Before you even open a can of paint, make sure you’ve sealed all the gaps with paintable sealant. It will protect your home and give you a highly professional look.
If you have a painting job to do around the house, make sure to pick up some paintable sealant. Many people don’t realize how important it is for both protection and the quality of the job.
Before painting, you should use interior paintable sealant to bridge the gap between the trim work and the wall. This would include baseboards, window and door mouldings, and crown moulding. Unfortunately, some people fail to use it. As a result, you will see the gap between the wood and the wall, leaving an unfinished appearance.
Paintable waterproof sealants are even more important in areas like the kitchen and bath, where water might find its way into these cracks. If it does, it will eventually cause mould and rotten wood. Be sure to use a paintable silicone sealant around sinks and bathtubs to protect the underlying wood.
It’s easy to apply. Just follow these steps:
- Clean the area to be sealed with a household cleaner.
- Place the tube of paintable sealant into your caulk gun and cut the end of the tube.
- Using even pressure, squeeze a bead of sealant along the seam or crack to be filled.
- Smooth the sealant with a caulking tool or a damp, gloved finger.
- Allow the sealant to dry thoroughly before use.
Using outdoor paintable sealant is just as crucial for exterior painting jobs. Seal around windows, doors, and anywhere there is exterior trim work. Areas where water, cold air, or insects might enter should be protected with an exterior sealant.
Take time to periodically look for any cracks that may be forming at the foundation, thresholds, and around the entry places of service wiring and pipes. These can develop over time and will allow the weather to chip away at your home. Be proactive and seal them up.
The procedure is the same as with interior sealants; just make sure you use an outdoor paintable sealant for anything exposed to the weather.
The best sealants are waterproof, stay flexible, and have good adhesion to the underlying materials. Pure silicone is excellent for its water resistance and flexibility but is not paintable. If you need to paint the sealant, choose a blend, often labelled paintable silicone sealant.
At times, you may find gaps on the exterior of your home that require a bit more than a sealant, such as a large gap between brick and wood trim or a crack in the foundation. Give Loctite Epoxy Metal/Concrete a try. It produces a rigid and lasting bond to metal, glass, concrete, and stone and is perfect for filling gaps in broken concrete, sealing electrical components as they enter the wall or mending a loose metal fence.
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