Caulk is a great solution for homeowners. It is a moldable material that is used to fill and seal gaps throughout a structure. If you are seeing gaps in the structure of your home, and you are wondering if caulk might be a good option for sealing these gaps, read on to find out all you need to know about caulking and how to get the best results from using it.
What are the Different Types of Caulk?
There are many different types of caulk, but most homeowners will use either the latex or silicone-based kinds. Silicone caulk is good for weatherproofing but you can’t paint over it.
Latex caulk does not hold up as well in extreme temperatures, but it is easy to paint over, so it is preferred in most circumstances. It can be used on baseboards, trim and moldings and, when applied properly, it can give your jobs a professional appearance.
How Do You Use Caulk?
If major caulking needs to be done in your home, it is best to call in a professional. But if you see small holes and gaps that can take a quick DIY, here are some tips on how to caulk efficiently.
- Caulk comes in a small 10-ounce tube with a pointed tip. Start by using a small knife to cut the tip diagonally at the very end. Make sure to cut by the tip so the hole remains small.
- Next you will need to poke a hole in the tube of the caulk to make it come out. There’s a small piece of wire on the caulk gun that swivels out from below the shaft. Take this wire and insert it through the tip of the caulk so that it punctures the tube. Repeat a few times wiping the wire as you pull it out. This will keep the caulk from getting all over your hands.
- Put the tube of the caulk into the shaft of the gun and pull the trigger until you feel some resistance. Then place the tip of the tube on the place where the caulk is needed and gently pull the trigger while moving the tube across the crack. There should be a small, thin uniform line of caulk on the surface of the crack. You should be moving continuously over the space you are filling with the caulk to avoid a large blob.
- Use your finger to lightly smooth the caulk into crack. Go in one direction with your finger running across the surface of the baseboard. Then wipe off the extra caulk that’s on your finger with a paper towel or wet rag. After a while you will get a good idea of how much caulk you will need to use so you won’t end up with too much excess on your fingers.
- The caulk should dry in a few hours. If you are in a hurry, you can paint over the caulk when it’s wet but it’s best to wait until it dries.
Caulking can help you easily repair small holes and gaps in the structure of your home. A professional can help you get a seamless look, but smaller jobs can be done by experienced DIY-ers. Hopefully this article has given you valuable information on keeping your home in the best shape possible.
For questions or help on your next project let us know!
My wife notice that we had a small crack in our bathtub that might have been caused by one of our kids. I’m planning to buy a caulking tube to fix it myself, but I don’t know how to use it since it would be my first time using one. I like that you said that latex caulk does not work well with extreme temperatures, so it wouldn’t be wise to use it in our bathtub that is regularly filled with hot water. Perhaps I’ll buy silicone caulk and a caulking tube preserver solution, so I can reuse it the next time we need some holes and crack to fill in our home. Thanks!