Thanks for considering Portage Park Handyman for your handyman services. Unfortunately,
we are not taking on new customers before 2016. We recommend Jim at Punch List for his
experience and expertise. Jim will also offer a 5% discount for anyone who mentions that
they found him through the Portage Park Handyman Service.
OK; go to www.yourpunchlist.com
Rich Escallier offers prompt,
professional, efficient, and reasonably-priced solutions to home
repairs and remodeling.
Caulking 101
Materials
Razor blade or painter's 5-in-1 tool to remove old caulk
Dripless caulk gun (worth buying if you're not sure whether your caulk gun is dripless)
Clean rag
Old magazine or Sunday section of newspaper (something with shiny paper)
Toilet paper
Small dish or saucer with liquid soap (to break the surface tension of the caulk)
Silicone tub and tile caulk -- GE Silicone I (available at the
True Value at 4305 N. Milwaukee Ave.) is the absolute easiest to work with. GE Silicone II will also work.
Caulk Rite caulking tool -- this inexpensive (approx. $5) tool is the secret to a good caulk job. It's
hand-held and has a triangle that acts like a Squeegee.
Preparation
Remove all of the old caulking and any other loose debris. (This is the
toughest part of a caulking job.)
Treat the open area with a 10% to 20% bleach solution to kill any mold;
use a rag.
Wipe clean of any debris. Vacuum the crack if your vacuum cleaner
has a hose attachment.
Technique
Open the magazine and place it in the tub. Have a dish of soap, the Caulk
Rite tool, and toilet paper handy.
Open the caulk and practice with scraps of wood or metal shaped like a corner.
The faster you go with the caulk gun, the more even the caulk will be. Holding the Caulk
Rite tool perpendicular will give you a small bead; holding the tool lower to the tub will
give you a fatter bead (and cover larger defects if there are any).
Caulk the joint by pulling from a corner to the middle and forcing caulk into
any space under the tiles.
Put your caulk gun down on the magazine.
Dip the Caulk Rite tool in soap; this will make the tool slide easier.
Put the tool in the corner and pull toward the center of the wall. At the end
of this stroke, you will have a gob of caulk on the end of the tool. Wipe it on the magazine;
when the magazine is full of caulk, turn the page.
Use toilet paper to wipe the tip of the caulk gun and Caulk Rite tool.
Caulk the joint from the other corner toward the center, using less pressure as you
close in.
Wipe the gob of caulk on magazine.
Repeat the above steps as necessary.
Let the fresh caulk cure for 24 hours before exposing it to water.
