Articles By Syndicated Columnist
Dan Thomas
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Improvement Inside And Out
Caulking
Caulking is a great way to repair minor holes in walls. Joints
between different materials, and
other small jobs. Gaps that measure more than
1/2 inch wide and 1/2 in deep however are not good candidates for caulk.
Fiberglass insulation. Expandable foam, or sponge rubber strips are better
insulators. To open a caulking tube, cut off the tip at an angle to the width of
the narrowest point to be filled. Punch out the foil seal with a nail.
To use a caulking gun, pull out the plunger arm to disengage the notches
and insert a tube of caulk, base first, so that the nozzle sticks out through
the slot at the end of the gun, turn the plunger arm and push it in to engage
it. Hold the nozzle at a 45-degree angle to the joint you want to fill.
Squeeze the handle firmly.
Use a steady movement to caulk. Do not try to smooth by smearing.
Dry all surfaces before you apply caulking compound for best results.
Remove all old caulking before applying new caulking to any repair job. If
it does not peel out, use a putty knife to cut out the old caulk. Use a dry paintbrush to remove dust and other debris.
Never caulk when the temperature falls below 50F. For an emergency jog in
cold weather, use polybutane cord.
Caulk when painting the house. Apply primer to the seams first. Then caulk.
(Primer helps the caulking stick.) Allow the caulking to cure as directed by
the manufacturer. Then apply a finish coat. Be sure to use a compound that
will take paint.
Plug a tube of leftover caulk with a large nail in order to keep the caulk
from drying out.
