What brand or type of caulk stays clean (or is easily cleaned)?
I am referring to caulk between pieces of exterior painted wood trim.
Discussion Forum
Discussion Forum
Up Next
Video Shorts
Featured Story
Michael Hindle explores the efficacy of deep energy retrofits and discusses essential considerations for effective climate mitigation.
Featured Video
SawStop's Portable Tablesaw is Bigger and Better Than BeforeHighlights
"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.
Replies
I'm not trying to be a smart-guy, but if it's paintable, I would think the paint over it would be the thing that gets dirty. At any rate, silicone repells dirt, but won't take paint. There are paintable siliconized acrylic and latex caulks available that are good. I like Alex or Polyseamseal (though that can tend to be runny).
Paintable caulk intentionally has a somewhat porous surface, in order to better hold the paint. It also contains fewer color stabilizers and UV blockers than non-paintable.
So it's best if it's painted within a few months of application.
OSI Quad caulk is great for exterior trim, I don't know how easily it can be cleaned though.
But if you're painting it, so long as you paint it quickly before it get's "dirty" it shouldn't matter how easily cleaned the caulk is.
Especially if the caulk does not ahve a mildewcide additive, it will easily discolor. But that can be removed with tsp or mild bleach. You're right about keepinmg dirt out until after it skins over.
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt
All of the acrylic caulks I've used attract dirt after they cure. I suppose that's why they also hold paint better than the silicone types. We get a lot of wind-blown silt and it can turn a bead of white caulk brown in a couple of days.