Bottom of siding boards should not be caulked water is meant to exit through the bottom of each board.
Caulking between siding boards.
Flashing acts as a waterproofing layer for this type of siding and caulking will prevent the flashing from doing its job.
Also where the siding meets corner boards and corner board joints.
When james hardie siding products butt into wood based materials a 1 8 gap will allow for expansion and contraction of the wood based product.
James hardie recommends the use of caulks and sealants that remain permanently flexible.
Seal a door frame in place and seal the subfloor at the bottom of a door frame.
Caulking them is a mistake and the caulking is likely to fail prematurely.
These siding joints can be caulked successfully if the gap is wide enough for the caulk to get into the crack.
Vertical trim gap caulking.
Another critical place is where the siding butts together in the middle of the wall.
Use latex painter s caulk inside of doors and windows or to quickly fill cracks.
The siding expands and contracts with temperature and humidity.
If the siding joint is so tight that the caulk only bridges the gap it may split.
In my opinion caulking between the seams in any lapped siding either horizontal or vertical is not good practice but not just because of any potential vapor barrier effect.
Fill in gaps between crown moulding and baseboards.
Think of a wood home as a living thing.
While paint does tend to somewhat glue these pieces together caulking them is never advised and can cause permanent damage.
Best for use with drywall wood and masonry.
Placing caulk over large portions of wood siding prohibits the natural movement of the wooden panels and can cause extensive damage to the exterior of your home.
Many professionals like those at james hardie also agree that you should not use caulk on fiber cement siding unless there is no metal flashing underneath.
Do not caulk between siding and any built in receiving channels located at or around windows.
Leave a 1 8 gap between the siding and the trim or other materials to allow for structural movement.
Sometimes known as acrylic latex caulk.