#CRACK BEAD TOOL 4 PRO#
#CRACK BEAD TOOL 4 PROFESSIONAL#
#CRACK BEAD TOOL 4 WINDOWS#

Simply attach strips of painterвЂ™s tape along both edges of the seam, approximately 1/8вЂќ away from the seam itself. If your hands are shaky or you just canвЂ™t seem to move the caulking gun smoothly enough to run a uniform bead, you can still obtain good results by taping off the seam with painterвЂ™s tape. DO tape off your seams if you canвЂ™t run a smooth bead. It takes caulk a couple of hours to start drying, so you should have ample time to smooth in this manner.

#CRACK BEAD TOOL 4 PROFESSIONAL#

Smoothing just a small section at a time will give you a professional look and prevent a mess of excess caulk on the sides of the seam. Amateurs often try to smooth the entire bead at one time, which causes excess caulk to build up and overflow on the sides of the seam.

Then, move up another six inches and smooth that section next, pulling downward toward the section you just smoothed. The best way to smooth the bead is to start about six inches from the bottom and smooth that small section first.

#CRACK BEAD TOOL 4 PRO#

Photo: G Taylor DONвЂ™T smooth the bead of caulk all the way from one end to the other.ДЄfter running the bead, youвЂ™ll want to smooth it, either with a wet finger or caulk applicator, such HYDEвЂ™s Caulk-Rite Pro Application Tool (available from Amazon). This will allow you to maintain a steady hand position, which will result in a uniform bead. Then, start at the other end and caulk to meet the first bead. Rather, caulk from one end to the middle of the seam and stop. DONвЂ™T run a continuous bead from the top to the bottom or from one side to the other.Д«y the time you reach the end of the bead, youвЂ™ll have to change your grip on the caulk gun, which will affect the uniformity of the bead. Bending your wrists would alter the angle of the caulking gun, changing the appearance of the bead. For example, if caulking a vertical seam, start at the top and as you progress downward, bend your elbows-or knees-to caulk lower while maintaining your wrist position. Also be sure to keep your wrists straight, moving your elbows and body when running a bead.

Use your dominant hand to hold the gun and pull the trigger, and support the barrel of the gun near the tip with your other hand. It takes two hands to control a caulking gun. Scrape off the old caulk with a steel putty knife, such as HYDEвЂ™s 1-1/2вЂќ Flexible Stainless Putty Knife (available from Amazon). The old caulk will continue to pull away, taking the new caulk off with it-and before that happens youвЂ™ll be faced with a thick, messy caulk line that detracts from the look of the window. If the existing caulk has hardened and is pulling away, running a bead over it is sure to be an exercise in futility. General Electric Max Flex Acrylic Urethane Caulk (available from Amazon) is a solid option for these types of uses.

#CRACK BEAD TOOL 4 WINDOWS#

Masonry siding: When caulking seams between windows and masonry siding, including basement windows and windows on stucco or brick homes, youвЂ™ll need an exterior caulk thatвЂ™s compatible with both the window and the masonry surface.

Kwik Seal Ultra (from The Home Depot) works well in steamy situations.

Humid rooms: Caulking windows in a room with high humidity, such as a bathroom, calls for interior caulk thatвЂ™s both waterproof and mold-resistant.

High quality, paintable latex, such as White LightningвЂ™s PainterвЂ™s Preferred Acrylic Latex Caulk (available from Amazon), is a good choice for interior windows.

Interior windows: Caulk used on interior windows should not emit toxic fumes, and it should hold paint well.

The tube of caulk should specify itвЂ™s intended for exterior surfaces we like Sashco Big Stretch Caulk (available from Amazon).

Exterior windows: To stand up to the elements, exterior caulk should be impervious to harsh sun rays, water, and fluctuating temperatures.

YouвЂ™ll find dozens of types of caulk at your local home improvement store, and each type is intended for a specific situation.

RELATED: 10 Problems You Can Solve with Caulk DO choose the correct caulk. Keep reading to learn the techniques so you can caulk like a pro. вЂњRunning a bead,вЂќ as the process of caulking is known, requires applying a long, narrow strip along the entire length of the seam-and it takes a degree of skill. Caulk is not a design element it should blend in with the window and be unnoticeable. But if done incorrectly, it can lend a sloppy, amateurish look. Caulking windows-to give them a finished look (inside and out) and seal out leaks and drafts-is a fairly common DIY task.

Crack bead tool 4