I have been hearing differing opinions on exterior caulk. I need a caulk for exterior trim applications so it needs to be paintable, weather proof and remain flexible.
What brand and type floats your boat for this application?
I realize this can be a relatively personal choice but I have too many “…sure you COULD use that….” explanations on caulk. What DO you guys use?
Thanks as always.
SJ
Know a little about alot and alot about little.
Replies
Hiya, Steve-
DO NOT use water based caulk for this application.
DO NOT use silicone.
IMO the best type for this application is polyurethane. 'Quad' by OSI is my favorite. Vulchem is also a good one.
Polyurethane rules!
Ken Hill
My caulk of choice is All-Pro's acrylic urethane. It is paintable and washes up with water. Others will post other choices, including a urethane, but I never see any of what people like for sale in Marion. The All-Pro is under $4.00 a tube, so it isn't real cheap, but it isn't exactly expensive either.
I have found the Lexon that is talked about and I've used it once. Seemed pretty good, but it is $6.00 a tube and harder to work with. I painted a house maybe four years ago and I know the paint still looks great, but I haven't taken a close look at the caulk. I need to go look.
Rich Beckman
Thanks Guys for the input. Since the two big boxes kind of pushed out all the smaller shops here it is tough to find anything but DAP products for sealant. I deal with a solid lumber yard for my wood however their great service enables me to never really go there in person. I will take a trip there to see what they have for a selection but I am trying to get a handle on what I'm really looking for in a good sealant.
Again thanks for any and all feedback.
SJ
Know a little about alot and alot about little.
Being a "real man" and all, this is difficult for me to say, but.........Check out the directions on the tube. There's quite a bit of info on them. It can be real frustrating to put some caulk on that you think is paintable only to see the paint bead up on the surface of it. Not that it's ever happened to me, of course.
A while back I bought some "clear" caulk from thre local lumberyard. Went and put it on, only to realize what was coming out of the tube was actually white. So I took it back to complain. The guy at the lumberyard showed me where the label said: "Dries to clear in 3 days" (Or something like that)
Real men don't need instructions (the first time, anyway)
Steve - For exterior sealant I think it's hard to beat White Lightning in white (not clear).
T. Jeffery Clarke