# How to Paint Caulk
Not all caulk is the same. Certain types take paint better than others. Clear silicone caulk is not recommended for surfaces that require painting, because water-based latex coatings will not adhere to it. Acrylic caulk, however, will hold paint. If a surface is already sealed with silicone caulk, you can still paint it, but you must employ the proper preparation strategy before painting.
Things You'll Need
- Hose
- Coarse plastic brush
- Tack cloths
- Professional painter's tape
- Drop cloths
- Oil-based primer
- 2-inch natural-bristled paintbrush
- Mineral spirits
- Latex paint
- 2- to 3-inch nylon paintbrush
- Acrylic latex paint
Instructions
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Rinse dust or dirt from exterior caulk using a hose. Wait three to four hours for the surface to dry. Dust interior caulk with a coarse plastic brush. Wipe the caulk with tack cloths to promote adhesion.
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Protect areas you do not want painted that are beneath or adjacent to the caulk. Cover these areas with painter's tape and drop cloths.
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Coat silicone caulk with an oil-based primer, using a 2-inch natural-bristled paintbrush. Wait two hours for the primer to dry. Wash the brush with mineral spirits.
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Coat acrylic and primed silicone caulk with latex paint, using a 2- to 3-inch nylon paintbrush. Wait two hours for the paint to dry. Wash the brush with water.
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