![]() Polyurethane caulking is quite durable, but mostly suited for outdoor applications. ![]() Acrylic latex based caulks are not as benign, but very good for many purposes, and they are easily available. For those who are quite sensitive to the odors, look for caulks listed as 100% neutral-cure those are likely to have a shorter off-gassing period. To safeguard the air in your home when you’re working on the interior, look for water-based caulking whenever possible. Because the materials we build with move and flex, what we are often after with caulking is flexibility (which brings durability), and it is often the toxic elements in caulk that brings those characteristics. VOCs are released very slowly during curing, which presents a potential danger to indoor air quality. The pigments in caulking include extenders and plasticizers, and the resins contain solvents. The unfortunate reality is that ‘safe’ non-toxic caulking is often very difficult to source, while the most readily available caulking and sealing materials you will find at your local hardware store contain hazardous substances and share many of the same toxic components you’ll find in regular paints. Speaking of which – if you’re caulking, you’ll often be painting afterwards, so see here to find how to choose safe paints. External caulk application for a window installation, keeping this colored caulking application neat takes a steady hand And while you’re standing in a building store reading the smallprint and warnings on yet another caulk tube, that’s as good time a time as any to evaluate any interior caulking you may be looking at to see what sort of impact it may have on your indoor air quality. This is where reading the manufacturer’s suggested use is very important, as not all caulking substances will adhere to all surfaces. In case your grammar alarm is already going off because ‘caulking’ sounds like a verb and caulk a noun, be forewarned that we’re going to roll pretty loose with the terms because there is some wiggle room, and it's familiar ‘builder speak’:)Įxterior caulks need to be durable, but also compatible with the materials and conditions around them. Caulk is after all referred to as "scribing in a tube" on many a construction site. Caulking on the outside of a building should be seen as a secondary line of defense against moisture penetration, but it often has to compensate for the absence of ‘intelligent design’, especially in older buildings, or for a lack of skilfull trim cutting in newer buildings. ![]() The problem with air penetration in buildings goes beyond heated air escaping from a nice cozy house, or indeed hot air getting in - it's the potential for causing interstitial condensation within walls that causes hidden problems of wood rot and building decay in the exterior structure. What is caulking best for?Īs a general rule, exterior caulking prevents moisture penetration, while interior caulking prevents air penetration or transfer - reducing air leakage in a building. Watch our DIY how to install windows properly video to see more. Worth a note, we've experimented with caulk and with window and door sealing tape for installing windows in some of our previous green home projects and found not only was specialized joint tape cleaner, but it did a better job at air sealing. From what we've seen on construction sites, having some stuck on your clothes is also a recognized badge of honor for all those who build stuff! We are often asked which caulk is best for bathrooms and showers? Which caulk is best for wood? Which caulk is best for sealing windows? Well to start, different types of caulking and sealant can generally be divided into three categories: interior, exterior and ‘special purpose’ sealants depending on their applications and the budget. The category of ‘caulking and sealants’ comprise many different products, all of which – when applied properly – should stop the penetration of air, and / or water or water vapour. Hang on tight because discussing the various chemical compounds and other substances in caulking is riveting stuff! And here we go. Finding the right caulking, and better still finding non-toxic caulk for sealing windows or doors, first requires identifying the exact type you need, which means choosing the right caulking for different surfaces and substrates.
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