Author Topic: Caulking Recommendations  (Read 4251 times)

Psychstache

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Caulking Recommendations
« on: April 24, 2013, 09:31:22 AM »
Hello esteemed community,

I just had an inspection done on the home we are hoping to purchase as our first time home. Everything came out fine, no major issues, but I think I heard the words "needs some caulking" about 200 times. Any recommendations for a good caulking gun?

Spork

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Re: Caulking Recommendations
« Reply #1 on: April 24, 2013, 09:37:57 AM »

this will be anticlimactic, but: all I've ever used is some cheap-cheap Home Depot/Lowes low end caulk gun from the paint aisle.  I've had the same one for probably 20+ years.

All the gun does is gently squeeze the tube.  It doesn't have a lot of functionality.  Some "fancy ones" will cut the tip and have a thingamabob to poke through and punch through the inner seal.  But I've always used a pocket knife and a nail (respectively).

Psychstache

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Re: Caulking Recommendations
« Reply #2 on: April 24, 2013, 09:48:54 AM »
Haha, thanks Spork!

I figured the answer would be something like, but I'm clueless right now. I was always more of the "fix your computer" guy than a "fix your leaky faucet" guy, but I am gonna learn.

Spork

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Re: Caulking Recommendations
« Reply #3 on: April 24, 2013, 10:29:07 AM »
There *is* a little bit of technique to it...  If we're talking latex caulk (for painting) ... it is very forgiving and very water soluble while it's wet.  (Pure silicone can be not-so-forgiving.)

Wipe it gently with a wet cloth and rinse it often.  (Use the wipe to blend the caulk in and clean off the edges.  Don't wipe so hard as to remove the caulk entirely.)

Drips from that wet rag can be hard to clean up when they dry.  They stain a little...  If you're outside dripping on the ground, who cares.  If you're over a pristine floor inside, clean them up when you drip.

If you have a lot to do... you'll get the hang of it before you're done.

c

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Re: Caulking Recommendations
« Reply #4 on: April 25, 2013, 08:10:58 PM »
I use what Spork does.

It took me a bit of practice to get it right. The main issues for me were cutting the end to the right size - I tended to go too small - and keeping consistent pressure and movement so I didn't get globs or gaps.

I "cheated" the first few times and used painters tape. I watched a bunch of youtube videos, a few recommended using the back of a spoon to smooth things out. I found a wet finger worked better.

It is AMAZING how much difference caulk makes to how something looks. Now I'm very judgy when I go to someone's home and see gaps in their moldings.

(I use a pin and a box cutter for the tip)
« Last Edit: April 25, 2013, 08:13:45 PM by c »

ultrarunner

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Re: Caulking Recommendations
« Reply #5 on: April 25, 2013, 10:35:41 PM »
Another tip you'll no doubt pick up rather quickly: release the plunger tension (via a lever at the back of the tube holder) right as you finish a bead of caulk...  otherwise it keeps pushing some out after you've pulled the caulking gun away.  Then it invariably winds up all over the place (usually wiped on my pants in an attempt to keep it off the floor). 

matt_g

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Re: Caulking Recommendations
« Reply #6 on: April 26, 2013, 06:33:33 AM »
Caulking is really easy, here are a few links that should help you get started.

This old house article on caulking:
http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/article/0,,203227,00.html


Video of Tom Silva fixing some Exterior leaks using caulking:
http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/video/0,,20463950,00.html

ScottEric

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Re: Caulking Recommendations
« Reply #7 on: April 29, 2013, 09:58:03 PM »
If you're talking about ALEX (Acrylic Latex painters Caulk) and you think you're going to be doing a lot of it you might want to splurge a little for something with a comfortable grip.  The cheapie ones are fine for a tube or two at a time, we're painting our entire house that we just bought, we used 16 tubes of ALEX 25 year, might need one or two more...  Our Dining room alone ate up at least two tubes.  This is the one I got:

http://www.lowes.com/pd_395434-51872-55009_0__?productId=3665114&Ntt=caulking+guns&pl=1&currentURL=%3FNtt%3Dcaulking%2Bguns&facetInfo=

The only real reason to spend more money on this is if you're going to get a lot of use out of it, I spent a few hours at a time caulking so having a comfortable grip was important to me.  It's also lighter, which is important if you're caulking above your head a lot.  This was also only about $10, so it's a very minor splurge.