Should I use wood filler or caulk? To sum up the difference between caulk and wood filler, caulk is to be used to fill in corners and gaps between two materials, whereas wood filler should be used to fill nail holes and other damage on flat wooden surfaces. Wood filler can be sanded and caulking can not.
Paintable caulk is used for gaps and cracks in woodwork where you want a seamless finish which you will paint. It should be used instead of wood filler because of its flexibility, allowing it to expand and contract with temperature changes.
They are different caulking will be a softer rubbery material. Gap filler will be flexible but over the years willl harden more and be easy to pull out like spaghetti.
As a rule of thumb, caulk is best for corners and joints while spackling compound is a filler for small holes, dents and cracks -- but it isn't unusual for painters to adapt these materials for special needs.
Gaps between walls, skirtings and architraves are best filled using acrylic gap filler prior to painting. They're flexible, so they can handle any movement between these elements without cracking.
Latex caulk works well to quickly fill in narrow gaps around doors and windows and even base boards and crown moulding. Expandable foam caulk is a better choice for sealing larger gaps and holes.
Gaps up to 1/4″ inch in size can be caulked in the usual manner, without any concerns. If the gap is larger than a 1/4″, you will want to install a foam backer rod into the joint, prior to caulking.
Silicone caulk is excellent at water sealing and flexibility so it has its place in construction. There are two main places it never should be installed, wood or any painted surface.
The most commonly used type of caulk for general-purpose projects around the home is acrylic latex caulk because it's well suited for sealing joints and gaps in wood trim. It's recommended to use this product in dry areas of the home, instead of in high-moisture locations, like the kitchen or bathroom.
To allow the caulking to flow out when you use the caulk tube, you must puncture the inside seal. Take a long screwdriver or a wire and push it down the funnel. Push in the screwdriver completely until the handle is flush with the entrance of the hole or until you feel the seal pop.
However, a plaster filler like Polyfilla or a powder filler are probably the best options for filling plaster cracks, as alternatives such as caulk are best used for other purposes, like sealing gaps around pipes or tiles.
Deep or wide crevices should be lined with foam backer rod first. Use a putty knife to force the flexible backer into the crack until it sits at least 1/4 inch below the surface. Then fill with caulk.
Applying a new layer of caulk to an old layer of caulk isn't recommended, but it is doable if the old caulk is still in relatively good condition. Damaged, cracked, and worn caulk won't provide a firm surface for the top layer of caulk, often leading to cracks and damage in new caulk.
On vertical surfaces, your bead of caulk should be about 3/16-inch wide, and on horizontal surfaces where the tile meets the tub, it should be about ¼-inch wide. Use a razor and cut on an angle, or some caulking guns have a little tool attached you can use.
Once you count the total number of window units, assess the quantity of caulk that you will need to buy. You can estimate about 1 tube per window unit, just to be safe.
Joe Truini: When using caulk to seal cracks and holes around the house or outside, it's important to make sure the crack is no wider than a quarter of an inch, because if you just put in caulk, the caulk will fail, because the crack is too wide.
While caulk is long-lasting on solid, unmoving surfaces, silicone sealant's flexibility means it lasts longer in areas with higher moisture. Using silicone sealant in a bathroom for sealing cracks in the tub and shower will create a more durable seal without needing to frequently re-apply.
Choose acrylic latex
Alex Plus is one good choice, but there are several others. If you are dealing with a large recurring crack in a wall corner or in a crown molding joint, choose a product with better flexibility such as a hybrid formula or Big Stretch acrylic caulk.
Silicone sealant is a great way to fill in gaps between tiles, shower screens, baths and sinks. It also stops water seeping in where you don't want it. We'll show you how to put silicone into a gap using a caulking gun. You will also see how to give your silicone a smooth, professional finish and clean up any excess.