Having cracks in drywall does not necessarily spell doom. It is easy to gain the skills necessary for caulking drywall cracks with ease, saving you both money and time. Knowing how to do this also gives you the freedom to fix the cracks in a manner that suits you best. You could customize the job to make it look artistic if you wanted to. You could turn this skill into a source of extra income if you wanted to as well. To get there, you would need a good amount of experience in the art.
As is the case with any other problem, the first step to solving it is finding out what caused it in the first place. This will give you a guide on how to identify the drywall cracks that can be easily repaired and those that need preliminary work first. For instance, if you find that the cracks were caused by pests within the wall, the first step would be to call pest control so that they can get rid of the problem. Otherwise, your efforts will come undone pretty fast if you fix the drywall with the pests still in place. Some of the practical tips you will find helpful in caulking drywall cracks include:
Get a Fresh Supply of Caulk
It might be tempting to use caulk that has been lying around in the house for some time. Do not fall into this trap. After a brief time, caulk becomes dry and old. This type of caulk is also difficult to work with as it is not pliable. Compare several types of caulk including acrylic latex caulk for the type of project you want to undertake.
Get Caulk that you can Paint Over
Not all types of caulk hold paint well. Some people prefer silicone-based caulk for this while others prefer acrylic latex caulk. Do some light research on your options and choose the ones that fit your needs well.
Properly Assess the Crack
Before beginning the repairs, find out more about the crack. Examine it in detail including the possibility of air leakage causing the crack. You can hire borescopes from many stores and even online, and they will make your work easier. Also make sure that you buy caulk that is not permeable, as this will leak air and make your home inefficient when it comes to saving energy. In addition to that, the caulk should not be highly flammable especially when close to a source of fire or a lot of heat, such as a boiler.
Apply the Caulk to the Crack
This is easier than it sounds. You can use your fingers, a spatula, or a flat piece of plastic. Before using it, compare it with the drywall to make sure that the color and consistency match. If they do, simply cover up the crack using whichever implement you decided to use.
In many cases, you will come across drywall cracks that are too technically difficult to work with for one reason or another. Instead of risking it, contact a specialist in drywall caulking to help you manage the case. You can contact us any time with any caulking needs you have.