How to Caulk Rough Cedar

Rough cedar is a commonly used, natural cladding material. Siding installers attach cedar planks to a home's exterior by nailing the first strip just above the joint where the framing meets the foundation. They then nail subsequent strips so that they overlap the previous one by several inches. Caulking the seam where two strips meet prevents water from seeping behind the cedar siding and damaging the framing. Caulked seams also allow for a better paint job. Applying caulk requires basic carpentry skills and tools and materials available at any hardware store or home improvement retailer.

Things You'll Need

• Caulk gun
• Exterior caulk

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Instructions

1. • 1

     Place a tube of caulk in the caulk gun with the nozzle in the slot at the front of the gun. Squeeze the trigger until the gun's plunger reaches the back end of the tube. Cut off the tip of the nozzle with a utility knife.

   • 2

     Press the tip of the nozzle against a seam where two cedar boards meet, while holding the caulk gun at a 45-degree angle. Squeeze the trigger to release a thin bead of caulk while moving the gun slowly along the seam.

   • 3

     Run your index finger along the length of the seam to press the caulk into the seam and to remove excess caulk. Repeat until all seams are caulked.