Things You'll Need:
- Household Rags
- Utility Knives
- Caulking Guns
- Caulks
- Nail Or Awl
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Step 1
Clean the area to be caulked, removing dirt, loose paint and old caulk.
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Step 2
Be sure the area is dry before you begin.
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Step 3
Load a tube of caulk into a caulking gun, making sure it's well seated at both ends.
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Step 4
Use a utility knife to cut the tip of the spout. Cut off as little as possible, taking into consideration the size of the 'bead' of caulk you need. Some people like to cut the spout at an angle, while others cut it straight; it doesn't make a big difference.
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Step 5
If using caulk that comes in a cardboard tube, look for a second seal at the base of the spout. Insert a nail or awl through the spout to puncture the seal. Many caulking guns come with such a puncturing device. (Plastic tubes usually don't have a second, inner seal.)
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Step 6
Hold the gun at a slight angle. If you're filling a crack, insert the spout if you can; otherwise, run it at the surface.
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Step 7
Pull away from the bead slightly as you squeeze out the caulk, rather than push into it, which can be very messy.
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Step 8
Use just enough caulk to do the job. (Experiment in an out-of-the-way area. You may find that you'll need less of a bead than you think.)
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Step 9
Use your finger to gently press the caulk into the corner or crack.
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Step 10
Use a damp towel or rag to clean off most of the excess caulk, then use a dry one to clean off the rest.
Comments
ferdi said
on 2/27/2009 MOST PEOPLE KEEP TOO MUCH PRESSURE ON THE TUBE.ONCE IT FLOWS BACK-OFF THE PLUNGER AND JUST SQUEEZE THE TRIGGER SLIGHTLY.iT'S HARD TO GET IT GOING AND YOU HAVE TO BACK-OFF.
shirleybill said
on 12/10/2008 Good advice. Never thought about keeping that bowl of water close by.
projectmgr said
on 8/13/2008 aimwilk; perhaps the tubes have expired past their shelf life and the contents are too stiff to come out without excessive force. The expiry date is usually stamped on a reputable manufacturer's product. Don't forget to puncture the inner seal behind the tip of the tube. I haven't found a dripless caulking gun that is dripless yet. I wonder why they call them that.
aimwilk said
on 7/28/2008 I've had lots of problems with these guns, with the plastic tubes leaking from the bottom as I press the trigger. Makes a huge mess and defeats the purpose. It's not the gun because it's happened with 2 of them. Are the tubes defective? Am I pressing too hard? Not doing something right? Any suggestions?
aimwilk said
on 7/27/2008 I've had lots of problems with these guns, with the plastic tubes leaking from the bottom as I press the trigger. Makes a huge mess and defeats the purpose. It's not the gun because it's happened with 2 of them. Are the tubes defective? Am I pressing too hard? Not doing something right? Any suggestions?