Preparation for Sealing and Caulking

A caulking gun.

It is important to remember to clean out the old caulk on and in the surfaces where you will be re-applying new caulk. Traces of dirt, paint, oil, and old caulk left behind will only lead to problems later on. Use foam backer rod in joints that are 1/4" or wider to get better results and to save money. For those joints that are under heavy stress, such as in swimming pools, also think about using a primer.

Removal and Cleaning

Good surface and joint preparation is the real beginning of a professional and long-lasting caulking job, whether replacing old caulk or sealing a new joint for the first time. By using a putty knife, painter's 5-in-1 tool or another similar tool, remove all of the old caulk in the joint. A heat gun can be used to soften old caulk and loosen paint to make removal easier, or a 3M Indoor/Outdoor caulk-remover can also help remove all types of old caulk.

The surface needs to be completely free, old caulk, peeling paint, weathered wood fibers, grease, oil, wax, dirt, rust, frost, and moisture. A wire brush works well to remove contaminants, and a drill-mounted wire wheel is often the best answer for cleaning dirty, unsound concrete. To remove some contaminants like oil or grease, it may be necessary to wipe the joint down with a solvent-laden rag, letting the solvent completely evaporate before caulking. Remember, the best caulk in the world won't work if it is applied to a dirty or unsound surface.

Backer Rod

If the joint or crack to be sealed is 1/4" wide or wider, it is best to install a foam backer rod in the joint — to the proper depth — before applying the caulk.

Reasons to Use a Backer Rod

It saves money. A backer rod is generally cheaper than a good quality caulking compound, and most of the joint can be filled with the backer rod before the actual sealant is installed.

It provides a "bond-breaking" surface at the rear of the joint or crack that pre It provides the means to form an "hourglass" cross-sectional shape to the bead of sealant. This geometric shape allows the sealant to handle the inevitable joint movement much more easily than any other configuration. The reason: Large surface areas of adhesion are established at the sides of the joint, while a relatively thin cross-section of sealant is left in the center of the joint to allow for easy flexing.

It provides a "bond-breaking" surface at the rear of the joint or crack that prevents the sealant from establishing three-point adhesion which, if allowed to occur, can lead to early failure.

It allows for additional pressure to be applied to the sealant during the "tooling" process, which further favors more sealant being forced into intimate contact with the sides of the joint for better adhesion.

Tips

A backer rod is easily installed in joints by simply pressing the material into the recess to a depth that will allow the thickness of the sealant to be approximately 1/2 that of the width of the joint. It can be installed just by pressing it into place with a finger or an appropriately sized tool. If you are using a closed-cell backer rod, it is important to avoid damaging the surface of the rod (such as with holes or nicks) because wherever such damage occurs there is a risk of "out-gassing" from the backer rod and forming blisters in the sealant.

Note: An open-cell backer rod does not have this problem, but it has a much greater tendency to absorb water and hold it with potentially very negative effects on the sealant if the integrity of the sealant is breached at a later date.

Apply masking tape to both sides of the joint before caulking to prevent smearing on the exposed surfaces adjacent to the joint.

Primers

If the joint or crack is in an area that will be subjected to particularly difficult stress, such as continual water submersion at the bottom of a swimming pool, it is important to use a primer before caulking. Primers are supplied by commercial caulking distributors for such special applications.