indicacates that.

    As CAG said Alex Plus is very good but I think GE makes a better product for your application although it is quite a bit more expensive.

    By the way.....Welcome to Breatime. What part of Calif you from? The Mendocino area by chance?

    Be siliconized ( ) ( )

                     NAmaste

                                   andy

     

    "Understanding yourself is like trying to bite your own teeth"

    Alan Watts


    http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM

    1. Piffin | Apr 06, 2003 01:25am | #4

      LOL, Andy of the silly cone eyes!

      (0)(0).

      Excellence is its own reward!

      1. andybuildz | Apr 06, 2003 05:06am | #5

        Piff

              I was wondering how to do that......you rock.I mean you.....

        hehheh

        Be heh heh

                       Namaste

                                      andy 

        "Understanding yourself is like trying to bite your own teeth"

        Alan Watts

        http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM

  3. User avater
    rjw | Apr 06, 2003 05:33am | #6

    horizontal fiberboard lap siding, which has not been painted since it was applied eight years ago.

    Evaluate what you have first,  Any swelling along the bottom edges?  (Look closely, especially at the bottom courses.)  Any swelling around oversunk nail heads?  (This stuff is always mis-nailed in my area.)

    If either of those, don't waste too much time - it's on it's way out.

    _______________________

    10 .... I have laid the foundation like an expert builder. Now others are building on it. But whoever is building on this foundation must be very careful.

    11 For no one can lay any other foundation than the one we already have--Jesus Christ.

    1 Corinthians 3:10-11

  4. caldwellbob | Apr 06, 2003 05:50am | #7

    Yeah, I'd recaulk them. I found a better caulk than Alex plus, though. Its called Big Stretch. Does just what the name implies. When the siding shrinks/expands, so does the caulking.

    1. toast953 | Apr 06, 2003 06:13am | #8

      caldwellbob, I  thank you for mentioning Big Stretch, seems to me , most here , haven't heard of it . I love it, open tubes- no problem on plugs, warm or cold always tools well for me, though I don't run out to long of a caulk joint, for it Big Stretch, seems to film over fairly quickly.  To the Poster, you are on the  right track. Be Safe out there, Jim J

      1. caldwellbob | Apr 06, 2003 06:20am | #9

        Big Stretch is the stuff! Its especially good for cement siding, where the other brands crack and leave a gap, Big Stretch just strettttttccccchsout!

        1. CAGIV | Apr 06, 2003 06:29am | #10

          Who makes big strech, never heard of it out here in ks, maybe I just haven't seen it?View ImageGo Jayhawks

          1. caldwellbob | Apr 06, 2003 07:25am | #11

            SASHCO in Brighton, Colorado is what the box says. Here in Caldwell, we had always used the Alex caulk, too, but found that the Big Stretch is stretchier, particularly good for use on cement siding and the masonite soffit material. I hate putting the little 1/2x2" pieces over the seams on soffits, but the masonite gaps apart after about a year and the Big Stretch just stretches with it. It is more expensive, but better than a callback, for sure.

          2. rayholley | Apr 07, 2003 02:47am | #12

            Thanks to all for the caulking pep talk. The siding is in good shape, except for the powdering paint on the sunny side and my wife's desire to have a "new look" -- so caulk and paint we will. I use Alex Plus a lot now, but I'll look for Big Stretch. Oops, one more dumb question has just crossed my mind -- I'm going to mark up the siding a bit when I cut out the old caulk. I'm guessing I should primer any cuts, gouges, etc before I re-caulk?

            In answer to the question about my whereabouts, it's Healdsburg, about 65 miles north of the Golden Gate Bridge.

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