Tricks of the Trade: Caulk is Cheap

Ever wonder how pros get such clean lines when they paint?  The answer is caulk!

This simple (and cheap) step will make the edge of your trim look like new and it will give you an even base to paint on.  If you try to paint a straight line on a wobbly surface, you're not going to have much luck.  Caulk smooths out all the rough spots and fills any gaps there might be between the trim and wall.  Learn to use it properly and you will be amazed by the results!

What you need:

Tube of interior latex caulk (35 year or more)

DRIPLESS caulk gun

utility knife

wet rag

Why does the caulk have "35 year" on it?  It's essentially a measure of quality.  I don't really believe the caulk will stay perfect for the next 35 years so I don't know why they label it this way.  I do know the higher the amount of years, the better quality the caulk.

Why do you need a dripless caulk gun?  Try using one that isn't labeled dripless... after you've stopped squeezing the trigger, caulk continues to ooze out onto you and everything else in sight.  Super frustrating.  Trust me.

Let's get started.  Wipe down your baseboards with the wet rag.  There will be dust and dirt there you'll want to remove before you apply the caulk.

Take your utility knife and cut the tip of your caulk on a 45 degree angle.  START SMALL!  You can always make the hole bigger if you need to.  There is a cutter thingy on the side of most caulk guns but chances are you'll accidentally make your hole too big if you use it.  At least I always do so I just use the utility knife.

Put the caulk in the gun and squeeze the handle a few times until you feel a little resistance and see a tiny amount of caulk come out.  Now you're ready!

Start in a corner.  Place the angled edge of the caulk tip along the baseboard so it just about lays flat against it.  Your caulk gun should be at about a 45 degree angle from the wall.  Squeeze the trigger until some caulk comes out and start moving along the baseboard.  You are trying to lay a small bead of caulk right in the crack.

Before the caulk starts to dry out (I'd say within 5 minutes) go back with your index finger and smooth out the bead of caulk.  Try your best to not leave a "lip" of caulk; you're going to want it to be as smooth and seamless as possible.

Now you see why I keep my nails short and unmanicured (besides the fact that I'm lazy).

Keep your rag nearby... there is going to be quite a bit of excess caulk on your finger that you're going to want to wipe off regularly.  I usually just wipe it on my painting pants.

This is how it looks when it's done.  Better, right?  Now you have a smooth, clean base to work with when you're painting.  Let it dry for at least a couple hours before you paint it.  I like to wait till the next day if I'm going to be putting tape over it.

Here is another before and after

before caulk

after caulk

What is this dangerous-looking thing for?

If your caulk dries out you stick this in the tip to open it back up when you're ready to use it again.  I've let caulk sit opened for months and it still stays "fresh"... a little bit at the end will dry up and seal off the good caulk inside.

Here's a before and after from pre-caulking to post-painting.

*I didn't paint the baseboards.  They aren't perfect, but they look a LOT cleaner all because of the caulk!

Now go caulk something!

Coming up in the Tricks of the Trade series:

• Tips and Tricks for Using Blue Tape
• Dustless Sanding
• Fixing Nail Pops and Other Wall Imperfections
• How to Roll a Wall Like a Pro
• Painting a Straight Line When You Cut In

 Follow along through your RSS feed, Facebook, Twitter or Email so you don't miss any of the series!  This post is linked up at a bunch of these parties.

Blessings,
Jamie
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