Caulking & Sealing Tutorial

Caulk will save you money on your energy bills and help keep your home in good shape. Caulk seals the spaces around door and window moldings, around installed bathtubs and anywhere else two materials meet. Caulk helps to protect a house from weather elements by sealing holes that air could otherwise go through. Moreover, caulk also prevents moisture from penetrating these cracks and crevices. You may apply latex caulk to the interior as well as exterior of your home to increase the seal's effectiveness.

Latex caulk
Pocket knife
Wire hanger
Bucket
Clean rag
Caulk gun

Instructions

- 1
  Cut the tip off the caulk tube, carefully removing a small portion so that a wire hanger can just fit into the hole.
- 2
  Straighten the wire hanger and poke it into the tip of the caulk tube several times to break the inner seal.
- 3
  Place the caulk tube inside the caulk gun so that the tip of the tube points away from the gun trigger.
- 4
  Wet the rag in a bucket of water and wring it out so that it is damp. Hang it on the side of the bucket for later use.
- 5
  Place the caulk tip at the corner or edge of your caulking project and gently depress the caulk gun trigger as you pull the tube tip along the crack. Continue for about five feet, release the trigger and remove the tube tip from the work surface.
- 6
  Wipe the caulk tip with the damp rag. Wet your finger on the damp rag and slide your finger along the newly laid caulk to smooth it and complete the seal.
- 7
  Continue caulking in five-foot increments until all cracks are sealed.

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