There are many places on a home where caulking has been used. Since caulking is regular homeowner maintenance, make sure to check for your at least twice a year for areas that need caulk touch ups or to be re-caulked. This will help to ensure that your home is looking great always. A key sign in determining if caulk needs to be replaced and/ or touched up is drying and cracking. When you need to address the caulk, it is always best to visit your local hardware store to determine which caulking is best suited for your project - since the type of caulking to use will depend on the surface it is being used on.
Need to know about Interior & Exterior Caulking
Interior:
Interior caulking is recommended to be replaced every 2 years or as needed. A refresher of caulking is recommended on:
- Baseboards: For baseboards you will want to use Paint grade caulking. Dust and dirt build up may cause the caulking to be replaced sooner rather than later.
- Windows: Due to the access of sunlight that can lead to cracking make sure to check your windows’ caulking if it needs redoing. Although the caulking is cosmetic in nature only, it still is good to have a nice clean look, so touching up dried out caulk is good. For windows you should use a paint grade caulking.
- Door Casings: Please visit your local hardware store to determine which caulking is best for your doors.
- Self-Rimming Lavatory Sinks: Plumbers caulk is best for this application. Visit your local hardware store to determine the proper product.
- Self-Rimming Kitchen & Other Sinks: Silicone caulk is preferred for this application. Visit your local hardware store to determine the proper product.
- Bathroom Tub to the Floor and the Shower: Your tub and shower has caulking at the bottom connecting to the floor that may crack over time. Make sure to check this area since it is subject to high moisture. Visit your local hardware store to determine the proper product.
- Note: make sure to check this area every year or as necessary checking the tub or shower pan to the floor and adjoining surfaces.
- Shower corners & joints you will also want to check at least once a year for caulk cracking and maintain as needed.
- Any countertops that have caulking it is recommended to check and maintain as needed.
Exterior:
Exterior calking (usually paint grade is used) needs to be checked once a year or every other year. Due to Covington Homes tight construction and energy efficiency in our homes the amount of caulking at the exterior has been greatly reduced. A refresher of caulking is recommended on:
- Windows: Visit your local hardware store to determine the proper product.
- Doors: Visit your local hardware store to determine the proper product.
- Concrete: For regular and cosmetic cracking of the concrete please CLICK HERE to see how to caulk concrete cracks.
- At areas where the stucco is cracking and pulling away from the soffit you may choose a clear caulking to maintain the area but this is homeowner preference.