Years ago I read an article in Fine Homebuilding that changed the way I caulked. Basically it stated that you needed to improve your caulking technique and get your finger out of the caulk.
The author went on to explain how fingering a caulk joint weakened the bond between the materials. It was about a three page article not a how-to-tip.
Also by leaving it alone it would get the concave look as it dried out (which it does).
The reason I’m asking is that I would like to share this article with people, and yes I have searched FHB with no luck. I was hoping someone here might be able to help.
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Do you have any idea how far back the article was published? That can help us narrow down the search. In the meantime, these likely aren't exactly what you're looking for, but hopefully they provide some useful insight!
https://www.finehomebuilding.com/1997/09/01/silicone-caulking-basics
https://www.finehomebuilding.com/2015/11/25/the-complete-guide-to-caulk
Lana MH
FHB Assistant Editor
It was late 90's early 2000's best I can remember. The author was using exterior caulking as an example, however it could be applied anywhere. It had two diagrams. One showing how fingering the caulk created a weak point in the caulk. The second showed how a properly laid bead sealed and cured.
Thanks for the articles, while informative they're not the one I remember.
You might want to check out this video on youtube. He talks about the concave bead being weak and demonstrates a method that is different than most others. I haven't yet tried it so I can't comment on whether it's a better method.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DI4hfHM_Hg
Thanks, I'll have to check it out.
I found this video on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRJ07szoee0
It covers a little bit about what I've been looking for.