Sometimes known as acrylic latex caulk, this type is best for use with drywall, wood and masonry. It's often called "painter's caulk." This caulk is inexpensive, easy to use, seals well without odors and cleans up easily with water.
On the other hand, caulk is terrible for filling nail holes and other holes in wood because over time it will shrink and cause a divot. And wood filler is a terrible choice for filling gaps in trim – it would take forever to apply and sand. But either one in the right situation can be magical!
However, it is important to be aware that silicone caulk is almost never the right choice for wood. If you are looking to seal wooden joints such as those around many types of windows, here are the problems you will face if you opt to use silicone caulk instead of other options like vinyl latex caulk.
If you have a wood element (painted or not) in your house silicone should never be applied there either. Most any other application is usually fine for silicone caulk though I use it sparingly.
Perhaps the most common type of caulk you will encounter is latex caulk, sometimes called acrylic latex. It adheres well to wood, stone and drywall, which makes it ideal for interior uses.
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.
Painter's caulk adheres to wood, drywall, masonry, and other surfaces. And because it dries to a paintable texture in about an hour, it's a good choice for busy DIYers.
Acrylic latex exterior caulk is a popular choice for many materials, including metal, wood, and tile, and comes at a decent price. However, like latex caulk, it will shrink during the curing process and doesn't expand or contract in response to temperature change.
There are no guarantees with silicone - it is almost impossible to remove. If the silicone has migrated into the wood through cracks in the old finish, you may not be able to get it all removed.
Sealing joints on a damp surface should be strongly avoided, since silicone sealants generally do not adhere as well to moist substrates. If you want durable joints, never apply sealant in rain, freezing rain, snow or heavy fog.
Best Caulk for Wood: DAP Alex Plus Acrylic Latex Caulk. There are several different kinds of caulk on the market and some are better for furniture than others. For wood furniture, I like to use Dap Alex Plus Acrylic Latex Caulk because it is waterproof but also dries pretty fast on the wood surface.
Flex Seal can be used on almost every surface: wood, metal, tile, concrete, masonry, fabric, glass, plastic, aluminum, porcelain, drywall, rubber, cement, and vinyl. Plus, it won't sag or drip in the summer heat, and it won't crack or peel in the winter cold.
Use white caulk to seal up gaps and cracks in materials around the home, such as wood trim, door and window frames, tiles on backsplashes and in the shower, around the sink, and more. It will help to prevent water leakage and damage, as well as increase the insulation levels in your home.
Wood doesn't always sit flush when installed, and it will wear out over time, causing cracks and gaps. In most cases, the solution to fixing these gaps is using a wood caulk to create seamless, safe, and secure structures.
The polyurethane caulk can be used on plastic, concrete, wood, metal, and glass. It also adheres very well to vinyl siding, aluminum siding and brick. The only thing you should be careful with is polycarbonate plastic.
Acrylic Latex Caulk *Plus Silicone - In my opinion this is the minimum standard of sealant that should be used for interior painting project applications such as the joints where baseboards, door & window casings, and crown moldings meet the walls.
There are three types of clear topcoats used to seal natural wood or bleached furniture – polyurethane, polycrylic, and wax finishes. Each type of clear coat has different pros, cons, and projects that it's best suited for. Polyurethane is available in oil-based and water-based finishes.
You can't caulk with silicone when a surface is wet or damp, and it can be hard to ensure that porous materials like wood are truly bone-dry when they often retain moisture for long periods of time.
Certain places on the exterior of the home should not be caulked, since they'll cut off openings needed for air circulation or drainage. Elegant Painting says these spaces include the gap created when trim boards sit atop the siding, any wood to metal joints, weep holes on windows, and garage door panels.
Since wood putty is oil-based, it's moisture resistant and won't expand and contract the same way wood filler does. Use it in bathrooms, kitchens, and other places with high humidity. But because you can't paint or stain wood putty, you'll need to find a putty that matches the finish of the wood you're fixing.
For larger holes, you can try mixing sawdust or wood shavings to create a paste. This paste can then be applied to the hole and smoothed out with a putty knife.