I'm getting my house ready for exterior painting and I need to seal some gaps in the siding. I've attached a few images that show the gaps around the siding and windows. Do these spots need caulking? Also, do I need to caulk all nail heads or just the ones that are open? By the way, I'm located in Southern California. Thanks in advance!
1 Answer
Absolutely, you should caulk all those gaps. Don't forget to check the top of the 1x4s too—if you caulk the bottom, make sure to do the top as well to avoid trapping water. If your whole house has similar gaps, you might need a couple of cases of caulk, but you can always return any extra. Also, invest in a good dripless caulking gun like the ETS 2000; it'll make your life easier. For caulking, we usually go with OSI Quad Max for windows and siding.
Thanks for the tips! When buying OSI Quad Max, should I choose a color that matches the original siding? Or does it not matter since I'm planning to paint the entire house anyway? Just to clarify, can I use OSI Quad Max for all the siding joints and trim outside?