Curious About Norfolk County Caulking Services?

Norfolk County caulking services are probably something you don't think about too often—until the area around your window or bathtub is starting to look worse for wear. Then, the evident eyesore is all you can think about! Caulk is an important part of Norfolk County homes. It helps prevent wear and tear on other parts of your home by sealing gaps and inhibiting moisture from infiltrating drywall. For this reason, it's important to ensure all the sealed areas in your house are up-to-date, properly filled and regularly maintained. This means that when there is a problem, you need to hire caulking services to fix it right away.

Should you discover that the sealed areas of your house are starting to wear, put your trust in our expert service professionals to repair the damage or replace the old caulk right away. From small fixes to larger projects like redoing all the sealant in your bathroom, our team has it covered. Since sealant performs many important functions, it needs to be replaced as soon as it starts to deteriorate.

But when does caulk deteriorate? Is it always obvious when it needs replacing? What is it even made of? Can I do it myself? Most homeowners have many questions when it comes to this little known part of Norfolk County properties. Our Norfolk County handyman team can help by answering all your caulking service questions, and doing much more—including providing quality workmanship and putting your complete satisfaction first with every job.

This guide, which was put together by the pros at Mr. Handyman of Central - Eastern Norfolk County & S.Shore, will let you know more about Norfolk County caulking services, what kinds of sealant are available, and what to know about hiring the pros.

What are the Different Types of Caulk?

Modern sealant compounds can be made out of a wide variety of materials. While each is used to seal joints, seams and gaps to prevent air and water leakage, they're usually used for different purposes and materials. There is no one-size-fits-all solution! A few common varieties of sealant used in Norfolk County include:

Acrylic Latex Caulk

This is the most common variety of sealant used for Norfolk County caulking service. It is also known as painter's caulk. It's what you'd likely pick up in a hardware store for small projects, were you to do DIY caulking. Acrylic latex adheres well to a range of materials, including wood, drywall and masonry. It is meant to cover small holes and cracks, and can be painted over for a seamless finish. This material can only be used indoors.

Siliconized Acrylic Sealant

This variety combines the easy application of acrylic with the added durability of silicon—making it the best of both worlds, so to speak. It creates a water-tight seal and can be used in nearly every part of your Norfolk County homes, including on its exterior. However, it's more difficult to clean up than pure acrylic sealant and is trickier to use in amateur hands.

Pure Silicone

This variety is what's commonly used in bathrooms, especially around sinks and toilets. It is one of the most durable and water-tight sealants available on the market, and adheres very well to non-porous surfaces. When applied properly, it lasts for years. While pure silicone has many advantages, one of its disadvantages is that it does not adhere well to porous surfaces like drywall, masonry or wood. This sealant can be tricky to use on your own, so we suggest hiring professional Norfolk County caulking services from your local experts—such as the team at Mr. Handyman.

Vinyl Latex Caulk

This variety is similar to acrylic latex in that this type of sealant is easy to use, but what sets this material apart from other sealants is that it's incredibly durable and waterproof. This makes it ideal for outdoor use.

Acrylic Tile Sealant

If you need to temporarily patch holes and gaps between tiles in areas that are prone to mold and mildew, then this type of sealant is the best choice. Keep in mind this is only a temporary solution to a bigger problem. Eventually, you'll need to hire tile repair or tile installation services to fix the issue permanently.

Butyl Rubber

Commonly used on roofing, chimneys, gutters and foundations in Norfolk County, this variety is extremely durable, water-tight and flexible. It lasts for years without maintenance on a regular basis, and will prevent moisture damage by sealing up both commercial and residential buildings. However, butyl rubber is very messy to apply, so it should not be used indoors.

Asphalt

Similar to butyl rubber, one big difference between the two is that asphalt breaks down when exposed to sunlight. Thus, it is usually used to seal shingles and other areas in Norfolk County homes that are not exposed to the sun.

Adhesive Caulk

Adhesive sealants are also known as “liquid nails” because they are essentially a very strong glue. This material can hold two surfaces together while also providing sealing properties. As an added benefit, most adhesive sealants are mold and mildew resistant.

Fireproof Caulk

This material is used to prevent fires from spreading through a building. It is bright red, like a fire engine—which sets it apart from other types of caulking. It's usually installed at the same time that insulation is repaired or installed. Its job is to seal holes in a building where electrical and plumbing lines intersect.

Why Hire Professional Norfolk County Caulking Services?

All these different sealants have different uses and require professional skill to install properly. Although it looks easy—just squeeze it out of the can, right?—trying to do it yourself is time-consuming and messy. Caulking services take a practiced hand and significant skill to avoid making a mistake. And there is also a chance you might purchase the wrong variety, and wind up with an even bigger mess on your hands. That's why it's best to hire expert Norfolk County caulking services. Along with producing high-quality work, some of the benefits of hiring a professional Norfolk Caulking services include:

Properly Seal Gaps

The main goal of hiring Norfolk County caulking services is to seal gaps within and without your home that could otherwise lead to water and/or air leakage. Usually, where one material meets another there is a gap that needs to be filled. For example, sealant is used around shower heads, light fixtures, window frames, door frames, along crown molding and where your bathtub meets the wall.

Boost Energy Efficiency

When you have improperly sealed gaps in your Norfolk County home, it means that air is leaking in and out of your home. This is highly inefficient, and will force your HVAC system to work harder than it's supposed to. Subsequently, your utility bills will increase and the HVAC machine itself may break down sooner than usual.

Why do leaks put such a strain on our HVAC system? If leaks in your property are letting cold air in, you'll have to run your furnace longer to make up for the loss of heat. This results in a lot more energy being used to keep your home at the temperature set on your thermostat. Pay less on your energy bill and ensure your home is more energy efficient by sealing all the gaps and holes in your home with our local Norfolk County caulking services.

Where are the Most Common Areas for Air Leaks in Norfolk County Homes?

Many air leaks are located in common areas of the house—especially around windows and doors as these areas are more likely to let drafts in. Yet, there can be hidden air leaks in other areas that result in significant energy loss, such as in attics, basements and around chimneys. You should hire a caulking service to properly seal these areas and check for signs of damage.

Waterproof Safely

Air leaks are not the only thing to worry about when it comes to improperly sealed gaps. Where there are gaps, you're also exposing your home to the risk of moisture damage. Excess moisture causes the growth of mold, mildew and wood rot. Not only can these issues cause serious problems for your Norfolk County home's structural integrity, but many of these bacteria and fungi are also toxic to breathe in. Professional caulking services will ensure your home is well protected against moisture damage.

Where is the Most Common Area for Water Leaks in Norfolk County Homes?

The bathroom is one of the most common areas where water damage occurs because of improper sealing. Sealant runs along where your shower pan, tiling or bathtub meets the wall to prevent moisture from infiltrating into your subfloor and/or drywall. As sealant begins to age and deteriorate, there's a risk water may leak into these areas—resulting in serious damage.

Avoid Pest Infestations

Along with air and water, pesky pests can also sneak into your Norfolk County home through improperly sealed areas. Any gap in your exterior walls is a way for all kinds of critters in Norfolk County to set up shop in your house. A dangerous area for sealant to deteriorate is along gutters. Animals like rats and squirrels, and insects like mosquitoes and cockroaches, will infiltrate your home wherever your caulk has deteriorated.

Where in My House Do I Need Sealant?

It's important to hire Norfolk County caulking services to seal gaps, cracks, or joints in areas where you want to keep water, air and pests out in your home. A few of these areas include:

Chimneys
Basement rim joists (where the foundation meets the wood frame)
Where faucets or pipes meet the house
Cracks in the attic floor, walls and holes where air can penetrate from the outside
Windows and doors
Around air vents and ducts
Where electrical wiring and outlets, plumbing, recessed lighting, and phone or TV cables intersect with the wall
Leaks in gutters or cracks in flashing
Cracks in exterior siding or where two different materials meet, such as where the siding and chimney join
Kitchen sinks, faucets, backsplashes and countertops
Bathroom tubs, showers and backsplashes
Between crown molding, baseboards, chair rails and wallboard

Does Caulk Expire?

Yes. Like many other construction materials, most sealants will include a "best by" date near the bottom of the cartridge. If you find an old tube of caulk and you're not sure if it has gone bad, or the best by date has faded, you can run a quick test to check if it's still good. This test is only necessary for DIYers, as our team of Norfolk County handyman pros always use fresh caulk.

Pipe a small bead onto a piece of cardboard.
Wait 15 minutes.
Check that the sealant is forming a skin, which means it's curing.
If a skin doesn't form, it's too old for use.

How Often Should You Hire Norfolk County Caulking Services?

Generally, caulk lasts about five years. However, there are many factors that may speed up or slow down the rate at which sealant deteriorates. The best practice is to hire a professional caulking service to replace old sealant after five years or when you notice it deteriorating. Some of the factors that influence how long caulk last includes:

Type and quality of product
Condition of the surface it was applied to
Method of application
Humidity levels
Mold or mildew damage
Level of maintenance

Hire Our Team Today for Norfolk County Caulking Services!

Is your sealant more than five-years-old? Is it cracking and peeling, and you need a professional to replace it? Did you try to replace the caulk on your own, and made an even bigger mess? When you need expert Norfolk County caulking service, trust the experienced team at Mr. Handyman of Central - Eastern Norfolk County & S.Shore. We've helped numerous homeowners with a wide range of home improvement services across the Norfolk County area, including in Norwood and Marshfield.

To book an appointment today, we invite you to give our friendly customer service representatives a call at 508-465-2092 . We look forward to helping with your future home improvement needs!