Caulk 101: Your Guide to Buying and Using Caulk
James Monahan
Caulk is your all-around wonder material.
It seals cracks and fills in any gaps and joints you have inside or outside
of your house. Caulk is also used to help waterproof and weatherproof homes
for those dreaded natural disasters. Using caulk is easy and it is very
durable.
Caulk is useful stuff, it can be used to decorate or repair and, at the same
time, it seals and protects. It is a wonderful preventative and is easily
replaced when its better days are past.
Caulk is inexpensive and easy to apply relative to the damage it prevents.
Learn to use your caulking gun, and learn which type of caulk is appropriate
for different jobs. Applying a smooth bead of caulk is a skill that every
homeowner should have.
Caulk can be used on almost any surface including bathtubs, tiles, plumbing
fixtures, siding, moldings, skylights, window panes and windows, door
frames, baseboards, flashing, foundations, concrete and mortar, blacktop and
roofing baseboards, plaster walls, air conditioners, gutters and downspouts,
fireplaces and wood burning stoves.
It is important to remember, though, that there are different types of
caulks. Some may be more suited to the project and surface that you are
doing than others. Also, keep in mind that, while acrylic caulks are
slightly easier to use, they often deteriorate with exposure to water. If
you plan to caulk an area that is exposed to water, then use a solvent-based
caulk.
Latex versus Silicone Caulk
Latex caulk is easier to apply than silicone caulk. It also cleans up easily
with soap and water. Latex caulk has less of an odor than silicone caulk and
it is easy to remove when it needs to be replaced.
But Latex caulk weakens and loses flexibility in direct sunlight and
temperature extremes and does not last as long as silicone caulk (under most
circumstances). Latex caulk can be applied on porous or non-porous surfaces.
Silicone caulk requires mineral spirits for cleanup. It is more flexible and
durable than latex caulk and it holds up well in direct sunlight and
temperature extremes. Silicone Caulk works best on non-porous surfaces.
It doesn't matter if you're a novice or a pro, caulking really is quite
simple to do. That is because caulk is almost always applied in the same
way, so you don't need to learn any fancy, new techniques each time you want
to use it.
You can buy caulk in either a squeeze tube or as a cartridge. Be aware,
though, that if you buy a cartridge, you will also need to buy a caulking
gun. Whenever you plan to do some caulking, make sure you have these items
nearby: paper towels, bucket of water, mild cleaner or rubbing alcohol,
sponge, caulk smoother and utility knife.
No matter what you are caulking, always make sure that the surface of your
project is clean. A clean surface will help the caulk adhere better.
Things to do before you start applying caulk.
1. Remove any dust or dirt from your surface with warm water. Never use
soap.
2. Remove any leftover caulk that may be lingering on your project's
surface. New caulk may not adhere properly to the old caulk. If you're using
a utility knife to do this, be careful not to scratch the surface. If there
is any residue left, use a mild household cleaner or rubbing alcohol to get
rid of it.
3. Be sure to remove any mildew from the area using a cleaner specially
formulated for mildew.
Remember, caulk doesn't last forever! There should be an expiration date on
the package. If not, then throw out any unused caulk after one or two years.
If you're not sure that your caulk is still good, then give it a test run on
a non-porous surface. Does the caulk stick? Is it coming out smoothly? Does
it set within the appropriate amount of time? If the answer is yes to all
three questions, then your caulk is still good.
James Monahan is the owner and Senior Editor of
http://www.CaulkSource.com
and writes expert articles about caulk.
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