If a bad caulk job bothers you, with these tips you can learn to run a smooth bead of caulk. With advice from some pros you’ll soon be caulking all your DIY projects like a pro.
“How do you get such a smooth bead of caulk?” This is a question I hear often. For me it seems almost second nature and I usually reply that it takes practice. But after talking with some pros that spend a lot of time caulking, a few techniques will cut your practice time. You can get good results right away.
Cut the caulk tube with care.
This is where your caulk job begins and can be doomed from the beginning. Cut the tip of the caulk tube with a utility knife at about a 45-degree angle. Keep your cut near the end to make a 1/8-in. diameter opening. Smoothing the tip with 100-grit sandpaper, this will give you a smoother finish caulk job.
The biggest mistake you could make is to cut too much off of the tip of the caulk tube. You want the hole in your tube to be about two-thirds the width of the desired caulk joint. Most caulking jobs should only require a narrow bead. If you’re caulking molding to prepare it for paint, start with the opening very small, just over 1/16 in. diameter. To caulk your tub, a 1/8-in. diameter hole is usually about right. Some caulk tubes need to be punched in order to start the flow of caulk. Use a thin wire like a scrap electrical wire or coat hanger to avoid enlarging the hole at the tip.
To apply a smooth bead of caulk that’s just the right size, you have to find the balance between squeezing the handle and application speed. The trick is to keep squeezing constant and vary the speed according to the size of the joint. Keep the caulk gun moving at the same angle and fill the joint as you go, don’t worry if you leave a gap. You can fill this gap in the second pass, this is better than to clean up excess caulk from going too slow.
When you get to the end, release pressure and quickly lift the tip from the surface. Clean the tip before you start a new bead.
Smooth the bead with a wet finger tip using light pressure. Wipe the excess caulk off your finger tip with a damp cloth.
Smoothing not only makes the caulk look good-it ensures good adhesion on each side of the gap. The tip of your finger is all you need, no special tools required. Wet your finger with water for latex caulk.
Silicone caulk requires a little more effort, wear a tight-fitting latex or vinyl glove and wet the fingertip with denatured alcohol. Take care to keep your beads of silicone and urethane caulk slim to make smoothing easier. If you get much excess, they’re hard to clean up and can get really messy. Use paper towels, so you can use a new piece every time you wipe off your finger.
These tips should make your DIY projects easier when caulking is required to finish the project.