Interior Caulking

1. Interior Caulking Interior caulking is a very important part of protecting your home or building. Caulking will protect the inside of your home or business from the outside elements. Caulking can also waterproof your home, protecting it from any unwanted air or moisture getting inside and creating mold or mildew. Also, if you have the cracks caulked in your home, you will prevent insects and other pests from coming indoors. When you have your interior caulked you want to ensure that the following areas are taken into consideration: ●Windows ●Doors ●Control joints ●Sidewalks leading up to buildings To ensure your home has the utmost protection, your interior caulking should be inspected and possibly replaced every ten years. Check the caulking in your home for wear and tear by looking for any shrinkage or cracks in the caulking material. When caulking is applied correctly to the interior of a home or office, it should be air and watertight—meaning no unwanted air or water will be allowed to seep indoors and cause leaking or mildew growth. Most indoor gaps are small and only require a very small bead of caulking to cover the space. When you caulk the interior of your home or office, always use a caulk that complements the color of the trim. If the trim is wood, then white caulking is suitable; if the trim is stained a darker color, then you will want to use a brown caulk. When applying the caulk to the trim, always use a dampened cloth and apply only a thin bead at a time in order to give it a smoother appearance. When you are caulking the interior of a home or building, it is of utmost importance that you ensure that the baseboards, floor trim and door casings do not have any gaps. These gaps provide space for insects to enter and allow heat and cool air to escape. When you are caulking these areas, you will want to remove any door hinges or locks before applying the product to ensure a cleaner, smoother look. Caulking is best used for small repairs in non-structural areas of the wall. Interior caulking is intended for making minor repairs to wallboards or window sills. Any larger cracks or structural damage needs to be dealt with using much heavier repair equipment such as stucco or plaster. If you are caulking a gap that is larger than ¼ inch, you are going to need to use two layers of caulk. This is because, as caulk is applied, it begins to shrink from its original size.

2. With very large gaps, ½ inch or larger, you will need to pre-fill the area and use a foam backer. Push the foam backer into the gap first and then apply the caulking to the area you want covered. You will find that the more you caulk, the more you will learn. Pretty soon you will be caulking just like the professionals. Caulking is something that every homeowner should learn to do. It is essential that they inspect and repair caulking every few years to ensure that it is still doing its intended job: keeping the heat indoors during the winter months and outside in the summer while keeping unwanted pests out. Articles Source : http://www.homeinspectionreportsonline.com/interior-caulking/