The Homeowners' Guide to Caulking Service in Keller

Texas homeowners tend to take a lot of pride in their homes and commercial business properties, and the residents of Keller, Roanoke, and other nearby parts of the Metroplex are certainly no exception. If you are looking for ways to improve your home’s appearance, function, and energy efficiency, you will likely need professional caulking services in Keller.

While caulking service is something every modern building needs, many people are fuzzy on the details of how it works. Why is it so important? Where does it need to be applied? Are there different kinds? And... what is it, exactly?

We have the answers to questions homeowners commonly ask about caulking services in Keller, along with expert advice from the team of Keller handyman professionals at Mr. Handyman of Keller, Roanoke, and Alliance. Our skilled technicians are highly experienced with caulking services in Keller and dozens of other helpful handyman services to repair, maintain, and improve your property.

What Is Caulk?

Sealant has been around for hundreds and hundreds of years—maybe even longer. In the past, a form of sealant made from materials such as hemp soaked in pine tar was used on ships to make them watertight, along with many other types of applications. Of course, the modern compounds we use nowadays are more advanced. It can be made from a wide range of materials, such as vinyl, polyurethane, acrylic, or silicone caulk. Overall, it is a flexible sealant compound packaged and sold in cylindrical cartridges or tubes.

What's the Difference Between Caulk and Caulking?

These two words are often used interchangeably, but they are not quite the same. In short, caulk is the substance that you apply, whereas caulking is the action of applying it.

Why Do I Need Caulking Service in Keller?

Your home or commercial property has sealant in numerous places for a variety of purposes. As great as it is, it doesn't last forever. Eventually, you will need a caulking service in Keller to replace damaged and deteriorated material that will not perform its functions well anymore. Or, you may need to have it added to places on your property that should have gotten caulking service but didn't.

Whether the service is for a brand-new installation or a replacement, it offers some big advantages for keeping your building preserved in excellent condition, keeping your utility bills manageable by increasing energy efficiency, and avoiding nasty insect infestations.

Seal Gaps

Think of all the places in your home with a small gap where two different types of materials meet. The chances are good that most of those gaps are sealed with caulk—or at least they should be. For example, the edge of the tile should be sealed up when it meets another type of material, such as drywall. The sealant prevents particles of dirt, unwanted moisture, and other substances or items from getting into places where they shouldn't be, like under your tile.

Waterproofing

Caulking Service in Keller goes a long way to help prevent costly water damage in bathrooms, kitchens, mudrooms, and other places in your house or commercial businesses that are vulnerable to water damage, such as window caulking. Don't forget the exterior of the building—caulking service is a critically important part of protecting your home against moisture from rain and sleet. It forms a watertight seal that keeps water incursion at bay in many places that are susceptible to damage from excess moisture. Anyone who has ever had to deal with the stress and expense of water damage mitigation will tell you it is well worth avoiding.

Save Money on Energy Costs

Energy loss occurs when there are gaps in your home or business building, such as around degraded window frames or door jambs, that let warm or cool air from your HVAC escape to the outdoors and let air draft in from the outside. That changes the temperature in your house and forces your HVAC system to operate much more frequently and for longer periods of time. Since your system has to use a lot of energy to keep your home at the temperature you have set on your thermostat, that additional operation can significantly increase the amount you have to pay for energy costs. By having those gaps sealed up with a caulking service in Keller, you can make your home a lot more energy efficient and save a considerable amount of money.

Prevent Pest Infestations

Home invaders spend a large portion of their lives trying to figure out how to get inside your house. No, not burglars—insects and rodents. Once pests like wasps, cockroaches, termites, rats, mice, and other intruders find a way into your cozy building, they will bring dozens of their disgusting little friends along with them, which makes your home less sanitary and comfortable for you. Window caulking, filling in gaps in siding, sealing up the edge of roof eaves, and many more exterior applications will help prevent pest infestations by blocking potential entry points.

What Parts of My Keller House Need Caulking Service?

Any part of your home where you want to prevent air movement in and out of the building or prevent water and dirt from getting into places where they don't belong could use a professional caulking service from your local Keller handyman. That includes locations such as:

• Edges of plumbing fixtures such as sinks, faucets, bathtubs, showers, and bathroom shower heads
• Places where tile meets another type of material such as drywall, or where two intersecting planes of tile meet
• Around recessed light fixtures, air vents, and duct registers
• Between wallboard and interior trim elements like crown molding, baseboards, chair rails, and wainscoting
• Inside window frames, door jambs, vents, and other places where the exterior shell of your home has an egress point
• Basement rim joists, where the foundation meets the wood framing of the house
• Cracks, gaps, and holes in your attic floor, walls, or ceiling can let in air drafts and cause heat loss
• Plumbing fixture plates where visible pipes under a fixture such as a sink enter the wall
• Electrical outlets, light switches, and places where cables for phone and internet service enter the wall
• Cracks and gaps in exterior siding, soffits, and fascia boards
• Places where two materials meet on the building's exterior, such as siding and exterior trim
• Leaks, cracks, and tiny holes in rain gutters or flashing

It's worth noting that this list is far from exhaustive. There are probably many more places on your property where residential caulking service was used. But it's not just for your home. Your business property needs commercial caulking service to stay in great condition and protected against moisture damage. Our experienced Keller handyman team has provided efficient, effective caulking service to many business owners and homeowners alike in Keller, TX, and nearby communities.

What Are the Different Types of Caulk?

We've come a long way from the days when caulking service involved a boiling vat of pine tar. Modern sealant compounds can be made from a wide variety of primarily synthetic materials. Different types need to be used for different purposes. Here are a few of the most common types of caulk:

• Acrylic Latex: The most common kind of sealant used in Texas homes and commercial properties, this is what you are likely to find in a hardware store for small projects. It is used to seal small holes and cracks in the interior of a building and can be painted over to conceal them.
• Vinyl Latex: Similar to the acrylic version for ease of use, it is waterproof and therefore suitable for use on the exterior of a building. It is also more durable than acrylic latex.
• Silicone: Commonly used for bathroom caulk around sinks, toilets, and other bathroom fixtures because it is the most durable and watertight option available for caulking service in Keller. It has powerful adhesive qualities on non-porous surfaces and can last for years if it is correctly applied by an experienced professional handyman.
• Adhesive Caulk: It’s an extremely strong glue that also has some sealing properties. This variety is for holding two surfaces together that need to form a firm sealant bond. For example, you can use it between crown molding or other types of exterior trim and the wallboard.

How Frequently Should Caulking Service Be Done?

It's difficult to say exactly how often your home needs caulking service because there are a number of factors at play that may influence how quickly it deteriorates. That said, the general rule of thumb is that it needs replacement every five years or so. Some of the factors that can affect it are:

• Type of caulk
• Product Quality
• Condition of the surface it was applied to
• Application method
• Level of exposure to moisture
• Humidity levels, both climate-wise and in that specific room
• How much maintenance and cleaning it has received

Can a Tube of Caulk Expire?

Some types can expire in the package (before it has been applied and cured). Check for a "best by" date on the package to see if it is still recommended for use. You can also check it yourself to see if it is still useable by following these steps:

1. Squeeze out a small bead onto a piece of cardboard or paper plate.
2. Give it 15 minutes to sit.
3. Check the bead for signs of forming a "skin," which is part of the curing process. If it remains wet and goopy, it is too old and should be thrown out.

Alternatively, you can count on our handyman professionals to arrive with the tools, equipment, and fresh materials they need to get the job done correctly and efficiently.

How Do You Make Caulking Lines Look Good?

This may not be the answer you are looking for, but it takes a lot of practice. The caulking service looks pretty simple: just squeeze it out of the tube like toothpaste. But it is surprisingly difficult to get a smooth bead that is just the right size and keep it consistent while applying it in a perfectly even line. That is why you can save a lot of time and stress by leaving it to a skilled professional like the experts on our team. We'll get the job done right the first time, and we can knock a few more nagging repairs or maintenance tasks off your to-do list while we're at it.

How Do You Fix Sealant Mistakes?

If you’ve had bad caulking service in the past, or you gave it a try yourself, and it didn't work out quite like you were envisioning, don't worry. You can probably get it off pretty easily and try again, or just let us take care of the removal and reapplication for you so you can sit back and relax.

If it is not acrylic and was just applied to your house interior recently, you may be able to get it removed by soaking it with some damp rags and then just finding an edge and gently peeling it off. But if it has been cured for a long time or just isn't coming up, it will need to be scraped off with a scraper tool or treated with dissolving chemicals (make sure to follow manufacturer instructions carefully).

Does Your Property Need Caulking Service? Call Your Local Keller Handyman!

Whether you are in Keller or another nearby part of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, such as Trophy Club or Roanoke, you can rely on the team of residential and commercial caulking experts at Mr. Handyman of Keller, Roanoke, and Alliance. We take pride in consistently delivering high-quality work on minor repairs like caulking and larger projects like bathroom remodel.

Pick up the phone and contact us today to schedule a convenient appointment time or chat with our knowledgeable customer service representatives about how our handyman services can make your home more livable.