DIYers out there all know how effective home weatherization can be for energy savings. In fact, energy conservation saves homeowners up to 14% on their home energy bills each year. One of the top tricks of the DIY trade for home energy conservation is understanding how to caulk all of those ducts, window panes and other escape routes for your home’s heat and cold each season.
But if done wrong, caulking can be a complete waste of time, energy and money. We have laid out here some of the top mistakes people make when caulking their homes. Some of these, you may be making every year.
Steer clear of these caulking flubs when sealing up your home’s energy “envelope.”
Selecting the Wrong Caulking Material: Because it’s most resilient, waterproof and resists cracking an shrinking, 100% silicone caulk is the best caulk for your home’s energy envelope.
Acrylic caulk can crack or shrink and if the happens, water can leak, causing damage to the structure of your home in countless ways.
Caulking Over Old Caulk: First of all, gross. Second of all, really gross! Caulking over old caulk is just lazy DIY. Plus, you simply cover any mold or mildew, which is never good for your home. Using an exacto knife or razor, strip away the old caulk and wash the area with alcohol or a bleach solution (allowing to dry) before laying down and new bead of caulk.
Not Properly Sizing Your Bead: Caulk comes out in what’s known as a bead. The size of your bead will be determined by the size of the cut you make on the caulking tube. Tailor the size of your cut to the area you’re caulking so that you don’t end up with a giant mess on your hands when you only need a small, thin bead to do the job.
The post Pitfalls to Avoid When Caulking – Part 1 appeared first on Punch List.
