Professional painters often apply caulk around window trims, door frames, baseboards, etc., to provide a seamless look while preventing air leaks and moisture damage.
Your painting contractor will most likely use silicone in the bathroom, kitchen and in many exterior areas, whereas they will likely choose a latex acrylic caulk for other areas, such as around windows, doors and trim.
Caulking is a painters job. If you want to know who is a good carpenter or plasterer ask a decorator.
Totally up to you. Painting the caulk will draw your eye away from it, but it will never be perfect.
While a handyperson can certainly handle the job, a local window repair team is your best bet for several reasons. A handyperson or contractor with ample window experience is another good option, but it all depends on the size and complexity of the job.
What Is the Cost of Caulking Windows, Bathtubs, and More? [2025 Data] Caulking costs about $200 when hiring a pro, but budget between $105 and $290. The cost to caulk depends on the size of the job, the location, and the scope of the project.
Commercial caulking contractors handle all of your building's caulking needs. This includes both exterior and interior caulking. In addition to applying caulking in new buildings, they can inspect the caulking in existing buildings to determine if it needs to be replaced.
Quick answer: Don't caulk the weep holes, moving portions, or the tops of your windows.
Before starting the painting job, professional painters will carefully inspect the surfaces and determine if caulking is necessary. They will then apply the caulk to fill in any gaps or cracks, ensuring a smooth and even surface for painting.
“You are putting it on the edge of the exterior trim to the outermost part of your window on the outside.” And then caulk the outer edge of the window frame on the inside of the house. “You usually put it on both sides for double coverage.”
For painting purposes, a quality latex caulk or siliconized latex caulk is the best choice. Sometimes referred to as "painter's caulk", these caulks are ideal for sealing interior windows, doors, and trim, and for filling small cracks and holes in drywall or baseboards.
Caulking walls and doors after painting will help prevent water from seeping into the wall and damaging your paint job. When you caulk areas that will be wet, make sure you use a good sealant so water doesn't get into the seam between the trim and the wall.
Cracking - caulk is unfortunately prone to cracking, which sometimes occurs when the caulk is not flexible enough for the surface it is filling. Crazing - when paint is applied over caulk, it can sometimes lead to the paint to peeling & flaking.
You should inspect the caulking about once every year or two and plan to replace the caulk about once every five to 10 years, depending on the condition of the caulk. If you notice drafts in your home or that your energy bills have spiked, this is a sign to replace the caulk around your windows and doors.
If the old caulk remains in place, it is impossible to dry the surface, clean it and remove the dust. To protect the home's construction materials, it is essential to remove caulk before caulking doors and windows and starting over.
In general, caulk should be applied before painting if the caulk line will be visible once the paint job is complete. This includes caulk lines around windows, doors, and baseboards. On the other hand, caulk can be applied after painting if the caulk line will be hidden by trim or molding.
Ensure Caulk is Cured and Dry
Silicone sealant dries in 30-60 minutes, reducing the risk of smudging or damage to the caulk's surface. However, that is just dry to the touch. You should always wait at least 24 hours before attempting to shower after a caulk installation.
If all you need is some caulking work done, it's a straightforward enough job that a handyperson can take care of it. But, if you need extensive caulking work done or are trying to do other work along with the caulking, such as a complete overhaul of your bathroom fixtures, then you should consider hiring a plumber.
Apply caulk to all joints in the window frame, and do not forget the joint where the frame and wall meet. Hold the gun or product at a 45-degree angle, and caulk in one continuous stream. Make sure the caulk sticks to both sides of a crack.
Moving parts: Anything that moves on your window should be avoided when it comes to caulking. The opening/closing mechanism, the ledge of the window frame, and anywhere that the window touches when it's closed are places to stay away from if you want your window to open and close properly.
Over windows, for example, there shouldn't be caulk between the metal flashing and the window frame. Nor should there be caulk along the flashing that often separates panels stacked on exterior walls when more than one panel is needed to cover the whole height of the wall, such as on a gable end of a house or shed.
Caulking serves some very important functions for a painter -- from sealing out moisture and drafts from a building, to concealing cracks and gaps in exterior siding or interior walls prior to painting.
On average, the price to re-caulk a home is approximately $3 – 6$ per linear foot. For a medium-sized home, this usually adds up to anywhere between $900 to $2,700. This is an average price, and there are several things that will be factored in before an accurate price can be given.
Sealant holds up much better in damp conditions (in the bathroom and kitchen, for example) and in any areas where a lot of expansion and contraction may take place. Caulk is designed to fill in gaps and be painted over for a nice finish where expansion and contraction will be minimal.