Caulking is a material used to seal small gaps (joints or seams) between materials used in home construction. The goal is to prevent leakage through these gaps. In houses, the leaks can involve air moving between a home's conditioned interior areas and unconditioned space like the attic. Water leaks also happen in houses, primarily around plumbing fixtures in kitchens and bathrooms.
According to Wikipedia, the oldest form of caulking was used on wooden boats and ships. They used fibrous (wood) materials to fill the gaps in the wedge shaped seams. Caulking has changed a lot since these days so let's explore the most common questions homeowners have when planning this project.
What is Caulking Used For?
It's used to fill the cracks or gaps between materials used in home construction. The most common uses are around windows, doors and plumbing fixtures. For more details, read Why & Where to Caulk Around Your Home.
What is the Difference Between Caulk and Sealant?
Caulk and silicone are both used to seal gaps between building materials but they have different properties making them appropriate for different applications. Caulking is more rigid and prone to shrinking but it can be painted. Silicone is more flexible and withstands temperature changes better but it's difficult to paint.
Many homeowners arrive at the store and are unable to pick the right caulking (see below). You'll save time and money by reading Caulking Confusion: How Many Types of Caulk are There? before you head to the store.
What Kind of Caulking Do You Use in a Bathroom?
Bathrooms are exposed to lots of water and moisture making them vulnerable to water damage and mold. That's why a silicone sealant, preferably one with anti-mold additive, is the best solution because it's waterproof and flexible, expanding and contracting with changes in temperature.
Should You Fill a Bathtub Before Caulking?
The weight of the water filling a bathtub will lower the tub so it's a good idea to do this and expose a larger gap to fill. After caulking, leave the water there for at least 24 hours so it has time to cure.
Where possible, it's also a good idea to add weight to a shower base before caulking. With my handyman business we had to redo a shower because the husband weighed 240 lbs. His weight lowered the base exposing a thin gap which allowed water to leak out of the shower … not good.
How Often Should Bathroom Caulking be Replaced?
Because of the water and moisture in bathrooms, it's recommended that you replace the caulk every five years even if there are no visible signs of wear and tear. That's because hidden water damage can expand and increase the cost of repairs.
You should also replace bathroom caulking if you see:
> Signs of cracking, peeling or there are missing pieces.
> Any signs of mold or mildew which can affect the health of family members.
These problems are often due to using a sealant that wasn't waterproof so be careful to buy a waterproof caulk or silicone meant for bathroom use.
What type of caulking is best for windows?
When buying caulk, quality matters for a long lasting protection. You can use a mix of silicone and latex that's waterproof, flexible and shrink-proof but it can't be painted. Polyurethane caulks won't last quite as long but they can be painted.
This article, Caulking Windows Inside and Outside, offers more details … and this article, Where Do I Need to Caulk Windows, identified where you don't want to caulk windows.
How often should you caulk your windows?
With new houses that settle during the first one to two years, you should check the caulk and replace if it's loose or no longer sealing the gaps inside or outside.
How often you caulk windows in an existing home depends on several factors:
> The quality of the caulk last used. This is wear spending a few more dollars on a higher quality material will save you time and … time is money.
> The quality of the last job. That's why it's so important to do a good job preparing the surface to be caulked, to make sure it adheres well.
> Sometimes you might feel a draft from a window. That's when you'll want to consider recaulking, weatherstripping or maybe it's time to upgrade to double-pane win
How Do You Apply Caulking?
Caulking looks easy but it's more complicated that you think. Here are the basic steps involved and each one takes care to get the best results:
> Buy a quality caulk that meets your requirements.
> Take care removing old caulk and cleaning the surface so the new caulk will adhere properly.
> Using a caulking gun (tube or can for small projects), apply a bead of caulking along each seam you want to protect.
> Tooling is the term used to smooth out the caulk so it looks great and covers the seam completely.
Is It Bad to Caulk Over Old Caulk?
For the best result,s you should remove old caulk before replacing it. If you must apply over old caulk, focus on cleaning the surface to make sure it's dry, oil and dust free and remove any loose caulking. Then extend it onto caulk free surfaces where it can adhere more easily.
It's also not a great idea to caulk over grout. You should re-grout spaces between tiles or where the bathtub connects to the floor.
Why Does My Caulk Keep Cracking?
There are many reasons why your caulk is cracking. Here are the most common problems:
> Indoors caulk cracks because the surface wasn't cleaned properly, the gap was more than 1/4 inch in width or depth, too thin a bead of caulk was laid down or the caulk was before it had fully dried, or it was paintable.
> Outside cracks can happen for the reasons above or when the temperature of the air, the surface or the caulk was lower than 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
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