From rush job to respect: how I changed my tune on caulking

I once saw caulking as a time-waster, but now I realize it's the key to preventing costly water damage and ensuring customer satisfaction!

7 comments

7 Comments

the_john1mo ago

Caulking gets way too much credit. A lot of leaks come from design flaws, not missing sealant. Ellis.jesse had leaky windows, but was it really the caulking? Proper flashing and drainage matter more. Spend time on the structure, not just slapping on goop.

the_richard1mo ago

Hold on, did the_john just claim caulking is overrated? That's wild because in my experience, skipping caulk is a guaranteed callback. But he's got a point about design flaws, I've seen windows installed without proper flashing and no amount of sealant fixes that. Still, telling people to ignore caulking feels dangerous, like advising against seatbelts because cars should be crash-proof. You need both, right? Structure first, then sealant, but never zero sealant.

markm271mo ago

Tell me about it... learned that lesson the hard way too.

ellis.jesse1mo ago

Took me a few leaky windows to learn that lesson too.

rileysullivan1mo ago

The constant drip drip is the real teacher.

rubyreed1mo ago

Yeah, learning from leaky windows is so true. I always reached for the caulk first, but @the_john's point about design flaws really shifted my perspective. Now I check the structure before even touching the sealant, lol.

mia_park1mo ago

Interesting point from @rubyreed about checking structure first. What specific signs do you look for that scream 'design flaw' versus just needing caulk?