Your Questions About Frisco Caulking Service Answered

Frisco caulking service is probably something you don't give too much thought to. You've likely seen caulk lining your bathtub or window frames, but beyond that it's simply part of your home. The truth is, it's also a highly important part of your home—as we'll dive into. Thus, it's important to ensure all the sealed areas in your house are up-to-date, properly filled and regularly maintained.

Should you discover that the caulked areas of your house are starting to wear, it's important that you hire a Frisco caulking service as soon as possible. Since sealant performs many important functions—such as stopping air from leaking into your home or insects from infiltrating your space—it needs to be replaced as soon as it starts to deteriorate.

But when does caulk deteriorate? And what is it even made out of? Can I put it anywhere in my home? Our Frisco handyman team has all your answers to Frisco caulking service questions, and much more. Put together by the pros at Mr. Handyman of Frisco, this guide will give you further insight into Frisco caulking services, the various types of sealant available, and what to know about this important—if little noticed—part of any home.

What are the Different Types of Caulk?

Modern sealant compounds can be made out of a wide variety of materials. Each is used to seal joints and seams against leakage. Found throughout Frisco homes, modern sealant is primarily made out of synthetic materials. Back in the day, however, it was commonly made out of fibrous materials like hemp and pushed in between gaps between wooden ship boards. Different kinds of caulk are used for different purposes, as we have outlined below. Rest assured that when you hire Frisco caulking services from our team, we will use the right sealant for the job.

Acrylic Latex Caulk

Also known as painter's caulk, this is the most common variety of sealant used for Frisco caulking service and what you'd likely pick up in a hardware store for small projects. It adheres well to wood, drywall, and masonry and is meant to cover small holes and cracks. Designed for interior use only, it can be painted over for a seamless finish.

Vinyl Latex Caulk

Similar to acrylic latex in ease of use, what sets vinyl latex apart is that it's much more durable. Also, unlike acrylic latex sealant, it is waterproof—making it suitable for outdoor use.

Acrylic Tile Sealant

This variety is useful for temporarily patching holes and gaps between tiles in areas that are prone to mold and mildew. Keep in mind that a more durable option should be used to permanently seal the tile.

Siliconized Acrylic Sealant

This type combines the easy application of acrylic with the added durability of silicon—making it an ideal combination of the two materials. While it's more difficult to clean up than pure acrylic sealant, it provides a water-tight seal and is appropriate to use in more areas within and without Frisco homes.

Pure Silicone

One of the most durable and water-tight sealants available on the market, this variety is what's commonly used in bathrooms—especially around sinks and toilets. It adheres very well to non-porous surfaces and lasts for years when applied properly. To make the most out of this sealant, and any sealant, it's important to hire professional Frisco caulking services from an expert local handyman service.

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. Despite its strength, its usefulness is limited to certain surfaces.

Adhesive Caulk

An extremely strong glue, adhesive sealants are also known as "liquid nails." This material is meant to hold two surfaces together while also providing sealing properties. As an added benefit, most adhesive sealants are mold and mildew resistant.

Butyl Rubber

Extremely durable, water-tight, and flexible, butyl rubber is commonly used on roofing, chimneys, gutters, and foundations. It lasts for years without maintenance, and will seal up a commercial or residential building against water infiltration. That said, butyl rubber is very messy to apply–one of the reasons why it's not often used indoors.

Asphalt

Although this material is similar to butyl rubber, one big difference is that asphalt does not do well when exposed to sunlight. For this reason, it is usually used to seal shingles and other areas with minimal sunlight exposure.

Fireproof Caulk

Bright red like a fire engine, this material is used to prevent fires from spreading through a building. It's usually installed at the same time that insulation is repaired or installed to seal holes in a building where electrical and plumbing lines intersect.

Why Hire Professional Frisco Caulking Services?

All these different sealants have different uses and require professional skill to install properly. Trying to do it yourself can be time-consuming and messy—there is also a chance you might use the wrong type of sealant. That's why it's best to hire expert Frisco caulking services. There are numerous benefits to hiring professionals to handle your Frisco caulking service needs, including those listed below.

Seal Gaps

The main goal—and benefit—of Frisco caulking service is to seal the many gaps that exist within and without your home. Usually, where one material meets another there is a gap that needs to be filled. For instance, around light fixtures, shower heads, where tiles meet the wall, around window and door frames, and along crown molding.

Waterproof Areas

Where there are gaps, there is a risk of water intrusion that could lead to serious damage. Excess moisture causes the growth of mold, mildew, and wood rot—which can cause serious problems for your Frisco home's structural integrity. Not to mention, many of these bacteria and fungi can pose serious health problems.

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

A common area where water damage occurs because of improper sealing is in the bathroom. Sealant runs along where your shower pan, tiling, or bathtub meets the wall. This region is vulnerable to water infiltration. As sealant begins to age and deteriorate, there's a risk water may leak behind your tiling or bathtub. This could make the supporting drywall or subfloor less structurally sound.

Avoid Pest Infestations

Your home is a paradise to insects and rodents looking for a warm, cozy place to make their home. Sealant can help deter these unwelcome critters from getting inside. Any gap in your exterior walls is an invitation for all manner of creatures in Frisco. A dangerous area for sealant to deteriorate is along gutters. Animals like rats and squirrels and insects like mosquitoes and cockroaches will happily find a way through caulk that's worn out.

Boost Energy Efficiency

Sealing gaps and holes is an important way to mitigate air leaks in your Frisco home. Leaks are inefficient and force your HVAC system to work harder than it's built too. For instance, 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 significantly more energy being used to keep your home at a comfortable temperature. Heating and cooling costs can get very expensive. Not to mention, the wear on your HVAC system may cause it to break down. By sealing all the gaps and holes in your home with our local Frisco caulking services, you pay less on your energy bill and ensure your home is more energy efficient.

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

Many air leaks are located in common areas of the house—especially around windows and doors as these regions are more exposed to the outdoors. Yet, hidden air leaks in attics, basements, and around chimneys can also be significant sources of energy loss. You should consider hiring a caulking service to add protection in all of those areas.

Where in My House Do I Need Caulking Service?

It's important to hire Frisco caulking services to seal gaps, cracks, or joints in areas where you want to keep water and/or air out in your home. Some common areas where sealant is needed in the home include:

• Kitchen sinks, faucets, backsplashes, and countertops
• Bathroom tubs, showers, and backsplashes
• Between crown molding, baseboards, chair rails, and wallboard
• Cracks in the attic floor, walls, and holes where air can penetrate from the outside
• Windows and doors
• Chimneys
• Basement rim joists (where the foundation meets the wood frame)
• Where faucets or pipes meet the house
• Cracks in exterior siding or where two different materials meet, such as where the siding and chimney join
• 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

How Often Should You Get Frisco Caulking Services?

While there are many factors that may speed up or slow down the rate at which sealant deteriorates in Frisco, usually caulk lasts about five years. After this time, we suggest hiring a professional caulking service to replace it, otherwise you risk a range of damage occurring in your home. Some of the factors that influence how long caulk lasts includes:

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

Does Sealant Expire?

Some sealants will include a "best by" date near the bottom of the cartridge. That way, you can see if the material is still safe to use. Alternatively, if the best by date has faded or the package doesn't include one, you can run a quick test to check if it's still good:

1. Pipe a small bead onto a piece of cardboard.
2. Wait 15 minutes.
3. Check that the sealant is forming a skin, illustrating that it is curing. If it doesn't do this, it's too old for use.

Keep in mind that when you hire our professional Frisco caulking service, you can trust that our team of experts will use fresh products and the best tools to get the job done right the first time.

How Do You Fix Caulking Mistakes?

Bad caulking is an eyesore and could lead to problems inside your home. If you made a poor choice in the handyman you hired or tried using sealant yourself and it didn't quite work out the way you envisioned, don't worry. Caulk isn't permanent, and even the most atrocious mistakes can be repaired.

There are two ways to remove bad caulking. If the product used is not acrylic and was freshly applied, you may be able to use a damp rag to soften the material and gently peel it off. Alternatively, many types of interior sealant can be scraped off with needle nose pliers or a caulk removal tool. If you'd rather not risk something else going wrong, put your trust in the experts at Mr. Handyman of Frisco. Our team of friendly and hardworking technicians have years of experience working in a wide range of trades and possess the skills, knowledge, and tools to ensure you get the best results possible.

Need Frisco Caulking Service? Hire Our Team Today!

Are you worried your sealant is more than five-years-old? Or perhaps it's looking a little worse for wear and you'd like a professional to replace it on your behalf. When you need expert Frisco caulking service, trust the experienced team at Mr. Handyman of Frisco. We've helped numerous homeowners with their sealant needs—as well as a wide range of other home improvement services—across the Frisco area. That includes Prosper, Lake Dallas, and more nearby areas.

To book an appointment today, we invite you to give our friendly customer service representatives a call. We look forward to hearing from you and helping with your future Frisco home improvement needs!