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Most DIY tasks I do contain caulk and at any time when I share myself utilizing this important provide, I’m bombarded with questions. What form do you have to use? When do you want it? Any caulking suggestions for a fantastic software? Are you able to caulk over caulk? What’s the distinction between silicone and latex? I believed it was about time that I devoted a whole weblog submit to all issues caulk.
And sure, we’re simply gonna need to recover from the truth that I’m going to say the phrase “caulk” about 100 instances throughout this submit. I posted this video on TikTok and was bombarded with feedback from foolish males who thought it was hilarious that I stated this phrase so many instances. Ugh. Let’s recover from the misogyny and study extra about this house important!
What Is Caulk & When Ought to You Use It?
Caulk is a versatile materials that’s used to seal joints between constructing supplies, like wooden, tile, home windows, doorways, and so on. In the case of the house, it’s a vital device that’s utilized in nearly each single house. It is available in a tube and also you often use a caulk gun to get the fabric out and into the joint.
If you happen to dwell in a colder local weather, you could discover gaps come and go within the millwork round your private home and round home windows and doorways. Your own home is at all times shifting, settling, and shrinking/increasing from humidity. Due to this, gaps can occur and one of the best ways to treatment these is with caulk.
However, it’s additionally a vital device for brand new tasks too! In the case of woodworking, you wish to caulk each seam the place the wooden meets a brand new airplane. I’m speaking in regards to the high of a baseboard, the corners the place two items meet, the perimeters of the casing, and so on. Caulking is definitely one in all my favourite elements of a challenge as a result of it offers each house a completed look and it hides imperfections. Seams and any dangerous cuts disappear!
Every time I’m within the midst of a woodworking challenge (like my current beadboard DIY), I at all times joke that “caulk will save me.” And that’s as a result of if I make a lower that isn’t 100% excellent, I can simply disguise the seam with caulk and paint. It’s like magic!
Silicone Caulk vs. Acrylic Latex Caulk
There are two major sorts of caulk – acrylic and silicone.
Silicone Caulk: For a challenge that must be waterproofed, like a toilet, kitchen, or exterior challenge, silicone caulk is the best way to go. Right here’s a tutorial for a kitchen backsplash and one other to re-caulk your bathtub. Silicone caulk isn’t paintable, however it is available in varied colours, together with clear. It’s more durable to work with than acrylic and it may possibly get messy!
Acrylic Latex Caulk: That is what you utilize when coping with wooden. It may be used on baseboards, door casings, and for wooden wall remedies. It sometimes comes within the colour white and ought to be painted after it’s utilized.
Caulking Provides
If you happen to’re going to do a caulking challenge, right here are some things you may wish to have readily available…
Caulk 101: My Greatest Software Ideas
- Some caulk tubes have to be pierced contained in the nozzle to open them. You need to use the caulk gun for this because it has a sharp factor on it and also you simply stick that within the gap to interrupt the seal of the tube.
- Most caulk weapons have a device constructed on them to chop the tube. It’s the little gap proper by the set off. Put the caulk tip in there, clamp it down, and it cuts it for you! No scissors are wanted.
- If you happen to look carefully, there are measurements proper on the nozzle of most manufacturers of caulk based mostly on how thick you need your caulk line to be. I like to chop to the 1/4-inch mark.
- Use child wipes! They’re my secret weapon in relation to caulking. I work in three to five-foot sections and maintain the caulk gun shifting, whereas I place a finger with a child wipe proper behind that bead of caulk. It smooths it down and the wetness prevents the caulk from pulling up or sticking to you.
- If you happen to’re utilizing silicone caulk, you’ll want to use painter’s tape. Apply it above and under the realm you should caulk. Apply the caulk, wipe with a child wipe, after which take away the painter’s tape instantly. If you happen to wait too lengthy, it might peel the caulk up proper together with it.
Fast FAQs About Caulk
Are you able to caulk over grout?
One of many greatest tiling errors I see is when folks use grout as a substitute of caulk the place two planes meet – like corners, the place tub meets the tile, or the place backsplash meets the countertop. These are areas which can be at all times shifting and the grout will inevitably crumble! You wish to take away the outdated grout and scrape it away. Then, if it’s a toilet or kitchen, use silicone caulk to exchange the grout. So, nope, don’t caulk over grout!
What caulk do you have to use when tiling?
You’ll possible wish to use silicone caulk that matches the colour of your grout. Most tile shops carry all kinds of caulk colours to match your grout. They even promote it in sanded and unsanded, so you possibly can match the look of the grout precisely! For instance, in the event you’re tiling a toilet flooring you’ll wish to use caulk on the perimeters of the toilet the place it meets the wall, tub, self-importance, rest room, and so on.
How lengthy will an open tube final?
I extremely advocate getting these caulk caps to save lots of your opened caulk. I like having an opened tube of acrylic latex caulk readily available so I can simply make touch-ups round the home. I’ve had opened tubes final for greater than six months with using these $3 caps!
Do you should caulk the place the baseboard meets the ground?
I don’t, however you possibly can if there are unpleasant gaps. As an alternative, I caulk the highest of the baseboard the place it meets the wall.
How can I recaulk a bath?
This weblog submit walks you thru the total step-by-step for this straightforward DIY challenge!
When ought to I paint after caulking?
Learn the directions to your specific tube, however typically, I often wait a minimum of an hour.
Are you able to caulk over caulk?
In the case of acrylic latex caulk, until it’s in actually dangerous form, I often simply add extra proper on over. In the case of silicone, I discover it finest to take away it first earlier than making use of recent caulk.
What if I’ve a extremely large hole?
I swear by backer rod! You may jam this into the crevice after which caulk proper over it, so the caulk has one thing to carry onto. Works like a attraction.
Can caulk assist with drafty home windows and doorways?
Sure! It may be used to seal indoor air gaps and stop chilly drafts from entering into your home.
Go Forth & Caulk!
I hope this caulk 101 submit was useful and that you just’re feeling much less intimidated by this straightforward house upkeep process. I hope to see a lot of you grabbing these provides and fixing up the gaps round your private home. It makes such a distinction!
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