Caulking 101
These caulking tips are helpful for anyone looking to properly seal windows, doors, and other areas that need protection from the elements. To get the best caulk seal, it’s important to prepare the surface before beginning.
This includes cleaning and smoothing any rough surfaces as well as removing old caulking material.
Once you have prepared the surface, you can begin calking by using a good quality calking gun. For small projects such as sealing around windows or doorframes, a standard calking gun should suffice; however large jobs may require an electric calker instead. Before applying the calk to a joint, make sure it is slightly dampened with water in order to help create better adhesion.
When you are ready to apply the calk, make sure to keep the calking gun moving in order to avoid creating large blobs of calk. Then move along the joint and smooth it out with your finger or a calking tool. This will help ensure that gaps are properly filled and sealed.
Painters Tape
Use painter’s tape when caulking to help make cleanup quick and easy. Lay the tape along the edge of a surface before calking and then caulk as usual. When finished, simply pull away the tape to reveal clean calking lines.
Remember that calk is flexible and can shrink or expand in response to temperature changes so it’s important to periodically check your calk seal for any signs of wear or damage and repair as necessary.
Finally, clean up any excess calking by wiping off the surrounding area with a damp rag or paper towel. Caulking Tips are essential for ensuring that windows, doors and other areas remain protected from moisture, dust, wind and other elements.
With these calking tips in mind, you should have no problem getting a professional-looking calk sealing job done!
Learn More
Click here to learn more about the entire home inspection process.
