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175 Strafford Ave. Suite 1, Wayne, PA 19087Your goal when caulking is to cut down on drafts, making your house more energy efficient and comfortable. You also want to seal out water and insects. You want to spend as little time and money as possible on the job and you want to apply the caulk and forget it. Doing the job only once is important.
To caulk, first you must have all surfaces clean and free of all foreign matter. Caulking works best for joints that are 3/8" or less in width and depth. If the joint is deeper than 3/8" fill it in first with a filler(wood, paper, sand, etc.) then caulk the joint.
For exterior use it is best to use caulk that adheres well to the surfaces is flexible and is resistant to ultra violet rays of the sun. You may also require a caulk that can be painted over.
All caulking joints move somewhat, expanding and contracting in response to temperatures. Joints dissimilar materials, such as wood and masonry, move more than joints between the same materials. The longest lived are those that are the most flexible and can withstand a lot of movement -( Butyl Rubber and Silicone).
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OIL BASED- Inexpensive but some may be messy
to apply. They may shrink, stain and crack, little resistance to the elements. Wood must
be primed before caulking; only short term uses recommended - - up to 4 years. |
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ACRYLIC LATEX- The most versatile type of
caulk. Very easy to use, it sticks to and joins most materials, metal substrate’s
require priming. Fair resistance to the elements. Excellent for interior use, best when
painted over. |
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BUTYL RUBBER- Excellent adhesion to
unpainted surfaces. Good for dissimilar materials. Good weather resistance but lower U V
resistance. Long lasting (12 to 15 years) and can be painted. |
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SILICONE- More flexible than any other
caulks, It is long lasting (20+ years) and has excellent resistance to the elements. It
does not adhere well to painted surfaces and cannot be painted over. |
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URETHANE FOAMS- For use in hidden places,
poor resistance to the elements and is not flexible. It will fill very large holes. |
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CAULKING TIPS- When caulking around the
bathtub, floor tile or stall shower, fill the tub or shower with water and stand in it
when caulking. Your body weight and the water will put the most pressure on the joint,
which will eliminate the stretching of the caulk when using the tub or shower. |
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Be sure to remove all the old caulk and make sure the area is free of water, dirt or grease. When caulking around these area’s and other damp area’s it is best to use a caulk with a silicone that adheres to all surface and is water and mildew resistant. If necessary you can run a wet soapy finger or tool along the caulk to smooth the surface or remove any excess caulk. |
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