Sealant - Exterior Electrical Meter

[thehorse13]

When my home was built, the contractor used what appears to be big box store foam sealant around the exterior electrical meter. The box is mounted to the side of my house, which is wood construction, and the box has a quarter inch gap all the way around.

I know that I will need to clean out all of the existing foam sealant as it has weathered badly and literally crumbles off the house. My question to all of you is what kind of sealant can I buy that will last longer than the foam in a can from Home Depot?

Thanks!

 

[Rookie2]

A bead of silicone caulk works well.

 

[zmaxmotorsports]

A bead of silicone caulk works well.

 

[tfi racing]

Not sure why you would want to do that.It rains here almost all year round and nobody caulks or seals their meter bases at all...

 

[Mustang51js]

Silicone

 

[Norcal]

They are made to have the required 1/4" spacing at the back of raintight enclosures.

 

[Slowgsr]

When I do any caulking outdoors I use poly based paintable stuff for anything that I need to tool or have a great appearance, if it's non exposed or for flashing in hard to see areas I use butyl rubber sealant which is impossible to tool so you need to be well prepared.

 

[thehorse13]

Not sure why you would want to do that.It rains here almost all year round and nobody caulks or seals their meter bases at all...

The 1/4 inch gap exposes the OSB to the weather. I don't want rot or bugs taking hold near the box.

 

[nh_yota]

Depending on how deep the gap is, use foam backer rod behind the caulk.

 

[Speedy Petey]

They are made to have the required 1/4" spacing at the back of raintight enclosures.

This!

 

[Speedy Petey]

The 1/4 inch gap exposes the OSB to the weather. I don't want rot or bugs taking hold near the box.

The meter SHOULD NOT have been mounted directly to the OSB/sheathing.
If it was I guess you have to deal with it the best you can.

If I have to do a service before siding is up I put blocking behind the meter pan.

 

[Slowgsr]

The 1/4 inch gap exposes the OSB to the weather. I don't want rot or bugs taking hold near the box.

The meter SHOULD NOT have been mounted directly to the OSB/sheathing.
If it was I guess you have to deal with it the best you can.

If I have to do a service before siding is up I put blocking behind the meter pan.

Yeah - I use the standoff brackets