10 Problems You Can Solve with Caulk

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.

Never out of style in kitchens and bathrooms, tile has endured through the decades. Over time, however, small spaces can open up between tiles, and in moist environments that's an invitation for mold and mildew to gather behind the walls. There are several types of caulk that can be used in such situations. Ideal for wet environments, 100 percent silicone caulk and siliconized acrylic caulk form a durable, watertight seal. Mold- and mildew-resistant silicone caulk is made for nonporous surfaces like ceramic, glass, and metal, while waterproof siliconized acrylic caulk works well on tubs, tile, glass, and ceramic tile surfaces.

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.

Related: 10 Top Tips to Make Any Paint Job Go Faster

When a length of molding falls off, a corner of carpet comes up, or a tile comes loose, it's good-old all-purpose caulk that can fix it. Dab a little behind the loose material, then stick it back into place. You can even use all-purpose caulk to install wood paneling without nails!

Related: 10 Things You Didn't Know Super Glue Can Do

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.

Related: 7 Reasons to Reconsider Wallpaper

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