Caulking

Caulking.  Not too exciting stuff, but it does an important job.  It's something that nobody pays too much attention too though.  Caulking goes on when paint work is done on wood siding, new vinyl or aluminum siding was installed, and also when window and door work is done.  Then everybody forgets about it.

Over time, and that amount of time depends on the brand and quality of caulking used, like everything else it fails.  Cracks develop, at it's worst it dries up and will fall off in chunks.  Time to recaulk.

If you don't already have one, go to your local paint store and get a 5 in one tool.  You'll be amazed by what a great item this is to have in your tool box.  Helps clean paint rollers, opens cans, and that little pointed part is what you can use to remove caulk.




With caulk guns, the nicer ones are easier to use than the $3 specials.  A good caulk gun will last a lifetime.



Dig and scrape out the old caulk and then you're ready for new.  Pretty simple stuff, but there are a couple more things to keep in mind.  Don't caulk the bottom of siding, trim etc.   If water can get in, it needs to get out.  I see lots of rotted wood because people caulked all the way around something.  The other thing to keep in mind is to not caulk storm window drain holes shut.  These are typically two small holes that allow water to drain off the window sill.  The sill is pitched outwards for a reason, don't seal these up or you'll be replacing your window sills sometime in the upcoming years.  Below is a picture of what I'm talking about.

Lastly, you've got to  develop your caulking technique.  Practice a bit on some newspaper of an old board.  The correct way to caulk is to push the caulk with the caulking gun; this gets more caulk into the crack.  Pros can do it without ever touching it, I admit I'm guilty of using a finger on it more often than I'd like to admit.  If you do need to correct a mistake etc, just keep some water and wet towels handy.  A wet finger and a towel to wipe it off on are great things to have handy when caulking, and your clothes will thank you for not wiping it off on them; it won't come off once it's in the fabric.

So when the snow finally stops and spring is really here in NE Ohio, get out there and have a look at your caulking.