Home Improvement Stack Exchange
Home Improvement Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [caulking]

Caulking is the action of applying a sealing compound to joints and gaps in building materials.

Door, window and trim caulking provides thermal insulation and seals a structure from the elements.

Caulking for areas such as kitchen and bathroom surfaces provides resistance to water penetration.

Types:

  • Silicone - More difficult to apply, but remains flexible after drying
  • Latex - Water based for easy cleanup
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Is there a trick to applying caulk using a caulk-gun?

Perhaps it is just me, but no matter how careful I try to be, any attempt to apply caulk or cement or anything with a caulking gun into a crack results in total mess. The main problems that seem to be causing this are: 1: The caulk doesn't "stick…
JohnFx
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What is the best way to seal caulk tube?

What are some effective ways of sealing an opened tube of caulk so that the contents do not dry out? In the past I've used a large nail and some tape, but that doesn't seem to last for more than a few weeks.
Dave
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How do I finish off a silicone sealant like a professional?

I have patched a couple of places at the base of my shower with silicone rubber sealant, using a caulking gun and it has worked well. The water no longer escapes from the shower. However, where I have done the patching, it is lumpy. Where the…
Guy
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Are toilets supposed to be caulked to the floor?

I've heard that in some cases toilets are supposed to be caulked to the floor. I replaced both toilets in the condo I moved into last week, and one was calked to the floor, and one was not. One difference was that toilet where caulk was present is…
Billy ONeal
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What kind of caulk should I use around my bathtub?

I would like to recaulk between the bathtub and the ceramic-tile wall, but there are many kinds of caulking for sale. What kind should I use?
Vebjorn Ljosa
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Can I accelerate caulk drying by using a fan or heater on it?

From what I've found online, caulking takes 24-48 hours to dry. For my purposes, I need to apply caulking to my kitchen sink. However, I am in a time crunch, so I would like to know how caulking dries. Specifically, can the dry time be sped up to…
MarkE
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How do I caulk where a caulk tube won't fit?

I've got some door moldings that are about 1 inch from the adjacent wall. A caulk gun won't begin to get in there, and pivoting the caulk tube up so it's nearly parallel to both walls still doesn't get the tip close enough to the gap. How should I…
Jeremy W. Sherman
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Sealing space between counter and stainless stove

What's the best material to use to seal the gap between my counters and the stove? It's a pretty tight fit but we don't want any crumbs and food bits to get in there. If we use caulk will it stick to stainless? Will it leave a mark if we decide…
milesmeow
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How to fix small holes/separation in caulk around bathtub?

I'm sure this is a relatively simple task but I've never done it before and want to make sure I get it right. There are some holes/separation appearing in the caulk between the bathtub and the wall around it. Here is a picture: What would be the…
Joe M.
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With a shower, should the edge where the wall meets the floor be caulked, or is grout okay?

Some of the shower tiles have come loose in my shower and need repair (specifically the ones at the base of the wall). There's no 'tub' per-se, the whole thing is tiled, and it looks like whoever installed it used grout for the edge where the wall…
The Forlorn Ferret
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Do I really need to fill the tub with water to properly apply caulking?

I recently did some patch work on my bathtub caulking. Just a little to give it a few more months before I redo the entire bathtub. My tub is floating and has a tub surround. My wife usually removes the caulk during the day and she prefers that I do…
Matt
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What is the appropriate type of caulking around a kitchen sink?

The caulking around my sink has worn/rotted away and I've removed it properly, but I've been looking into what I kind of caulking to use, and there seem to be many different types, so I'm a bit unsure of what to do. Which type of caulking is used…
MarkE
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Do I have to remove all caulk before reapplication?

I re-caulked my bathroom a few months previous and there are a couple of gaps that have appeared. I have been caulking my own bathroom for about 7 years now but have never had damage this soon into it. My kids just started having showers and are…
Matt
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Is there an easy way to remove silicone sealant?

Is there an easy way to remove silicone sealant? Having had mouldy sealant have replaced with MicroBan to stop the mould coming back but is there any tips on getting the stuff off for next time? My best tool seemed to be a sharp chisel.
user1964
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How can I seal the large gap around my fireplace in a way that is safe and prevents air inflows?

I've got a spot by a fireplace that lets cold air in. Unfortunately its right where the metal of the fireplace meets the wooden framing/molding of the fireplace on the inside. This seems like something I should be able to take care of. Its a rather…
Doug T.
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