Caulk The Siding Behind The J

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.

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. Trim boards wood windows. Sent from my iphone using tapatalk 07 14 2014 08 15 pm. I know it looks like there s a big gap there but that s pretty typical.

We only caulk butt joints on cedar siding if previously caulked. Caulking windows to give them a finished look inside and out and seal out leaks and drafts is a fairly common diy task. Inspect the area above the leak including both indoors and out. My point is that is far better than water getting in behind the siding.

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. Siding caulk can be used on several different areas of your exterior siding to help prevent water damage and moisture buildup. Caulking your home s siding is a simple process but not necessarily a foolproof one.

Fiber cement boards are caulked only when there is no metal flashing behind them. 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. I was just wondering how many guys caulk the j channel to the window trim anyway. Some manufacturers do not require the metal flashing therefore we caulk the butt joint to keep the pieces together and also prevent moisture.

But if done incorrectly it can lend a sloppy amateurish look. Caulking can be placed behind the j channel during installation sealing the seam between the j channel and the house wrap also sealing the seam between the j channel and the window itself. 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.