Caulking seems like one of the easiest home improvement jobs, but if you have ever sealed a bathtub before, we are sure you understand how messy it can get. It takes a significant amount of practice to lay down caulk perfectly, which is why painters, tile setters, and professionals from Grout Experts are so good at the job.

In this blog, we will educate you about the basics of caulking and share some guidelines on how to caulk like an expert. Let’s begin!

What Is Caulking?

Caulking is a process employed on riveted joints to make them leakproof and fluid-tight. A narrow and blunt chisel tool is used for caulking and is known as a caulking tool. The tool is filled with caulk, a substance used as a sealant to fill gaps and craps around doors, windows, plumbing fixtures, and pipes. When appropriately applied, caulk can prevent water, bugs, or air from entering your home and causing damage.

Caulking was usually used in the past as a way to make sutures in wooden ships water-tight. The Vikings employed a unique caulking method in which overlapping boards were clinched together and riveted by brass or iron rivets.

How to Caulk Like a Professional: A Step-by-Step Guide

If your home ever needs a caulking job, you can rely on this guide to teach you how to caulk like a professional. To caulk without professional help, you need to:

1. Collect Your Tools

Before you begin caulking, head over to the nearest hardware or convenience store and purchase the following items:

Caulk
Caulk gun
Caulk finishing tool or paint stirrer
Caulk remover or utility knife
Painter’s tape
Cleaning cloths
Mineral spirits
Disinfectant

2. Prepare the Surface

The next step is to prepare the surface. Using a utility knife or a caulk remover, remove the old existing caulk from the joints. Clean the surface using a wire brush to ensure that it is free from dust, mold, moisture, peeling paint, rust, or old caulk. Wipe the area down with a disinfectant. If any of the paint was removed while getting rid of the old caulk, touch up the site or any weathered spots. Then, apply painter’s tape around the area you are about to caulk, so you get clear caulk lines.

3. Apply the Caulk

Add the caulk tube to the caulk gun and pull the gun towards yourself along the joint you’re sealing. Pushing it can result in an uneven bead. It would be best if you held the tube at a 45-degree angle to the joint and apply steady pressure to the gun’s trigger.

4. Finish Up

Using the caulk finishing tool, tool the newly applied caulk and pass it over the entire bead. If you don’t have a finishing tool, you can use a paint stirrer for this purpose. Before the caulk starts to cure and skin over, remove the painter’s tape by carefully pulling it away at a 45-degree angle.

Useful Tips for Caulking

Whether you’re caulking with a squeeze tube with a gun or with a gun, you must keep the tip moving along the joint and maintain a steady pressure for an even bead.
To tool polyurethane and silicone joints, you should use a caulk tool or a plastic spoon. You should wet the tool surface with solvent for poly caulk to get smooth results since it is a super-sticky material.
Don’t use your wrists while using a caulk gun. To keep the gun moving in a straight line and at a consistent speed, you must control it with your upper body or legs.

Get the Best from Grout Experts

Grout Experts have been in the caulking business since 2006. They are experts in large commercial and small residential grout and tile cleaning and restoration projects such as caulking. The company serves more than 90 cities in Illinois and Wisconsin and provides top-notch services that can increase your home’s value and save replacement costs! To learn how to caulk like a pro, get in touch with Grout Experts today. Call us on (847) 356-6928 or fill out a form on our website to speak to a qualified expert about your caulking needs.