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Caulking is used to seal joints, gaps and seams in exterior walls. Without
caulking, cool air, water and insects could enter your home through these
openings. All caulking compounds dry out over time. Check for cracked, loose
or missing caulking as part of your spring and autumn maintenance
inspections. Typically, your home should be re-caulked every five years or
less. Caulking around some areas may deteriorate sooner. Repair deteriorated
caulking as soon as it appears.
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Where to Inspect. You will find caulking where different surfaces meet.
These surfaces include the roof where one flashing meets another flashing,
where flashing and a roof or dormer surface meet and where a chimney, flue,
plumbing or electrical pipe, attic fan or skylight protrudes through the
roof surface.
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Caulking is found on exterior walls where siding and trim meet at corners,
around window and door frames, between badly fitting pieces of siding, where
pipes, framing members and other protrusions pass through siding, and where
siding meets the foundation, patio, deck or any other different part of your
home.
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Applying Caulking. Caulking is one of the simplest jobs a home owner can
perform. No special skills or expensive tools are required and it does not
consume much time. However, you must prepare the area to be caulked
properly. Begin by removing the old caulk. Then clean the area before
applying the new caulk. Different caulks have different uses and are to be
applied in different ways. Read the caulk manufacturer's instructions
carefully before applying the new caulk. |
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