For interior door, window and trim projects, acrylic latex caulk is usually a good bet. Use it for multiple projects, from installing wood paneling without nails to quickly filling in small drywall holes and cracks. Experts advise acrylic latex caulk is the best choice for baseboards.
For sealing a baseboard or any dry area you plan to paint after sealing, choose a GE-branded siliconized acrylic caulk, like GE Painter's Quick Dry caulk.
For interior baseboards, you're going to want to use a type of caulk that is durable, flexible, seals out water, and supports the room's aesthetics. We recommend using a latex-acrylic caulk with added silicone.
What Kind of Caulking Hardens? Concrete caulk dries hard. Additionally, polyurethane sealant cures fast and hard. When used for wood joints, it can then be sanded and painted.
Why does silicone sealant not work on concrete? Most silicones are acid curing, and these are not compatible with concrete which has an alkaline pH. For cement base surfaces and bricks a neutral curing acid-free silicone sealant should be used such as Bostik Build Silicone Sealant.
Concrete: For sealing gaps in concrete, a polyurethane caulk such as Sikaflex 1A Construction Sealant is a great choice. It's waterproof and flexible, making it ideal for use around windows, doors, and other penetrations.
Caulk is flexible enough to move with the surfaces it adheres to without cracking or breaking its seal. Depending on the conditions in your home, you'll need to re-caulk your baseboards every five years or so, but the benefits outweigh the time invested.
Among the most common sources of air leaks in a house are windows. As a result, windows are responsible for anywhere from 10 to 25 percent of the energy bill. Sealing windows with rope caulk limits the amount of drafts entering a home, which will ultimately lower the amount of money spent on the energy bill.
For indoor projects requiring paintable surfaces, such as sealing gaps around baseboards or trim, acrylic caulk is the preferred choice due to its ease of application and clean-up with water.
Applying new sealant over old caulking is never a good idea, even if it looks like the old caulk is still sticking to the wood. The old caulk should be removed for several reasons. If the caulk has lost some of its adhesion, it may have allowed moisture to seep in under it, possibly creating decay.
Semi-gloss finish: This is the best finish for your trims such as baseboards, mouldings and even cabinets and doors. It's also a good choice for highly trafficked area that gets lots of wear and tear such as a mudroom.
Mix warm water, dish soap, and white vinegar in a bucket. Dip a soft cloth in the cleaning solution and wipe away dust and surface dirt. Use a melamine sponge dipped in the mixture to scrub away stubborn buildup or stains.
What Color Caulk Should I Use for my Baseboards? The typical color for baseboards is white, as this creates a clean, attractive contrast and frame to the wall. If your baseboards are white, use white caulk as well. Make sure to use an indoor, paintable caulk with long-term elasticity.
Over time, traditional caulking products can break down and deteriorate, leaving areas in your bathroom susceptible to costly water damage. Flex Shot can last up to 30 years and will not fade, dry, crack, yellow, or deteriorate, making it an excellent choice for caulking your bathroom!
Simply separate a strand of the rope caulk and press the self-stick caulk into place with your fingertips. It is an excellent weather-sealing product and helps seal out drafts in small gaps, providing an easy caulking solution on doors and windows without mess. This product will not harden or dry out.
Pure silicone is more expensive than latex caulk, but it is highly durable. Silicone caulk stands up to extremes in temperature changes and can last up to 20 years when properly applied.
Apply painter's tape to the floor and/or wall parallel to the baseboard to ensure straight edges. Load the sealant into the caulking gun and cut the tip to the desired bead size with a utility knife. Apply the sealant starting at one corner. Apply an even bead along the joint.
A baseboard height that's approximately 7% of the wall height provides for a solid and definable base without being too big. The overall proportion of baseboard to wall height will be comfortable and pleasing. So in a room with a 9 foot high ceiling, a baseboard that's about 8 inches tall works.
Should You Caulk Baseboards? Caulking the bottoms of the baseboards does stop airflow but it also adds caulk to your flooring, which can be difficult to scrape off later on. Plus, it's a look that many homeowners don't like. One way to close this gap is to install quarter-round or shoe molding.
Polyurethane: Polyurethane caulk is suitable for interior and exterior projects. It is waterproof, flexible, and adheres to most surfaces. It is also paintable and remains flexible over time.
Quick answer: Don't caulk the weep holes, moving portions, or the tops of your windows.