Sealing wood cracks? ? ?

[Ray Jenkins]

I'm replacing some exterior flooring on a porch and want to seal the joints and cracks with a silicone caulk.

Problem: Some of the joints are quite large. I need to put some sort of filler in the large spaces before I use the silicone.

I suppose I could stuff some styrofoam in the cracks.

Does this make sense?

Any better ideas?

[dadiOH]

They make backer material for that purpose. You also might want to consider polysulfide (Thiokol) rather than silicone. It is used on boats and is a lot easier to sand/cut flush than silicone. Paintable too.

-- dadiOH _____________________________

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[Ray Jenkins]

Thanks dadi --

Will look into polysulfide. Guess it's available at paint stores.

Would the styrofoam be okay for filling large cracks before caulking? I think styrofoam is nondebiogradable.

I think I made a mistake in earlier caulking by using Durham's Water Putty. I gather it holds moisture, hence causes rot.

-- Ray

[dadiOH]

Rather depends on the paint store. I rather doubt it though.

Beats me. Probably but I don't know. ________________________

Yes. Doubt if you could have found anything worse.

-- dadiOH _____________________________