Sawdust on the Floor

I remember watching Tom Silva of the “This old House ” show extolling the virtues of a good caulk job, while at the same time expressing his great displeasure at those who use caulk to over up poor workmanship. Tom’s message was very simple, caulk is meant to be used to seal objects, it’s not meant to be used as a filler for missing wood or trim. To further his point, Tom pointed out a prior repair on a home he was currently renovating. A piece of trim about 2″ wide and maybe 4″ long was missing, rather than milling a new piece of trim, the area was filled with caulk and painted over. As a home owner and woodworker, I agree with Tom, this is not the way to use caulk.

So where and how should you use caulk? The where part is easy, anywhere you want to stop air, water or moisture from penetrating. The how is a little more difficult, more on that later. Caulk is sold in one of several varieties for your interior and exterior applications, latex, silicone and butyl rubber. Your application will help you determine which of these types to use.

Acrylic latex caulk is used for caulking around wood trim and joints both inside and out, is fast drying, can be painted and can be cleaned up with water. This caulk comes in multiple colors.

Vinyl latex caulk can be used in wet areas and is waterproof. It can be used around tubs and sinks but silicone caulk would be a better choice for this application.

Silicone caulk is the best choice for wet areas such as your bathtub, shower or sinks. Silicone has the advantage of remaining pliable even after it has cured. It is mildew resistant, water tight and will not discolor. Available only in clear or white, this caulk can not be painted.

For outdoor applications, such as gutters, downspouts, concrete blocks, chimneys and metal flashing, butyl rubber caulking is the caulk to use. This caulk is flexible and can be painted but it is very difficult to work with. It cures very slowly and is prone to excessive shrinking. A solvent such as mineral spirits is required for clean up of butyl rubber caulk.

These products are normally sold in tubes and are dispensed with a caulking gun, but latex and silicone caulks recently have also been offered in smaller squeeze tubes that are squeezed somewhat like a toothpaste tube.

The secret to getting caulk to look right is all in the application. When replacing old caulk, always clean out the old material first using a razor blade scrapper. Make sure to remove all of the old material and then clean the area by vacuuming up the debris. Once the area is totally dry and clean, you can begin to apply the new caulk. Always start applying the caulk at the furthest point away from you, and pull the caulking gun or tube back toward you. When you do this the caulk will flow out in a continuous ribbon. If you were to move the gun away from you, there is the tendency for the caulk to clump up in one spot

Once you have the caulk dispensed, it’s time to smooth it out. When using latex caulk, the best tool is a wet finger. Keep a small bowl of water handy. Dip your finger into the water before you start smoothing and later to rinse the excess caulk off of your finger.

For silicone caulk use rubbing or denatured alcohol to wet your fingers and to clean up and excess that may need to come off your projects. Never use paper towels to attempt to clean the silicone off your fingers, you will end up with your fingers covered with tiny scraps of paper. An old tee shirt works much better. When applying silicone caulk, be sure to work in a well vented area as the silicone will release a small amount of ammonia as it cures.

As with most things, the tools that you use can make the difference between a good job and a not so good job. If you are using a caulking gun, stay away from the light weight plastic ones, they tend to bend and flex too much. Spend the money and buy a good mechanical caulking gun.

An even better option is one of the newer battery operated caulking guns. The battery operated guns offer a smoother application of the caulk than is available even with the best mechanical gun. Another advantage is that the battery operated guns work better when the caulk is cold making it stiffer in consistency.

But guys and girls, please remember caulk is a sealant, not a body filler. If you have to fill a large gap, find the correct material and mill it to fit.

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