Special Caulking Gun Tips

• A caulking gun is an indispensable tool in the building trades. Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images

  The caulking gun is an underrated tool, almost as important as a hammer to a carpenter or a paintbrush to a painter. The protective coating it delivers seals seams and closes gaps around the edges of trim boards, not only providing an integrated surface for painting but sealing out water and enhancing insulation. Using a caulking gun isn't complicated, but the results can be messy and ineffective unless you do it properly.

Choosing Your Gun

• Manual caulking guns can have a continuous plunger rod or a notched one. Both work equally well for most applications, although the notched variety can deliver more force and is better for highly viscous materials like roofing tar. Since it advances in discrete steps, though, it is more difficult to disengage the plunger when you have come to the end of a bead. The result is an excess of material that is hard to control and that can ruin an otherwise pristine bead. Tim Carter of Ask the Builder recommends using the smooth-rod type for interior trim.

Cutting the Hole

• The hole that you cut in the end of the caulking tube can have a dramatic effect on your final results. If the hole is too big, too much material will come out, while if it is too small, you'll have to work harder and possibly make a second pass. John Streider of Paint Pro recommends cutting the tube so that the hole is slightly smaller than the gap you have to fill. He also recommends cutting the hole at a 45-degree angle, and holding the gun at the same angle while you work to force the caulk into the gap.

Applying the Caulk

• You can either push or pull the gun along the gap you are filling. Pushing forces the material into the gap more effectively, but if the wood has bumps, the tip can get stuck and the result is an excess of material that you have to clean off. If you pull the gun, the tip is less likely to get stuck and seeing the bead is easier so you can gauge how hard to pull the trigger. Laying just enough caulk to fill the gap makes smoothing it over an effortless procedure.

Smoothing the Bead

• An ideal caulking job would not require any smoothing, but this kind of perfection is hard to achieve. After most applications, the best strategy is to run your finger along the bead to create a concave surface. If you have laid just the right amount of caulk, there will be just a small amount on your finger when you are finished. For occasions when there is more, have a rag handy so you can keep your finger clean. If you are using a latex-based caulk, keeping the rag damp will keep your finger cleaner.