To Caulk or not to Caulk? The answer is Always.
Since my first post was about insulation I thought I’d follow up with a post on the use of caulk since both can have significant impact on the energy efficiency of your home. Caulk is not a very sexy topic but is important not only in new home construction or remodeling but in routine maintenance of your single largest investment – your home.
Prior to installing any insulation in a new home construction I send my guys in and caulk every door jam and every window jam from top to bottom. The goal is to close any gaps where wind can come in. It may take 50 – 60 tubes of caulk and three guys a half day in an average size 2,500 sq. ft. home. They are caulking any place where you can see daylight and closing any gaps to the exterior of the house which will save on heating and air conditioning bills in the long run.
The other day I had lunch with the e300 building inspector for Greenville, NC. The e300 program promotes energy efficiency by utilizing the most cost effective and energy efficient techniques in new home construction. He was telling me that the requirements are changing and now it is required to even caulk the wires in the back of receptacle boxes to keep the wind from getting into the wall. The point I am trying to make is that any opening no matter how small can lead to loss of heat and should be caulked.
Most people use fairly inexpensive latex caulk that is referred to as painters caulk. That caulk costs a contractor about $1.69 a tube. If it was my house and what I use for my customers is the $3.50 per tube 100% silicone caulk. Of course the type of caulk is dependent on the type of project but for the best results on new construction or external window and door maintenance I would highly recommend the silicone caulk.
Latex versus Silicone
Latex is easier to apply, can be painted and cleans easily with soap and water. Latex weakens and loses flexibility in direct sunlight and temperature extremes and is better suited for gaps that remain constant versus expand and contract. You can expect to get 5-10 years out of latex caulk dependent on the actual conditions.
100% silicone is more difficult to apply, requires mineral spirits to cleanup and cannot be painted. It is more flexible and durable than latex caulk and holds up in direct sunlight and temperature extremes that cause surfaces to expand and contract. Other benefits of silicone caulk are that it can be used to cover a 1 inch gap and can last over 20 years.
You now see siliconized latex or latex plus silicone products on the market but if the caulk will be used in high temperature conditions like sealing the attic space or outside walls then 100% silicone is best. Your goal is to select the product that will provide top level performance, last the longest and reduce the frequency or eliminate the need to redo the project.
If your brick home is more than a few years old and you would like to have those windows and doors re caulked then give me a call.
Tags: caulk, e300 program, energy efficiency, energy efficient, latex caulk, Save money on heating, save on heating costs, save on utilities, silicone caulk
