How to Caulk and Use a Caulking Gun

Choosing the right caulk comes down to a few variables including colour, drying time and more. There are many different types of caulks, including:

Acrylic Latex Caulk

Traditionally used indoors in dry areas. It’s great for sealing around baseboard mouldings or wood mouldings as it is paintable – and it is easily cleaned up with soap and water.

Latex Caulk with Silicone

Same as the above caulk, but with silicone for added water-resistance. Can be used both indoors and outdoors and can be painted over – though not as easily as acrylic latex caulk. Can also be cleaned up with soap and water.

Pure Silicone Caulk

Pure silicone caulk is best suited for high-moisture areas like tubs and showers. It can’t be painted, but comes in an assortment of colours to match the surface you’re working with. It must be cleaned using mineral spirits.

There are also other types of non-traditional caulk like butyl rubber caulk (used for sealing outdoor gutters, flashings and more), masonry repair caulk (highly flexible and used for concrete and brick repair) and others.

Be sure to choose the right caulk for your next project.

First, you’ll need to remove any old caulk in the way. Depending on the type of caulk, you can remove it using a few different methods.

If it’s a water-based caulk, you can simply soak a towel in water and lay it over top to soften it and make it easier to remove. If the hardened caulk is silicone-based, you’ll need to soak the cloth in mineral spirits and let it soak for several hours to soften it. Then, simply use a plastic scraper to scrape the old caulk away.

To apply caulk using a caulking gun, first make sure the area to be caulked is clean and dry. Cut the tip of the caulk tube at a 45-degree angle to the desired width of the bead. Load the caulk tube into the barrel of the caulk gun and secure the rod. Squeeze the trigger and hold the tube at a 45-degree angle, caulking a straight line slowly along the surface. When done, release the trigger and move the caulking gun away.

Another way to apply caulk is to do it without a caulking gun. Using a squeeze tube of caulk, cut the opening at a 45-degree angle the desired width of the bead. Then squeeze the tube, running it along the surface at a 45-degree angle. Once done, simply stop squeezing to stop the flow of caulk.

Once you’ve got your caulk line down, simply wet your finger and run it along the caulk to smooth out the surface and give it a finished look. It’s important to clean any caulk that you don’t want quickly. If you’re using a latex-based caulk, clean up any mess with soap and water. If you’re using a silicone-based caulk, use mineral spirits or rubbing alcohol.