Water gets into small gaps, freezes, and widens them. A spring check of caulk, exterior doors, trim and paint, and when old paint needs lead-safe care.
Winter moves your house. Water gets into small gaps in caulk and paint, freezes, and pushes the gap wider. Wood also swells and shrinks with moisture. The result is cracked caulk, doors that stick, loose trim and peeling paint. Check these four areas each spring and fix them before the next rain.
What does freeze-thaw do to a house?
Water seeps into hairline cracks, pulled-away caulk and gaps in paint. When the temperature drops, that water expands as it freezes and widens the crack. Painting contractors in other cold-climate cities describe the same pattern: small defects grow over a winter, and bare wood that loses its paint absorbs more water (example from a painting contractor's guide). The Chicago area has the same repeated freezing and thawing, so the same logic applies.
The USDA Forest Products Laboratory, in its finishing of wood chapter, ties blistering and peeling paint on wood to moisture getting behind the paint film. Water behind paint is why a small gap should not wait.
Why is my caulk cracking or pulling away?
Trim, siding and window frames move a little as temperatures swing. Caulk that has aged, was applied thin or went over a dirty joint can split or pull off one side. Look for:
- Gaps you can slide a fingernail into.
- Caulk that has turned hard, chalky or flaky.
- Dark lines where water has been getting behind it.
The fix is to remove the failed bead, clean and dry the joint, and apply a new bead of the right type. In general, silicone resists water well, while acrylic latex is easier to paint over on trim. Ask which one suits each spot.
Why does my exterior door stick in some seasons and not others?
Wood takes on and gives off moisture with the air around it, and it swells when humid. The USDA Forest Products Laboratory explains in its moisture relations chapter that wood is always adjusting to the air and that coatings slow this down but do not stop it. A door usually sticks at the edge that is not sealed, or where hinges have loosened.
Before planing anything, check these in order:
1. Tighten the hinge screws. A sagging door often rubs at the top corner on the latch side.
2. Look at the weatherstripping and the threshold for swelling or damage.
3. Check whether the bare top and bottom edges have ever been sealed.
4. If the door only sticks in humid weather, wait for a dry spell before removing wood. Planing in August can leave a gap in January.
Our guide to repairing older North Shore homes covers door and window fit in older houses.
What causes loose or rotted trim?
Trim that cannot shed water holds it. Look at the lowest courses of siding, window sills, door casings and corner boards. Press a screwdriver tip into the wood. If it sinks in or the wood crumbles, the board is rotted and needs replacing, not just painting. Loose trim with sound wood can usually be re-fastened, filled and re-caulked.
Why is my paint peeling or bubbling?
The Forest Products Laboratory source above points to moisture and poor surface preparation as the main causes of peeling on wood. Work out where the water came from. Common spots are:
- Below failed caulk at a window or door.
- Under a clogged gutter that spills over the wall.
- On a north-facing wall that stays damp.
- Near a downspout that dumps against the house.
Scrape loose paint, sand the edges, spot-prime bare wood, and repaint only once the surface is dry. Fix the water source first, or the paint will fail in the same spot.
Do I need to worry about lead paint on an older North Shore house?
If the house was built before 1978, yes. The EPA's Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Program page says anyone paid to do work that disturbs painted surfaces in pre-1978 homes must be certified and trained in lead-safe work practices. It adds that worn lead paint on surfaces with friction, such as doors and window sills, can produce chips and dust that are hazardous. Before you hire anyone, including us, to scrape, sand or open up old painted surfaces, ask about lead-safe certification and look up certified firms on the EPA's search tool linked from that page.
Do exterior repairs need a permit or a review?
Sometimes. Kenilworth does not require a permit to replace gutters and downspouts or for painting, but structural and fence repairs need one. Glencoe's building permit application covers facade changes, new siding and gutters, so confirm before exterior work. Highland Park's Historic Preservation Commission reviews exterior alterations to landmarks and contributing features in its three historic districts, so check with the City before changing exterior trim, doors or windows on a listed house. Read the details in our permit guide.
A simple spring checklist
- Walk the outside and photograph every cracked or missing caulk joint.
- Open and close every exterior door and note where it rubs.
- Probe trim at the bottom edges with a screwdriver.
- Look for peeling paint on south and west faces and under eaves.
- Check that gutters and downspouts are not spilling onto walls.
- List everything and fix it in one visit. See how to get more done in one handyman visit.
FAQ
How often should exterior caulk be replaced?
Check it every spring and fall and replace any bead that is cracked, hard or pulled away. There is no fixed number of years, because sun exposure and joint movement vary.
Can I paint over peeling paint?
Not without removing the loose paint and fixing the moisture cause. New paint over a failing surface peels again.
Should I plane a sticking door in winter?
Only if it sticks in dry weather too. A door that rubs in humid weather often has enough room once the air dries out.
Is a hairline crack in caulk really a problem?
Yes, if it opens all the way to the joint. Water can enter, freeze and widen it. Seal it before the next freeze.
To send your list and photos, call or text (847) 877-1877.
