10 Problems You Can Solve with Caulk

Sealing leaks around doors and windows is the best way to reduce drafts, cut home energy costs, enhance your house's energy efficiency, and decrease your carbon footprint, according to the Consumer Federation of America. For this job, choose either acrylic latex or vinyl latex caulk. Acrylic latex works best in dry environments and will perform well for up to 15 years, while vinyl latex can be used in damp areas and lasts about five years.

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Concrete and mortar repair caulk is an excellent tool for sealing cracks and gaps in concrete, brick, stucco, stone, and metal. Similarly, it's perfect for repairing small fissures in foundations and basement walls that allow insects, rodents, and other pests to enter your home. Designed for both interior and exterior use, concrete and mortar repair caulk has a textured finish and can be painted once dry.

No matter how carefully you measure and cut, you often end up with little gaps between, above, and below moldings and baseboards. When you need to close the gap, acrylic latex caulk is ideal for filling in those small spaces. The product dries quickly and can be painted as soon as six to eight hours after application. Acrylic latex also comes in a variety of different pigments, so you can match the color to the surrounding material.

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When you need to cover small holes and tiny cracks prior to painting, painter’s caulk, an acrylic latex compound, is just what you need. Painter’s caulk adheres to wood, drywall, masonry, and other surfaces. And because it dries to a paintable texture in about an hour, it's a good choice for busy DIYers.

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Even professional decorators are sometimes stumped by wallpaper, but a little old-fashioned caulking can come to the rescue in a pinch. To keep wallpaper from pulling up as it dries, run caulk along all trimmed paper seams, especially in the corners, then smooth with a wet sponge or finger to remove any surface imperfections. For old wallpaper jobs that are starting to peel away from the wall, simply lift up the loose section and apply adhesive caulk under the paper, then smooth the paper back against the wall. Once the adhesive dries, apply another bead of caulk along the seam to keep it from peeling up again.

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With the right caulk, you can even repair a roof! Roof repair caulk can be used to seal small cracks or gaps along roof edges, between shingles, and around skylights or flashing. As you might expect, roof repair caulk is completely weatherproof and waterproof, and can be used on wet or dry surfaces.

As gutters age, they can develop cracks and gaps, especially around joints and downspout junctions. Butyl rubber caulk, a strong waterproof sealant, can be used to seal joints in those damaged gutters. Dab a little onto the cracks to make your gutters leak-free and keep rainwater flowing out and away from your home.

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