Selecting the Right Caulk for Vinyl Siding Exteriors
Because paint tends not to stick to vinyl siding, matching the caulk color to the siding is a practical alternative. Latex and siliconized acrylic caulks offer the widest range of colors and are simple to work with. Clear options such as silicone and polyurethane provide strong weather resistance, though they demand more effort to apply and clean. Industry professionals in North Carolina point to silicone as the most durable choice and suggest a 50-year-grade product used promptly.
By Taylor Cooper
Caulking is an important step in vinyl siding installation.
Caulk That Matches the Siding Color
Painting vinyl siding is generally discouraged since paint does not bond well to it. A workable alternative is to choose a caulk whose color matches the siding. Latex and siliconized acrylic caulks give you the greatest variety of color options, and both are simple to apply and to clean up.
Transparent Caulk Options
Several transparent caulks on the market are durable and deliver strong protection against the weather. Silicone and polyurethane are the two most frequently chosen. Each bonds effectively, but both take more effort to apply and clean than acrylic caulk does. One difference between them: polyurethane caulk can be painted, whereas silicone cannot.
What the Professionals Suggest
Roger Ness and Sandy Leroy, of Sterling Property Services in North Carolina, say that silicone caulk bonds better and endures longer than any other type. Their advice is to pay a bit more for a grade backed by a 50-year guarantee, and to avoid letting it sit unused for an extended period before application.
