The Importance of Caulking before Painting the Exterior of Your Home

Looking through past articles in our blog, you will see there are several based on preparing to paint the exterior of your home. We can’t emphasize enough the difference in the end-product when your house has been carefully prepped before painting begins. All kinds of things can cause holes and spaces in a house’s exterior that need to be smoothed over before painting. Extreme weather, birds, and animals are all culprits in creating openings on the exterior of your home. Caulking before painting the exterior of your home is one of the most important steps in getting ready to paint because it fills in these spaces and creates a smooth surface for painting. At Osborne Painting, our expertise is exterior home painting. We pride ourselves in delivering a beautifully painted home that you will be extremely satisfied with. Contact us to learn more. 

Understanding Caulk

Caulk is a material that is specially designed to seal spaces and holes that are relatively small, usually no wider than a quarter of an inch, on the surface of your house. High-quality caulks can withstand extreme weather conditions where temperature changes are frequent. Different caulks vary in the materials they are made of and, therefore, will tackle certain jobs better than others. For example, a caulk that is silicone and used for faucets and tile inside a home is not the best to use outside. 

The best caulking compounds for outside use are made of:

• Silicone
• Water-based foams
• Polyurethane
• Butyl rubber
• Latex
• Oil
• Resin

The caulk should be designed by the manufacturer to 1) allow the paint to go over it and 2) adhere to the specific material on the outside of the house.

Why is Caulking Important?

Caulking is important for several reasons. During the winter months, small holes and cracks on the outside of your house can let in moisture, which can ruin both the exterior and interior of your home over time. Caulking is one of the most important and safest steps you can take in order to protect your house from winter snow and water. Caulking smooths out fractured surfaces so that there is a continuous even surface. Other reasons to caulk include preventing insects from entering the home and helping insulate the home. Professional caulking by an experienced painter fully prepares the house for painting.

When and How to Caulk When Painting the Exterior of Your Home

The best time to caulk is after the surface of the home is scraped, sanded, and primed. After the surface is primed, caulk adheres better and the gaps, cracks, and holes are more evident. If there is peeling paint surrounding caulked areas, scrape it away. If this exposes bare wood, then re-caulk all cracks and let the caulk cure for a few days. Small holes in the siding can be fixed with an exterior patching compound that is for outdoor use. If there are large cracks and damaged trim, more than likely you will find rotten wood. Rotten wood will need to be removed with a chisel and will need a two-part polyester-based filler compound applied. An experienced painter, like Osborne Painting, knows the type of compound to use for the specific type of exterior material, like aluminum siding or wood. Our painters know not to caulk the horizontal joints on siding where the siding courses overlap. The cracks formed between two courses of siding provide ventilation points to let moisture escape from the siding and inside the wall. 

Contact Osborne Painting for Painting the Exterior of Your Home

If you need the exterior of your home painted, contact the experts at Osborne Painting. Our professional painters have the experience and knowledge to give your house a beautiful paint job that you will love. We are the painting company you can trust to do it right the first time! Call us at 919-878-6611 or complete the easy-to-use form below.