A dog may be man's best friend but caulk is your home's best friend.
No, caulk will not wag its tail when you come home, it won't bark a
warning when a stranger approaches, and it won't lick you in the face to
show its love for you. But with caulk you never have to pick up poo, you
won't have to quiet caulk down when friends visit and caulk will never
impregnate your neighbor's waterproofing materials...
But just like your dog it will help keep your home safe and warm.
Useless Information You'll Never Need
We can trace the concept of caulking back to the Ancient Middle East
where they used natural asphalt deposits as mortar between bricks and
stones (they also used this same stuff to mummify their dead). In 1638
Finnish settlers in America used clay and moss between logs in their
homes. Early Americans used paper greased with animal fat (must have
driven their dogs crazy). The caulking gun came into use in the 1920's.
Just think...our great-grandparents must have been amazed the first time
they used a caulking gun... Oh, were it so that life were that simple
now...
Caulking is considered the most beneficial of all homeowner projects.
Did you know caulking can help keep your home safe from water, dust,
insects, fire, and noise? Choosing the correct caulk can be confusing!
Take a look at the number of different caulks available:
There are three main kinds available:
1) Latex Caulk: Use where cracks need to be filled and then painted.
Easy water clean-up. Inside or Outside. Good general use caulking.
2) Silicone Caulk: Use where there is more of a water issue like around
tubs and exterior windows and doors. Available in latex-based (easy
clean-up). There is available a non-water-based silicone caulk which
remains more flexible but is more expensive and non-paintable.
3) Butyl Rubber Caulking: Expensive but the most long-lasting and stays
flexible longer.
When purchasing caulking keep in mind what color you need (do not
confuse Clear with White!). And if you are going to paint the caulk be
sure it states that it is "paintable" on the label.
Because caulking is considered the most beneficial of all home projects
we will continue examining caulk in the next column!
