Spring is a great time of year to inspect the caulking in your house. Here’s 7 great caulking tips to ensure that you’re sealed-up properly.
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If you’re going to be caulking around a bathtub, fill the bathtub with water first. This prevents cracking caulk later should your tub flex under weight.
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Using silicone caulk? Be sure the surface you’re applying to is 100% dry.
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When you open a new tube of caulk, cut the tip at an angle for a easier to control flow.
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Silicone caulk is not paintable. Use a siliconized acrylic caulk if you need to paint over it.
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Caulk won’t flow freely if it’s colder than 40 degrees. If you need to caulk outside in cold weather, keep your tubes in the house until you’re ready to start.
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If there is still caulk left in the tube when you’re job is finished, push a Phillip’s head screw into the end of the nozzle. The caulk in the nozzle will dry creating a air-tight seal and the next time you need to caulk, use a screwdriver to remove the screw.
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Want to be super fancy? You can use painter’s tap to cover both sides of the gap you’re caulking. Peel it off as soon as you’re finished so that the caulk doesn’t dry.
