Secret Weapon for DIY-ers
So, I have this secret weapon, a secret DIY weapon if you will! Like a karate chop to your project. It’s caulk. Oh wait? You’ve heard of caulk before!?!
Well, okay, I still think that it is my secret weapon, it makes all the difference between perfect and meh…
I thought it would be fun today to tell you how to caulk, or rather, how I caulk. And I can tell you, I’ve done a LOT of caulking in my years. In fact, in my first house I wouldn’t be surprised if I used twice my weight in caulk. In one room alone I went through 15 tubes of caulk (the house was 100 years old, and I don’t like spider hidey holes! I wore my nails down to nubs and my skin was RAW but the end result was worth it!
** I should mention that Dap has an interesting caulking instruction sheet too, but after 10 years of caulking experience, I have my own way of doing things, and it works so I am happy with it.
The best thing about caulk it that if you are not yet totally skilled in molding installation, for example, caulk- DONE RIGHT, can make it look like you totally know what you are doing.
When I caulk there are three “tools” that I use:
A bowl of hot water
A rag
Caulking gun
(and your hand nice and trimmed nails- meaning at lest your pointer finger need to have a short nail!)
Supplies:
Caulk -DAP ALEX PLUS is America’s number one selling brand of caulk. It is a superior quality, all-purpose acrylic latex caulk that can be used both indoors and out.
A DAP CAP™ in case you have left over calk, for storage.
HOW TO CAULK:
Project instructions:
1. Be sure to read the entire package to ensure you have all materials the job will require and to budget for dry times in your project. Carefully review all safety precautions on the package
2. Clean and dry the surface you will be caulking to ensure it is free of all dirt, dust, grease, old caulk and debris. (To remove old caulk, use DAP® Caulk Be Gone® for latex caulks or DAP® Silicone Be Gone® for silicone caulks; or a utility knife or a caulk removal tool. Once completely removed, wipe away any debris. Use a rag to wipe the joint surface with rubbing alcohol or an over-the-counter disinfecting spray, rinse thoroughly with water, and dry.)
3. I rarely cut off more than an 1/8 inch opening at a 45 degree angle. Or the smallest mark on the nozzle of the caulking tube. This just helps me to control the amount of caulk that comes out. But you can also read the instructions of your selected product for instructions on cutting the nozzle. Some nozzles have an inner-foil lining that needs to be punctured or a removable nozzle covering an inner plastic seal that also needs to be cut. I like the caulking guns with a nozzle trimmer, also most caulking guns have a little metal stick that will puncture the tube lining for you.
4. Load the cartridge into the caulking gun. Applying steady pressure to the trigger, ensuring the nozzle is pressed closely against the surrounding surfaces so the caulk can reach the back of the joint.
5. Working in 3 of 4 ft. lengths, apply the caulk to the joint you are working on. I then wet my finger and smooth the bead into the gap, removing the excess. I know there are tools for this, but I like the control I have with me own hand. Be sure that it looks good, and that all ridges and excess is removed or smoothed, because once dried, it is not fun to remove. Which is why I work in small segments.
6. For base moldings, I have found that it is best to paint over the caulk after you are done, OR you will have dirt stick to the caulk more than the other nearby painted surfaces, and the caulk seem will be very visible. And your moldings will appear old and dirty very quickly.
Do you have a project that you need some extra cash for? How about $100? Thanks to Dap Alex Plus for helping me with my project and offering this great giveaway to my readers!
WAYS to ENTER (leave a comment for each entry!)
1. What project are you working on that you could use $100 bucks for, let me know.
2. Pin or stumble your favorite Remodelaholic post!
3. Visit my Facebook page or follow me on Twitter.
GOOD LUCK the giveaway is open until 5/21/12. I will announce the winner soon after!
AND THE WINNER IS!!!
This Giveaway is closed. Thanks!
Cassity Kmetzsch started Remodelaholic after graduating from Utah State University with a degree in Interior Design. Remodelaholic is the place to share her love for knocking out walls, and building everything back up again to not only add function but beauty to her home. Together with her husband Justin, they have remodeled 6 homes and are working on a seventh. She is a mother of four amazing girls. Making a house a home is her favorite hobby.
Being two teachers, my husband and I are about to embark on our summer house projects – completing new molding in the living room and laying wood floors in our bedroom. I could put that $100 to great use!! Thanks for the wonderful giveaway 🙂
Following you on Pinterest 🙂
Following you on Facebook and Twitter 🙂
SO happy I found your blog! Learning lots!
We have several projects on our plate at the moment, and $100 would help with any of them! The “chore” project is the flooding in the backyard, which will require a french drain. My “fun” project is the dining room redesign! I’m going for an East Asian flare, and I’m really excited about it.
I followed you on pinterest, and liked your facebook page.
I am needing to make some custom art work
I pinned this post
https://pinterest.com/pin/86975836523979175/
I follow you on pinterest
I like you on facebook and I follow you on twitter
oooh I’m working on re-doing my mom’s basement and we could so use that $100! 🙂
I follow your Pinterest boards!!
I also like you on FB & follow you on Twitter! 🙂
I had no idea you were supposed to caulk these! Maybe now they’ll stay on the stupid wall! LOL thanks! I guess my project is to caulk all the boards haha!
I am so excited to see this. We caulked the baseboards in one of our bathrooms after remodeling but we didn’t do it like you explained and it is probably more of a mess than if we’d just left them. Going to go show this to my husband RIGHT NOW! We’ve actually been waiting to put up the baseboards in our other bathroom since we hated so much how the other ones ended up. THANK YOU!!
We could totally use $100 (and caulk) for a master bathroom remodel we’re working on.
I follow you on Pinterest.
I liked your Facebook page!
Following on Pinterest. New to your blog and already loving. Great tip on the caulk but I really love that wall your shared, ALL of it. Thanks for sharing
I followed you on FB
I have several projects that I could use the 100 dollars for. We had a leak in our bathroom. I would put it towards remodeling the bathroom how I want it (on a small, small budget of course). Or maybe getting a room ready for my boys–putting new mouldings and baseboards on is a start, paiting the walls, etc…
We are remodeling the bathrooms, so this would really come in handy!
My next project is actualy to put up some Board & Batten in the powder room. $100 (and some caulk!) would be a great help for this project! Thanks for the chance!