Caulking is regarded as one of the best ways when it comes to maintaining bathrooms, kitchens, as well as other household areas & keeping them clean and damage-free for a longer period of time. Caulk is mostly used to fill cracks as well as seal joints on every side of the windows, doors, plumbing, siding, and fixtures. This will, in turn, help prevent air, water, dust, or other materials from entering and gaining access to seals, and keeps things tight. Caulk is one of the best waterproof sealant materials that fill the joints betwixt different materials in the home. It is used for both new construction as well as repairs.
Step By Step Instruction Of Installing Caulk On Countertops
Caulks are generally composed of a flexible polymer. Some of the important types of caulk include latex, rubber, acrylic, and silicon. Caulk is fully waterproof, which as result can expand with temperature changes, as well as will function as a cushion by absorbing vibrations. In order to install caulking on countertops, go through the below-mentioned steps carefully & achieve your desired result:
- First of all, buy silicone or elastomeric caulk for a countertop, due to the reason, that both these products are water-resistant. Select a clear product or one that perfectly matches the color of the countertop.
- Now, take out the plunger from a caulking gun all the way back and then insert a tube of the selected product. Firmly press the trigger a few times in order to advance the plunger and then hold the tube in place.
- Next, trim the tip of the tube with the help of a utility knife. The tip is diminished or reduced in thickness towards one end, therefore, the farther you trim from the end, the larger the hole will be. It means the hole should be of the same size as the gap you need to fill, however, if the gaps are irregular, then find a medium size that will fill the wide ones without bringing into existence too much excess on the narrow ones. Drill the seal inside the tube with the help of a long screw or nail.
- Squeeze the trigger over and over again as long as the caulk is visible inside the tip. Take hold of the gun at a 45-degree angle with the tip nearly touching the gap and squeeze again in order to make caulk come out. Once it begins to emerge, move the gun gently along the gap. The bead is very easy to control if you move the gun toward you.
- After that, slow down the pressure-relief lever next to the trigger as soon as you reach the end of the bead, then push the tip away and cover it immediately using a rag. The material will become apparent even after you release pressure, and using the rag will help keep it off the countertop. No-drip kind of caulking gun has a notched rod that permits you to ease out the pressure on the plunger by turning the rod. Keep a rag handy even when you use this type of gun due to the reason that the flow of material doesn't stop immediately.
- Finally, smoothen the bead by running your finger along with it, which is known as tooling, and in spite of the fact that you can also do it using a rounded plastic tool made for the job, your finger can control it much easier. Clean excess caulk from your finger regularly with a rag and clean your finger using acetone when the job is done.