Caulking Drywall: Tips and Tricks

If you’ve got thin cracks in your drywall, you don’t necessarily have to break out the drywall compound to mud the area. Caulking drywall is a much faster and easier way to repair those hairline cracks.In fact, you can save time and money on your home renovation by caulking drywall corners in areas like closets, laundry rooms, and mudrooms. However, you should be aware of two things before you start caulking.

No matter what type of caulk you’re using, the caulked part will look off and the paint will be easily discolored. Secondly, caulk will not last unless the environment temperature is stable. If you are caulking in an area where the temperature is changing significantly, within a year or two you will have to recaulk it.

Now, discover our list of tips and tricks for caulking drywall in your home.

Buy Fresh Supplies for Caulking Drywall

If you’re tempted to grab an old tube of caulk that you’ve had for a while, don’t. Caulk becomes useless once it dries out, and chances are, that old tube is pretty dry. You need a fresh tube in order to get the best, smoothest results.

Select a Paintable Variety of Caulk

When you purchase the caulk, be sure that it’s the type you can paint over. Not all types of caulk hold paint well. Some DIY home renovation experts swear by paintable silicone caulk since it allows the paint to adhere smoothly.

Others claim that the silicone caulk cracks much faster, and they recommend high-quality acrylic latex caulk. Ultimately, your goals determine your choices in this case. Before you make a purchasing decision, you may want to read this article for a better comparison.

Check the Quality of the Drywall Crack Repair Caulk

When you’re caulking drywall, don’t skimp on quality to save money. Cheaper forms of the caulk might crack or fall out more quickly, or they may permit greater air leakage, which in turn will contribute to a general lack of airtightness in the home.

If you have too much leakage, the house won’t be as energy-efficient, and your property value could dip lower.

Another factor to consider is the safety quality of the caulk. Most caulks are flammable, which adds a risk factor to their use when you’re patching drywall. If possible, purchase fire-rated caulk that offers similar protection to standard fire-resistant drywall mud.

Apply the Caulk to the Drywall Cracks

Caulk usually comes with easy-to-use instructions printed on the tube. All you need to do is snip off the end and begin squeezing out the caulk. Test the substance first on a disposable surface so you can be sure it’s the right color and consistency; then apply it to the drywall crack.

You can use your finger to press the caulk into the crack and then smooth it out with a paddle or scraping tool. Before the caulk completely sets, give the wall a quick wipe-down to remove any excess or overflow.

Drywall cracks are very common around windows and doors due to the added use and moisture in those areas. You can caulk along the edge of a door frame or window frame and use your finger to push the caulk along the crevice and smooth it out. Be sure to wash your hands after caulking drywall.

After the caulk sets and dries completely, you can touch up the caulked area with paint. Be sure that the color of the paint is precisely the same as that of the rest of the wall, or the newly caulked area will look odd.

Caulking Vs. Spackling

Because it’s so flexible and you can’t sand it, caulk isn’t the ideal material for filling holes. You should instead do that with a quick application of spackling compound, using a putty knife. Spackling compound is also the material to use to repair chips in wood — it’s stiffer than caulk yet pliable enough to mold, and you can shape it with sandpaper after it dries. Caulk is the material you need when you want to fill gaps around wood trim and molding or when you want to provide a weather-resistant seal around a door or window.

Application

Applying spackling compound is a straightforward procedure — scrape it on with a putty knife, wait for it to dry, then sand it flat — but the procedure for applying caulk is a bit more involved. Because caulk is designed to seal long gaps, you generally apply it in a continuous bead with a caulking gun in a two-step process. The first step is to apply the bead, and the second is to tool it by running your finger along it to create a convex surface. After that, you allow the caulk to dry. If it isn’t silicone, you can paint it.

Patching Drywall

Simply drywall patching requires surface preparation, applying the drywall compound, and then sanding and finishing the wall surface. A quick trip to your local hardware store should provide you with all the materials and tools you need. You might even be able to get some extra tips on your specific drywall patching project. Small-to-medium sized holes and drywall cracks shouldn’t be too difficult, and if something does go wrong, you’re unlikely to make the situation much worse than when you started. Make sure you know how to repair a hole in the drywall to avoid more expensive repairs.

On the other hand, just like trying to touch up some chipped paint, if you don’t have extra paint you probably won’t get an exact match.

Patching Drywall Alternatives

One alternative to common drywall patching compound is paintable caulk. If, for some reason, you find your drywall cracks repeatedly (around the edge of a windowpane, for example), apply a paintable caulk that is also water washable directly into the crack with your finger. Before it sets (usually within 30 minutes), wipe down with a clean damp cloth, again to smooth and to allow the existing texture to bleed through.

Matching Color and Texture When Filling Drywall Cracks

While matching the original color of your wall is difficult enough, if you have textured drywall surfacing, it’s going to be at least as difficult to match the drywall texture. If this is a concern, you might consider hiring a drywall contractor. The match may still not be exact, but it will probably be a whole lot closer to what you can produce. If you have several small home repair projects, you might also be saving yourself a bunch of time and headaches by hiring a handyman. A handyman may be able to patch your damaged drywall, look at your broken refrigerator, oil your garage door tracks, patch up your stained carpet, and whatever other small projects you have that needs to be done. If your walls are older and need new life, you might also consider hiring a professional home painter. Instead of trying to match your drywall patch to your old, worn wall surface, decorative painting and texturing can transform your room.

How To Drywall: A Finishing Shortcut

Most home improvement shortcuts lead to trouble. But here’s one that makes drywall finishing faster without regrets later:

In closets and other low-priority areas, don’t tape and mud inside corners. Instead, caulk them. I first tried this trick on wall and ceiling corners 20 years ago—and those corners still look good. There are just four things you need to know:

• When you hang the rock, keep gaps to a minimum. You can get away with 1/8-in. gaps, but not wider.

• Finish all the tapered joints and get a coat of primer on the rock before you caulk. Caulking directly over the absorbent paper facing leads to an ugly caulk job.

• Use a high-quality acrylic latex caulk. I once used dirt-cheap “painter’s caulk” and got cracks within a year.

• Don’t tell anyone. Critics will think you’re a lazy slouch. But if you don’t tell them, they’ll never notice.

How to choose the Best Commercial Painting Company: Your Complete Guide

In this age of DIYs, a business owner may get tempted to do the painting job on their own to save on costs. However, it’s rare that you get to save huge amounts of money doing this. Sometimes, you spend even more.

That’s because you may spend as much as twice the amount of time it takes for a professional to complete the job. This time is better spent on building your business, which gives you better ROI. Hiring a commercial painting company also saves you from having to fix your mistakes

Make a List of Painting Contractors

The first thing to do is to find potential contractors for the job. Google is the best place to look. But you can also ask your friends, family, and neighbors for any recommendations. This is more preferable than getting names off Google. As long as you trust the judgment of the people you asked, you’ll get introduced to a reliable company

Get Estimates for Their Painting Services

Next, ask for their quotations for the painting job you need. This step should be free. You must already have a set budget in mind. Cross out those that get back to you with an estima

Factors When Choosing a Commercial Painting Company

The price isn’t the only thing you should look at when choosing a reputable commercial painting company. You should also look at the following information, which you can get by asking.

Key Considerations when Choosing a Commercial Painter

Your business or commercial property is important to you, and one of your biggest concerns will be keeping it in the best possible condition at all times. Undoubtedly, painting is one of the most critical investments you are going to make in your commercial property. Nobody wants to pay a painter to do a lousy job. If you are planning to have any part of your property painted, you need to find a commercial painting contractor you can trust to deliver quality service from start to finish. You’re right to expect the kind of results that you can feel proud to show off

Every commercial painting company has a distinctive set of skills, techniques and experiences. You need to hire a contractor who can provide you with the specific services that you need. Finding a prominent commercial painting contractor may be difficult, but it’s incredibly crucial.

Start Selecting Core Candidates

The first place most people look for information is the internet. Browsing a commercial painting company’s website can be as helpful to you as it is to their company. You can also check in local directories find useful recommendations from friends or family who have hired quality painters in the past. Make a shortlist of contractors who you consider to be your core candidates, then call them to ask for an interview or an estimate

Do Your Research

Once you have our shortlist, it’s time to do some in-depth research. Ask for references from each painting company, and follow up with their customers to see if they are still happy with the work the company provided. Make sure the company has any required licenses and insurance policies to support you in the case of an accident. You must check if there are any formal complaints filed against the company. It could also help to find out how long they have been running the business, and if they belong to a local or national partner’s association. The more information you know about the companies, the better.

Your Quote is Your Contract

The days of a piece of paper with a single sentence describing your job and a price have passed. Choose the quote that provides you with every specific detail of work to be carried out. This includes what is going to be painted, how the surfaces will be prepared, and what types of products will be used where and how they will be implemented

How to Choose the Right Commercial Painter

Ensuring it is kept in immaculate condition and looking its best will always be a top concern to those managing the property, and painting is a huge factor to consider when investing in renovation or maintenance. Whether your property is customer facing or is an office space hosting important visitors, you want to create an environment you are proud of as it reflects your business. It is also important to consider your employees and how comfortable they will be in the right environment. Happy employees are more productive, and any business owner would want that for their company.

Hiring a commercial painter is an essential part of this process. You will want the best possible service and finish for the best possible price. Because each commercial property is different and can have very different, specific needs, it is important to consider a commercial painter whose skills and experience meet these specifications. When looking for a painting company to best meet your needs, it can feel overwhelming with all the choice available. Before you decide

Make a Shortlist

There is a huge amount of choice available out there. Most people will probably start by looking on the internet for local companies who specialize in commercial painting jobs. Consider what specifications you require and look for providers who specialize in that area. If you have any family or friends who have used commercial painters in the past, it is always worth asking them if they have any recommendations. Being able to actually see the work a company can do is a terrific way to know if they are up to the job. Once you have a list of likely candidates, contact them individually to inquire about a consultation or quote

Always Do Your Research

Once you have a shortlist, you need to make sure to do some research. Testimonials and references from past customers are crucial. Follow up to see if they are still happy with the work that was carried out and inquire about ongoing maintenance and aftercare. Do some internet searching to see if there are any negative reviews. A negative review doesn’t always mean the company is unusable but see how they responded to it and then make an informed decision. Check to make sure the company has all the relevant licenses and insurance, just in case something goes wrong. If an accident happens or any damage is done you need to make sure you are adequately covered. You can never have too much information, so try and learn as much as you can.

Ask for a Detailed Quote and Get it Signed

Make sure that any quote you are provided with shows that the contractor understands the job fully and has included all the specific details you require within the pricing. This includes any prep work that is needed, finishes, the specifics of the surfaces involved and any other unusual requirements. Ask questions if you are unsure of anything and seek advice if necessary. If you are satisfied, sign the quote yourself and make sure the contractor also signs it. Any respectable contractor will not have an issue doing this, and it makes the quote a legally binding contract should anything go wrong.

How to Choose a Commercial Painting Contractor

Your business or commercial property is extremely important to you, and one of the biggest concerns that you have is keeping it in the best condition possible at all times. If you’re having any part of your property painted, you need to hire a commercial painting contractor who you know you can trust for quality work. Every painting company has a different set of skills, experience, and techniques, so it’s important that you select a contractor who will be able to provide you with all of the specific services that you need. Finding a commercial painting contractor in Fort Lauderdale can be difficult, and it’s also extremely important.

Start By Selecting Core Candidates

The first place that most people look for any kind of information is the internet, and any commercial painter’s website should be as helpful to you as it is to their company. You should be able to easily find qualified commercial painters in For Lauderdale online. However, you should also check in local directories, and you should get recommendations from people who have used painters in the past. Select a a few contractors and your core candidates, then call them to ask an estimate and an interview.

Don’t Base Your Decision On Pricing Alone

As a business or commercial property owner in Fort Lauderdale, the cost of any work that you’re having performed is very important to you. One of the most important qualities of a commercial painting contractor is their ability to provide you with an honest and accurate estimate of the cost of the work. And while you do want to make sure that you’re overpaying for any services, you also don’t want to simply choose the company that offers the lowest estimate. Remember: differences in pricing are often a reflection of the differences in service and quality of work that you’ll receive.

Choose the Right Specialists

When you begin to interview commercial painting contractors in Fort Lauderdale, make sure that they have the proper skill set for the jobs that you need to have performed. You should also make sure that the painting company has all the skills and specializations that you’ll need for this job. Otherwise, you may end up needing to hire multiple different companies.

Tips Of Choosing Your Commercial Painting Contractor

Commercial painting involves a lot of work and expertise. Therefore, whenever you are thinking of giving a building a facelift, it is essential that you think through about the contractor that will do the painting for you. This is specifically very important because it determines the quality of work that you will get. With all the commercial contractors in town, you are spoilt for choice on whom you can choose and therefore, you can never have any excuse as to why your building looks horrible. Below are some tips to follow when choosing your commercial painting contractor.

Ask around

Whenever it is your first time painting the exterior or interior of your house or business, finding your commercial painting contractor can seem like a huge dark cloud over you. However, nothing could be further from the truth, all you need to first do is ask people around you on the best contractor that they know of. You can ask your friends, colleagues at work, or family members among others and you will surprised about what knowledge people hold. After doing this, you will get a list of the number of good commercial painting contractors in town, which then gives you the license to start finding your ideal commercial painting contractor.

Do research

After you have been given a list of the reputable commercial painting contractors around town, you cannot give them the job all of them. You will need to narrow down on the best contractor who is best suited to paint your building. You can only achieve this by carrying out thorough research on the list if the painter near me contractors that you have on your list. This will enable you find out more about the kin d of people that you will be dealing with. Therefore, ask whether they have licenses, whether they are insured, check their status in the business bureaus and ask the number of years that they have been in the business.

Get their estimates

After you have gotten adequate information about the kind of companies that they are, you can narrow down on your best three commercial painting contractors. These are the best contractors that you have sampled that matches your qualification. After doing this, then ask them to provide you with the estimates of the costs that they will charge to paint your house or business. Pay keen attention to the costs that they give, any low cost or very high costs should raise your red flag. Compare the prices that they charge and do an average of the costs. You can thereafter choose the contractor that charges reasonably affordable without curtailing the quality of the work that they do.