Sealing Windows & Door Casings

Changes in temperature and humidity cause the casing surrounding doors and windows to expand and contract. Overtime, the constant movement causes gaps to form between the casing and the siding of the house. These gaps allow the conditioned air inside a home to leak outside. This increases the costs of heating and cooling a home. Applying the correct sealant to the window and door casings closes the gaps, reducing energy costs.

Utility knife
Putty knife
Latex caulk tube
Caulk gun
Plastic spoon
Wet rag

Instructions

- 1
  Hold the body of a utility knife against the side of the door or window casing with the knife blade pointed toward the siding of the house. Pull the knife along the length of the casing. Put the knife body against the siding with the knife blade pointing toward the casing. Pull the knife along the siding. Pull the cut caulk from the casing seam. Remove the caulk on the remaining sides of the door as described.
- 2
  Scrape all the remaining caulk residue from each seam with a putty knife blade.
- 3
  Cut the nozzle tip off a latex caulk tube with the opening on a caulk gun. Slide the wire attached to the underside of the gun body into the open nozzle. Put the latex caulk tube in the caulk gun body.
- 4
  Apply a bead of caulk to each cleaned casing seam.
- 5
  Set a plastic spoon – convex side toward the seam – at the top of the casing. Pull the spoon along the seam using one constant motion. Wipe the caulk from the end of the spoon with a wet rag. Repeat the procedure at each caulked seam. Allow the caulk to dry for 24 hours before applying paint.

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