Exterior Caulking

Caulking is used to seal joints, gaps and seams in exterior walls. Without caulking, cool air, water and insects could enter your home through these openings. All caulking compounds dry out over time. Check for cracked, loose or missing caulking as part of your spring and autumn maintenance inspections. Typically, your home should be re-caulked every five years or less. Caulking around some areas may deteriorate sooner. Repair deteriorated caulking as soon as it appears.
Where to Inspect. You will find caulking where different surfaces meet. These surfaces include the roof where one flashing meets another flashing, where flashing and a roof or dormer surface meet and where a chimney, flue, plumbing or electrical pipe, attic fan or skylight protrudes through the roof surface.
Caulking is found on exterior walls where siding and trim meet at corners, around window and door frames, between badly fitting pieces of siding, where pipes, framing members and other protrusions pass through siding, and where siding meets the foundation, patio, deck or any other different part of your home.
Applying Caulking. Caulking is one of the simplest jobs a home owner can perform. No special skills or expensive tools are required and it does not consume much time. However, you must prepare the area to be caulked properly. Begin by removing the old caulk. Then clean the area before applying the new caulk. Different caulks have different uses and are to be applied in different ways. Read the caulk manufacturer’s instructions carefully before applying the new caulk.