Painting exterior wood is not an easy task. Especially, when you consider the potential moisture issues that can occur. Therefore, it’s important to take the proper steps to prevent any moisture issues from occurring in the first place.
So, what are the best ways to combat moisture? Someone recently asked me that same question. Therefore, I decided to write a post about it and share it with you.
Let’s begin…
Question: I hear conflicting advice for painting exterior wood. Some recommend caulking to keep moisture out of the wood. Others say to leave gaps to allow the house to breathe. Which is right?
Answer: Both ideas are correct. Since moisture is the culprit in many cases of exterior peeling, it’s important to use a good quality acrylic caulk to fill gaps around windows and doors, joints in siding and trim boards, and anywhere moisture could get into the end-grain wood.
However, you also need to make sure that moisture generated inside the house has a way to escape. The best way to allow a house to breathe is with gable, roof, and eave vents.
If you are correcting an existing moisture-related peeling problem, you may also need to install siding wedges or vents to give the moisture an easier path of escape than through the paint film. It’s not advisable to caulk where the siding overlaps, as it could trap moisture behind the paint, causing it to peel.
Painting Exterior Wood: Recap
It’s important to protect your exterior paint job from moisture issues. Therefore, take the necessary steps to properly prepare the substrate before painting. This will ensure a long lasting paint job.
So Amigos, do you recommend any other tips for combating moisture? Share below…
Also, check out Paint Amigo’s acrylic caulk recommendations below…
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