Caulking Made Easy - How to Get a Professional Finish in Your Kitchen or Bathroom

Copyright (c) 2010 Ron Hazelton

Caulking a bathtub or kitchen sink might seem like an easy task, but if you've ever tried it you know how quickly it can become messy and frustrating. However, with a few simple tips, a little practice and a handy product like Caulk Mate, you can have professional-looking results at a do-it-yourself price.

The first step in caulking is to acclimate the caulk. It's very important, especially with silicone, to allow the caulk to adjust to room temperature before applying it. Caulk that's too cold will be too stiff to flow smoothly out of the tube. And caulk that is too hot might become fluid or runny, which means it won't leave a smooth bead - a must for a professional finish.

Once the caulk is acclimated, you need to cut the tip of the caulk tube. Cut the nozzle close to the end, allowing for a smaller opening. You will find that a smaller opening helps keep you from overfilling the joint. It's also easier to cut more off of the tip than it is to try and work with a tip that's too large.

Once the tip is cut, load the tube into a caulking gun, and run a small test bead on some blocks of scrap wood to ensure that the opening is cut to the right size. You also want to practice using your caulk gun, to make sure you get a good feel for it and learn how to control the pressure.

Before you apply the caulk, use denatured alcohol to wipe away any grim, grease or dirt that could affect the way the caulk bonds with the surface. Once the alcohol has dried, you are ready to begin. Hold the caulk gun at a 45 degree angle and make one smooth, quick motion with squeezing the trigger with steady pressure.

You'll want to pull the caulk along the joint rather than push it; pulling it allows the caulk to move more smoothly over any obstructions and won't result in blobs. End the bead quickly so the excess product doesn't build up at the end of your bead.

The most important step in achieving a professional-looking and seamless caulking job is tooling. The easiest way to tool the bead is to simply use your finger to wipe away any excess caulk and make sure it's worked all the way down into the seam. This can be a messy job, and you might want to use a product such as Caulk Make to make it easier. You simply spray it onto the bead of the caulk and tool it with your finger. You'll get a smooth seam, and the excess caulk will wipe right off your finger, without any mess or stickiness left behind. When tooling the caulk, be careful to avoid excess tooling - scrape away too much of the caulk and you starve the joint of sealant (and waste a lot of caulk).

Again, it takes just a little practice to become a master at caulking. Your kitchen sink and bathtub or shower will have a seamless, professional-looking finish without the professional cost.