Caulking Tips

by John
(California)

Caulking can be one of the things that really makes your house look great. But, it can be difficult and time consuming for people if they don’t use the following tips. Often times I see a caulking job that has wrinkles, ripples and is generally a poor end product. Use the following tip to avoid this.

First, make sure that when you cut the tip off the caulking tube, to cut it at an angle. Also, do not cut too much of the tip off, an eight of an inch for smaller gaps and a quarter of an inch for wider ones. If you cut too much of the tip off it will allow too much caulk to come out and things will get messy real quick.

Now, lay down an even amount of caulk, enough to fill in the gap completely and a little more. This makes for and even surface of the caulk.
Finally, and here is the key, have a damp cloth or rag. Wet your finger and run it along the line of caulk. Every time you lift your finger, remove the excess caulk and wet your finger. This produces an even, smooth line of caulk. Allow the caulk to dry completely. Go back and check for missed spots and repeat Steps if necessary.

Make sure to use Siliconized Acrylic Caulk. This type of caulk is paintable. Get a product that is rated for at least 25 years. If you do use regular Silicon Caulk, which I have seen people use, the paint will not stick to it. If for some reason you have to paint over regular Silicon Caulk, use Primer in a spray can and spray along the Silicon caulk and let dry. This will allow the paint to stick to the surface.

I hope this tip was useful and helps you produce a beautiful and professional finish on your home. This and many more secrets that the painting pros use can be found in the DIY Instructional DVD at Paintyourhouseandsave.com