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Building materials of different types expand and contract differently. Over time, these movements can cause cracks at random in any part of your home: concrete foundations, brick, wood, flashing and roofing. If these cracks go ignored, they are certain to get larger as the years pass. Cracks provide an opening for air, water and insects. The best defense against these openings is to seal them with the proper caulking. As the home ages, caulk will take a beating from the weather. You can check your old caulking by poking the seal with a sharp object, like a screwdriver. If the caulking cracks or flakes, it should be scraped out and replaced. Where should you
caulk? The chimney cap and flashing -- there's usually a lot of expansion and contraction at these spots so choose your product carefully for flexibility and long life. Gaps between the chimney and the siding. Exterior walls where plumbing, electrical, or natural gas service enters the house. Siding corners. Anywhere where materials of different types meet. Doors and windows. Where the siding and foundation meet. Inside -- check caulking and grout around bathroom and kitchen fixtures and tile. This is a typical problem found during the course of a home inspection. Which caulk is right for the job SILICONE -- a common, multipurpose sealant that is safe for most applications. Silicone is a flexible sealant and can provide a water tight seal for up to 30 years. Silicone can be somewhat expensive compared to other sealants and it is usually not paintable.. BUTYL RUBBER -- durable for outdoors. Lasts up to 10 years. Stays flexible and is paintable. Primarily used for masonry or metal. LATEX -- not flexible and not recommended for exterior use or for building joints that are subjected to movement or expansion. Lasts about 5 years if painted. Best for interior use. SILICONIZED ACRYLIC -- a blend of acrylic and silicone is easy to use and clean up. Can last 20-30 years. URETHANE FOAM -- available in aerosol form, urethane foam expands to fill the crack or separation to form a complete seal but shrinks as it cures and is not flexible. Urethane is toxic and can also cause allergic reactions, care must be taken during use. Foam can also be messy to use and result in a somewhat sloppy job.
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