We may gain gross from the product available on this Sir Frederick Handley Page and enter in affiliate programs . Learn More ›
Caulking window physique — to give them a ruined look ( inside and out ) and seal out draft — is a pretty common DIY task . If it ’s done wrongly , however , you may be left with a quaggy , inexpert look . Caulk is not a conception element ; it should commingle in with the window and be unobtrusive .
“ caulk eliminates the gap between trim and windows so you ’re preventing air , piss , and insects from getting inside , ” says Andrew Prchal , who is the president and co - founder atGunner , a windowpane , turnout , and roof company . “ You are putting it on the edge of the exterior clipping to the outmost part of your window on the exterior . ” And then caulk the outer edge of the windowpane soma on the inside of the house . “ You usually put it on both side for three-fold coverage . ”
Photo: istockphoto.com
professional call the process of lay the long , narrow flight strip of caulk “ running a bead . ” And it takes a degree of acquisition . Keep read to learn the proper proficiency so you’re able to caulk like a pro .
DO choose the correct caulk.
You ’ll find oneself 12 of types of caulk at your local home advance store , and each case is intended for a specific billet .
DON’T caulk over old caulk.
If the exist caulk has harden and is pull away , don’t caulk over survive caulk . prevail a pearl over it is trusted to be an utilisation in futility . The old caulk will continue to deplume away , taking the fresh caulking off with it — and before that happens you ’ll be face with a thick , mussy caulk line that detract from the feeling of the window . grate out the old caulkand cleanse out the sphere before laying a newfangled drop of caulking .
DO use a caulking gun with a thumb release.
Cheap caulking gun come with a ratchet - style handle that must be twisted on the loose to release the pressure on the caulking in the tube . With this type of gas , caulking will keep ooze out until you loosen the handle with your hand , resulting in supererogatory caulk on the windowpane skeleton . A better choice is touse a caulk gunwith a thumb release you could press to directly expel the pressure on the caulking so it stops flowing when you ’re done running a bead . We likeDripless Caulk Gunfor its ability to forestall dripping , which is a major frustration with many caulk guns .
DON’T cut too much off the end of the caulk tube tip.
The plastic tip on a caulking metro narrow down to a point , and the more you cut off , the larger the astragal of caulk will be . Some tube come with measure cut lines on the baksheesh , allow you to take the one that most nearly fit the width of the bed ; others are unnoted . The best drill is to issue off just the end of the tip , and then twitch out some caulk to see the size of the astragal on a trash . you may always burn off more , but if you cut off too much at first , your astragal will be too thick for the seam . Prchal pronounce that among the mistakes homeowner make : “ The big fault is that they apply too much , and they do n’t apply it equally . ”
DO keep a towel and a bucket of water nearby.
caulk can be a messy endeavour . The amount of possible mess bet on the caulking gun you prefer , how much experience you have , and the temperature . For example , warmer surroundings make caulk more runny , so it ’s best to not attempt your first caulk job on a blistering or humid daytime .
pro always have a towel and a bucket of water tight by when laying a bead of caulking . While they can be used to clean up little mistakes made with piss - based caulk , the water is also used to finger’s breadth - smooth water - based caulking drop for a finished expression .
DO use both hands to run a bead.
It takes two hands to keep in line a calk gun . Use your prevailing hand to hold the gun and extract the induction , and bear the barrel of the gun near the peak with your other hired hand . Also be sure to keep your wrists unbent , moving your elbow joint and body when run a bead . For instance , if caulking a vertical line , start at the top and as you pass on downwardly , bend your elbows — or knees — to caulk lower while assert your wrist position . turn away your carpus would change the angle of the caulking gun , changing the show of the bead .
DO run a continuous bead if there’s brick.
If apply caulk between a windowpane and Freemasonry , it ’s tough to smooth a bead of caulking and it can end up being a mess . Therefore , it ’s crucial to lay the beading of caulk uniformly . However , this does n’t mean that you have to bleed the pearl from top to bottom without stopping .
When running a recollective beading , you may have to change your clasp on the caulk gun for hire or your position on the ladder by the time you give the oddment , which can affect the uniformity of the caulking bead . Another strategy is to caulk from one end to the middle of the seam and stop . Then , start at the other end and caulk to meet the first beadwork . This will allow you to maintain a regular paw situation , which will result in a uniform bead .
But , do n’t pause while caulking without lifting the caulk gun from the surface . Prchal says : “ ensure you do n’t quit because if you stop while caulk it makes the beading large . ”
Photo: Glenda Taylor for Bob Vila
DO ride the smooth edge when caulking a seam between a window and textured siding.
outside cladding like siding is often textured , and if you slide the tip of the thermionic vacuum tube along the jolting texture , the beading of caulk will also be bumpy . The solvent is to allow for the tip of the tube to slither , or “ taunt ” as the pro say , only along the smooth windowpane human body edge . The caulk will still seal the seam and you ’ll have a better - looking bead .
DON’T smooth the bead of caulk all the way from one end to the other.
For a ruined look , piddle - based caulking is polish after program with a wet finger’s breadth , but silicone caulk is often applied as a uninterrupted pearl and is n’t smoothed with a finger . you could use a plastic spoonful or a tool designed for smooth both types of caulk such asHYDE ’s Caulk - Rite Pro software Tool . A bit of fray alcohol with the tool can assist smooth a bead of silicone caulk , too .
The best way to polish the bead is to start about 6 inches from the bottom and shine that modest discussion section first , and then dip your finger or tool into a bucket of water . Then , move up another 6 inch and smoothen that section next , pulling downward toward the section you just smoothed . Amateurs often seek to smooth the entire beading at one time , which causes excess caulk to build up and overflow on the side of the seam . Smoothing just a small section at a time will give you a professional flavor and preclude a mess of excess caulking on the side of the crease . It takes a couplet of hours for the caulk to start drying , so you should have copious meter to shine it .
DO tape off your seams if you can’t run a smooth bead.
If your hand are shaky or you just ca n’t seem to move the caulking gun smoothly enough to run a undifferentiated bead , you’re able to still obtain good issue by taping off the seam with painter ’s mag tape . Simply attach cartoon strip of Felis concolor ’s tape along both edges of the seam , approximately ⅛-inch out from the seam itself . Then , launch the bead of caulk and smooth it off as account above . As soon as you ’ve shine the bead , carefully pull out off the puma ’s tape and you ’ll have a double-dyed ¼-inch caulk line .
DON’T use caulk as a filler for poorly trimmed-out windows.
Caulk is intended for use on comparatively narrow seams , typically ¼-inch wide or tighter . “ One of the magnanimous mistake a householder progress to when caulk windows is overcompensating with caulking , ” say Chuck von Nordeck , ware manager at DAP . “ Often , users fill up in big voids beyond recommendations without the use of goods and services of backer rods or properly repairing the windowsill beforehand . ”
If applied to declamatory gaps , caulking can sag out of the spread and produce an untempting mess . If you have gap wide-cut than ¼ inch , the good practice is to fill them first with a froth angel rod , such as thisC.R. Laurence Closed Cell Backer Rodand then run your beadwork of caulking .
DO apply a thick bead between fiber cement siding and windows.
Caulking between fibre cementum railroad siding and window frames takes a little more caulk than some other exterior textile that are n’t as textured . “ When caulk between window and fiber cementum railroad siding , it is crucial not to go too sparse with your bead . Make certain you apply a sufficiently thick pearl to seal off the edges of each fiber cement board efficaciously , ” pronounce von Nordeck .
He tot : “ diminished beads are more prone to nonstarter due to the thermic cycling of conditions , which causes expansion and condensation between the substrate . A slurred beadwork will accommodate these movements better , providing a more durable and long - lasting Navy SEAL . ”
DON’T wait to replace cracked caulk.
buggy caulking is n’t serving its purpose , so it ’s important to supplant it as soon as you detect that it ’s miscarry . “ depend for former signs of cracking , which appear as small strain fault in the joints around the window , ” says von Nordeck . “ Regular inspection can help you see these issues early , ensuring your home remains well - seal and protected from the elements . ”
have a bun in the oven caulking around windowpane frames to last about 5 years look on weather conditions . “ You ’re going to remark when the caulking gets exposed to the sun over time . It embark on to harden up and it starts to break up and become brittle , ” allege Prchal . “ The discolouration and peeling extra time will be a tell - taradiddle sign , as well . ”
DO call a pro if you don’t feel comfortable caulking.
If caulking your window involves a run and you are n’t prosperous work from height and are n’t confident about caulking , it ’s a good idea to lease a pro to do the business .
“ Call right forth , if you do n’t have the proper tools or safety equipment . Especially if it is two stories , involve a professional , ” says Prchal . “ It is all about safety . ”
This Is the Year for a Kitchen Renovation
Photo istockphoto.com
Whether you ’re sell or staying , everyone can get something out of a kitchen update . Learn why we consider this renovation the Most Valuable Project of 2025 and how to stay on budget .
Photo: Glenda Taylor for Bob Vila
Photo: istockphoto.com
Photo: homedepot.com
