Should I Use Caulk to Fill the Space Between My Upper Wall Trim and Ceiling When it is Cold Outside?

Simple Science

• The simple science behind building homes and buildings is that all materials, regardless of their origin, change with the weather. Wood, along with concrete and composites, swells in the summer months with the heat of the sun and shrinks during the winter months. Because contraction adversely affects a building’s integrity, it is best to build during warmer months so the house has a chance to settle in on itself rather than outward.

Best Time of Year

• The best time of year to caulk any joints in your home is during the summer when it is warm. At this point in time the whole house has expanded due to the warmth, and you can caulk the joint when it’s at its widest point of the year. Then, when it shrinks, the caulking will merely compress on itself. If you caulk in the winter, the caulk within the joint is too small and will expand and can sometimes even rip or crack.

Silicone

• If you have to caulk your home in the winter months, you can use silicone caulking. This is one of the most versatile types of caulk and has one of the highest rates of elasticity, which means it flexes well in all types of conditions. Silicone caulking has a pungent odor and is difficult to work with, but it is durable and long-lasting.

Polyurethane

• While it is difficult to use in the cold weather, polyurethane caulk can also be used to fill joints, including those where the upper wall trim and ceiling meet. Polyurethane caulk is the consistency of putty and works well as an adhesive on all types of materials. It is also far easier to clean up than its silicone counterparts and comes in a wide variety of colors to match the trim work of your home.