Replies

1. 
   tek | Jul 06, 2007 12:54am | #1

   You can use roll on sill seal between the sill plate and the foundation wall.  Being precast, you should have a nice smooth surface and this will get you a great seal.  Anywhere else - we always use acoustical sealant in our energy star rated homes.  The stuff sticks to most everything and stays nice and flexible.  We use it on sole plates to decking, rim joists to top plates - anywhere you might have or develop a gap.

1. 
   DaveRicheson | Jul 08, 2007 04:18am | #3

   When do you caulk the sill plate to concrete joint? Just before the siding or exterior finish is applied or durring the rough framing process?

   I ask because I caulked early on the last one I did and by the time the siding was installed the caulk had split  from the wood swelling when wet and then drying. I used a butly product left from another job, and it may have just been old or the wrong product. I cleaned it all out and recaulked with a polyurethane, then flashed  and installed siding.

   That was a slab on grade job, not a foundation wall, if it makes any differenc.

    

   Dave

1. 
   tek | Jul 09, 2007 10:15pm | #4

   I can't say I've ever seen the sill plate caulked at the foundation wall (or thickened slab edge).  What i always see is the sill seal gasket which goes on just before the sill plate.

   What you could additionally do is apply a good bead of sealant to the side of the sill plate before the wall sheating is installed.  This would help a bit with air infiltration.

2. 
   GRCourter | Jul 06, 2007 06:25am | #2

   Take a look at Geocel 2300.  I have been using it for almost everything for 12+ years.  Never had a callback,  right now am in the process of adding a second story to my son's house.  Used it at the top of the concrete walls and then again at the subfloor-bottom plate connection.

3. 
   WayneL5 | Jul 10, 2007 05:31am | #5

   Like some others said, I wouldn't caulk, I'd use sill seal.  Be sure to use the synthetic (foam) material and not the fiberglass material (if they even make fiberglass sill seal anymore).  Besides sealing as well as caulk, it will continue to seal as the wood shrinks, and it will provide a capilary break between the concrete and the wood.

4. 
   rez | Jul 10, 2007 03:13pm | #6

   Vulkem is a long lasting quality product.

   http://www.tremcosealants.com/commercial/products/product_detail.asp?id=1

   The dead and for the most part unmerchantable wood behind my house, and the driftwood from the pond, have supplied the remainder of my fuel. I was obliged to hire a team and a man for the plowing, though I held the plow myself. My farm outgoes for the first season were, for implements, seed, work, etc., $14.72½.
   -Thoreau's Walden