Should tongue and groove siding be caulked?

apara

We have much 20 year old tongue and groove wood siding on our house that has bowed out and needs replacing. Some contractors insist on caulking all seams while others say that caulking is not necessary to allow air circulation behind the siding. Our current installation is caulked in some areas and is not in others.

Should tongue and groove wood siding be caulked between the planks?

Thanks.
-AP_

wombosi

are you talking about vertical planks?
if so it's not going to be terribly weathertight. if it were my house, first of all i would replace with a horizontal clapboard or something more effective at keeping water out (not caulked), but if i had to use t&G i would probably caulk.

if this were a shed or a clubhouse or something i wouldn't bother caulking.

it all depends on your construction, what kind of vapor/water barrier is behind it, what kind of overhangs you have, what kind of insulation, etc...

FYI - i just spent a week replacing rotten board and batten siding all around a house on the bottom few feet. this was built in the 60s. i think any kind of vertical siding like this is asking for trouble.
only place it's appropriate is barns and sheds.

Gary in WA

No, do not caulk it. Air circulation helps dry the water from behind, but the main reason is to allow for expansion and contraction from the seasons. It was built this way for that purpose. Hopefully installed with the tongue up on a horizontal application......


Be safe, Gary

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wombosi

ah, GBR.
that makes sense. for some reason i was imagining it being vertical.

nice.

apara

Yes, the installation is horizontal. The tongue is facing up and the grove is sitting on top of it.

The part about breathing and expansion makes sense. Thanks for your suggestion and help.

-AP_

Gary in WA

You are welcome for that is why we are here, AND, Welcome to the forum!

Be safe, Gary

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