Caulking

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Caulk is a flexible gap filler that maintains a seal between building materials despite seasonal contractions. Every house needs it to seal cracks around windows and doors, between trim and siding, where wood and masonry meet and around plumbing, venting and electrical points. It is important to inspect your house’s caulk lines every few years and re-caulk problem areas. Caulk is sold in tubes, in clear and colored formulations. Use the right caulk for the right job. One hundred percent silicone caulk provides good service and lasts more than 20 years. But it is expensive, not paintable and tricky to apply. New so-called siliconized acrylic and latex caulks have many of the same positive properties as pure silicone but are less expensive, paintable and easier to apply. Another long-lasting and easy to use choice is a copolymer caulk.

Caulking is easy to do but takes practice. First, scrape away loose caulk and debris. Have a rag on hand, dampened with water for latex or latex-silicone caulk or mineral spirits for silicone. To place the tube in a caulking gun, pull the plunger all the way back and slip in the tube. Push in the plunger and twist it to engage the ratchet. Cut the tip of the tube at an angle. Puncture the tube’s inner seal by pushing a long nail into the spout. Squeeze the trigger of the gun to start the caulk flowing. To apply caulk, place the tip of the tube against the seam and move it smoothly along the seam as you gently squeeze the trigger, producing an even bead. For a smooth finish, with the bead with a caulk-smoothing tool, a plastic spoon or a frozen-pop stick. Don’t use your finger because some caulks contain harmful chemicals and some are hard to remove from your skin.