How to Do a Fine Line of Caulking

Adding caulking to your home is an efficient way to solve many problems. Caulk can be used to plug an air leak around windows or doors, making your home more energy efficient. Caulk can also fill small spaces and cracks, such as the fine line between the wall and baseboards, to keep these areas from collecting dust and grime in the tiny gap. The best caulking job will be almost undetectable, sealing up these areas in a manner that blends seamlessly from one area to the next.

• 1

  Select a tube of caulk appropriate to your project. Common areas where you would want a particularly fine line of caulking are along the baseboards of your home or around doors and windows. Silicone latex blends work well with most household projects, including those around woodwork and in bathrooms or kitchens. If you're caulking in a damp area, opt for a mildew resistant variety. You will probably want caulk that is the same color as the baseboard or wall so that it blends seamlessly with the surroundings.

• 2

  Clean the area to be caulked very thoroughly to remove dirt. Scrape away any previous layers of caulk using a putty knife. Allow several hours for the cleaned area to dry before you begin applying the caulk, so you don't seal moisture into the cracks.

• 3

  Apply a layer of primer to the area if you are caulking along woodwork. This will seal the uneven spots that occur naturally in the grain of the wood, making it easier to remove excess caulk if needed.

• 4

  Cut a small hole in the tip of the tube of caulk. For a fine line, a hole that's about 1/16th of an inch should be appropriate. However, you may need to adjust this depending on the specifications for your project. Always start small; it's easy to cut a bigger hole, but impossible to reduce the size of a large one without getting a new tip.

• 5

  Load the tube of caulk into the caulk gun. The tip should fit into the front of the gun with the plunger sitting flush with the back. The side of the tube will lay flat along the caulk gun's barrel.

• 6

  Hold the gun at a comfortable 30 to 45 degree angle with the tip aligned just above the crack to be caulked. Gently squeeze the trigger and move the tip of the caulk gun along the crack, applying an even line of caulk as you move.

• 7

  Run the tip of your finger along the line of caulk to gently ease it into the crack and form a smooth, even line.

• 8

  Moisten a sponge very lightly and run over the line of caulk to soften the edges. This will create an almost imperceptible seam between the caulk and surrounding wall or woodwork. Do not press down with the sponge as this may remove the caulk completely.