What to Use to Smooth Exterior Caulk Bead
In the event the task is completed hastily or without appropriate preparation and attention, employing caulk on the exterior of your house can be a real mess. Each one the old caulk has to be eliminated before applying new caulk. The use of an oscillating tool with a flexible scratching blade works nicely for this particular task. Caulk is runny, sticky along with also the substance dries at different rates depending on temperature and humidity. Once the caulk is applied, it has to be smoothed into the joint or crack, or it might run dry or out unevenly.
Finger
The ideal tool for smoothing over caulk is also the easiest: your own finger. The most important thing to keep in mind when smoothing caulk with your finger would be the fact that it is very tacky; if you just stick your finger in there, then you are likely to pull out all the caulk as it sticks to your skin. You need to wet your finger . Dip it in a small cup of water before smoothing. You can even wrap a thin, damp paper towel around the tip of the finger before smoothing. The water will ensure that the caulk adheres to the surface to which you implemented it and not to skin.
Tools
Additionally, there are lots of specialist tools you can use to smooth caulk. If you are experiencing trouble with excess caulk around the edges of your application area, a jointing spatula will permit you to scratch the surface around the caulked joint without gouging out the caulk itself. You can even use a jointing tool, which will smooth caulk just like your own finger. The jointing tool will also create a small trench from the caulk, setting it slightly below the surrounding area, like the mortar lines in a brick wall. You need to also wet these tools before using them to make cleanup off caulk simpler, or to prevent caulk from clinging to them to start with.
Other Objects
If you do not want to receive your finger wet and dirty and do not possess a professional tool available, you can turn any flat or convex item into a smoothing tool. Consider using Popsicle sticks, butter knife, the advantages of soup spoons or cooking spatulas to do the job. Again, make sure to wet the surface . If you discover caulk sticking to any surface you are using, try wetting it down with warm water mixed with dish detergent to get a more slippery surface.
Tips
Regardless of what you use to smooth your exterior caulk, follow a few basic steps to ensure a secure hold. Always smooth the caulk in exactly the exact same direction which you are employing the caulk. Smooth towards regions to which you haven’t yet applied caulk. Smoothing back towards the caulked area is only going to cause bumps and ridges which will make an irregular caulking surface.