Is there a difference between doing something and doing it well? Certainly! For example, you could put eggs, olives and marshmallows in a pot and say you cooked… But would you have cooked well? No, not by our standards!
In the field of extermination, one of the things that must not only be done, but done right, is caulking. We’ve talked about this before, including in the article 4 Reasons to Caulk Your Home, but this time we’ll focus on why it’s so important to properly caulk your home.
How long does caulking last when done properly?
If done properly, caulking in a home can have a life expectancy of 10 to 25 years (with occasional touch-ups). That’s impressive! But what about caulking that has simply been done, without regard to quality? Obviously, the work will have to be redone much more quickly! Poorly done caulking may not even last through the next change of season…
How to properly caulk your home?
Like a recipe, caulking involves several steps that must be done properly. Here are 2 best practices to keep in mind when caulking your home:
- To properly caulk your home, you need the right tools! You should have a good heat gun, a good caulking gun and a good sealant. If you don’t know which tools and products to buy, don’t hesitate to contact us! Our experts will certainly help you make the right choices.
- If your home has been caulked in the past, you cannot apply a new caulking product over the old one. You will need to carefully remove all residue from the old caulking before applying the new caulking. We recommend the use of an electric knife or pliers for this purpose. Afterwards, you can remove the dust from the affected surface with a broom, and use a solvent and a cloth to remove any impurities that may have remained on your door or window frame.
Steps to properly caulk your home
Briefly, here is a summary:
- Remove old caulking;
- Sweep the surface where the caulk was located;
- Use a solvent and a cloth to clean the surface;
- Dry the surface with a heat gun;
- Using a caulking gun, apply new caulking where needed.
To avoid the headache, call us and one of our professionals will come and do the caulking job for you!
The consequences of a poorly sealed house
Several things can indicate that your home is poorly caulked. For example, you may find that you host a large number of insects, such as ants, spiders, ladybugs, etc. You’ll also notice an increase in your heating or cooling costs, and you’ll have a greater risk of water infiltration. If your caulking is broken, you could even end up with rodents in your home!
How can I make sure my home is properly caulked?
Rather than trying to do an inspection of your doors and windows on your own, why not contact the experts? The professionals at Brisebois Extermination will be happy to verify the current caulking in your home and guide you towards the solutions that apply to your situation!
In summary, a caulked house can cause as many problems as an uncaulked house if the caulking is poorly done or damaged. Before you experience these problems, give us a call so we can make sure your home is not just caulked, but caulked well!