Reasons to caulk inside and outside your home in Boynton Beach, FL

A before and after photo of tile that has been caulked.

Caulking is a very important step before painting the interior and exterior of your house. You need to caulk to have your home weatherproofed and also prevent unnecessary repairs in the future.

Professional Caulking Services

While caulking is a task that property homeowners can undertake on their own, it’s highly recommended that you hire a professional caulking and painting contractor for quality results on your home improvement project. At Mr. Handyman, we are committed to delivering a wide range of residential and industrial caulking services in Boynton Beach, FL, and surrounding areas.

Why & Where to Caulk Around Your Home in Boynton Beach, FL

Caulk is actually a type of sealant that is applied before painting to seal cracks, gaps, small holes, joints between two surfaces, or surface imperfections in the home’s exterior or interior. Interior or exterior caulking is done for almost similar reasons.

  • Caulking is done to fill gaps, cracks, or any other irregularities so to create a smooth and uniform surface for painting. This is done to give your final product a clean and professional look.
  • Typically, moisture, air bubbles, and water may accumulate in the cracks and holes in any part of the surface which can cause the paint to start peeling off. However, caulking before applying paint makes the paint last longer.
  • Caulking helps to keep moisture and airflow out of your house, which prevents the growth of molds or stops wood and metal structures from rotting/rusting.
  • Caulking is also important since it helps prevent conditioned air from escaping the interior of your building. This can improve the performance of HVAC systems in your room, thus saving you money.

Types of Caulks

There are two major types of caulks, and they include adhesives and sealants. As the name suggests, adhesives are caulks used to create a strong bond between surfaces, whereas sealants are used to seal, or fill holes and cracks between materials. Sealants are ideal for creating a smooth surface for painting.

Other types of caulk include:

  • Acrylic or Latex Caulk – Acrylic caulk is mostly used by painters because it’s easy to work with.
  • Acrylic-Silicone Caulk – Greater flexibility makes this caulk a good choice for interior painting.
  • Solvent-Based Caulks - Resistant to UV rays – a property that makes them suitable for exterior roofing jobs.
  • Silicone –Silicone has good waterproofing properties. It’s ideal for sealing kitchen and bathroom sinks.
  • Premium Sealants – Contain several additives that make them more versatile.
  • Polyurethane – Poly caulks are tougher and can withstand extreme weather conditions. This makes them ideal for areas that are vulnerable to damage, such as driveways and trim.

ProTip TakeawayWhile polyurethane is considered the best caulking material for your home improvement project, you should always check the manufacturer’s recommendation before using a given caulk on your project.

Where Should I Caulk?

Some of the areas in the home's exterior that require caulking include:

  • Around door and window frames.
  • At siding joints like corner trim, wood, and brick joint
  • Any openings or cracks on the roof. Look for holes, cracks, and other imperfections in the gutter.

Interior Caulking:

  • Around the kitchen sink
  • Where the countertop meets the backsplash
  • Where the shower meets the surround.
  • Caulk around crown molding, chair rails, and more.

Where you should never caulk

Never caulk around moving joints or surfaces such as:

  • Water exit route
  • Sliding garage door panels.
  • The small openings or weep holes in a window.
  • Siding boards.
  • Metal flashing.
  • Joints between metal and wood.
  • Siding nails.

Why Choose Mr. Handyman for Weatherproofing services?

If you’re looking for a reputable contractor to handle your caulking project, then you’re at the right place. Mr. Handyman specializes in maintaining the exterior and interior of homes for both home and property owners in Boynton Beach, FL as well as the surrounding areas (Lake Worth, Delray Beach, West Palm Beach, Wellington…)

We listen to our clients and always send the right technician for the right job. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you need any of these services.  Mr. Handyman is a one-stop shop for all of your home improvements – here is a list of everything we can help you with in your home and business.