Caulk The Siding Behind The J

I was just wondering how many guys caulk the j channel to the window trim anyway.

Caulk the siding behind the j.

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. 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. Check to be sure weep holes are open along bottom of window openings. Leaking behind the siding down the house wrap till the water finds a nail and nail hole and then into the house.

Caulking windows to give them a finished look inside and out and seal out leaks and drafts is a fairly common diy task. My point is that is far better than water getting in behind the siding. But if done incorrectly it can lend a sloppy amateurish look. Caulking your home s siding is a simple process but not necessarily a foolproof one.

Trim boards wood windows. Caulk is by necessity a sticky gooey substance and as such it smudges easily. And many homeowners over caulk applying caulk where it doesn t belong and potentially compromising the performance of their siding. If they need if it needed to be caulked they would have done that.

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. Siding caulk can be used on several different areas of your exterior siding to help prevent water damage and moisture buildup. Fiber cement boards are caulked only when there is no metal flashing behind them.

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. 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. Some manufacturers do not require the metal flashing therefore we caulk the butt joint to keep the pieces together and also prevent moisture.