[zhagy]

I screened in my porch that has a concrete base using treated wood. The base is a 2x4 and is directly on the concrete. Since we get rain on that side of the house, I would like to keep the 2x4 as dry as possible and not sitting in water. Will caulking prevent the water from getting under it and rotting it out, or should I leave it so that the 2x4 can dry out on its own?
Thanks for any advice.

[ma0641]

You can caulk the base but will need to leave weep holes about every couple feet or so. Caulk that keeps water out will also keep it in. You can buy weep hole screens for brick walls, could probably adapt for a wood frame.

[talaniman]

How is it sealed on the outside of the frame? Keeping the rain out in the first place is where I would focus.

[zhagy]

It isn't sealed on the outside. Which is why I thought it needed to be caulked. Is there another way to seal it?

[ma0641]

You can caulk it on the outside but you indicated a screened porch. If rain blows in, how will it get out? That is why you need weep holes. Is the con rate sloped in any direction?

[talaniman]

You can use some type of flashing or sheeting on the outside something like this

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q...B4&FORM=VRDGAR

Then you can skip the caulking and use baseboards on the interior. What kind of siding are you using? Has this been done already?

*Sorry missed the screened part, I was thinking treated wood walls.