Caulking doesn’t have to be difficult
You also need to cut the tip of the caulk tube so the hole at the end of the tube is no bigger than inch. The goal is to lay down a bead of caulk that is just enough to fill the gap, allowing no excess to be removed. This technique comes only with lots of practice.
The easiest caulks to work with are ones that are water-based or can be cleaned up with water. I fill a 3.5-gallon bucket with warm water and have one of my special tile grout sponges handy. These sponges have no sharp edges or corners.
I apply the caulk to about 2 feet of the crack or gap. I then tool the caulk with my finger, creating a concave appearance. If I have applied too much caulk and excess starts to build upon my finger or begins to smear, I lift my finger off the caulk and wipe the excess off my fingertip farther down the crack or gap so no caulk is wasted.
The final step is to take the damp sponge, with all excess water squeezed out, and slide it softly across the fresh caulk to remove any smears and to give it a very smooth appearance. Don’t press hard on the sponge while doing this step. Practice on a test crack to master the sponging technique.
I’ve created a page on my website for you that has caulk installation videos and other tips. Go to go.ask thebuilder.com/caulk.
A: Each week I do autopsies for homeowners who have problems at their homes. In many cases, the root cause of the problem is a bad building lot.
I have so many building lot articles on my website that I could assemble the information into a small book. There are so many things to consider, but here are a few of the major dealbreakers for me.
The size of the lot is important. Will you be able to fit the house and all other things like sheds, decks, patios, etc., you want inside the setback lines as defined in the local zoning code? Is the lot too steep for the house or will it cause driveway issues?
Are all the utilities you need available? If the lot is undeveloped, how hard and expensive is it to get electric service to your home from the street? What about internet access? Is it readily available at the speed you need?
Compass direction can be critical. The back of my house has a huge deck on it and faces east. I like that because it means I don’t broil in the intense afternoon sun while on the deck.
What about the soil? Is it thin, requiring you to blast? Does the lot have great drainage?
I’ve got lots of free extra building lot tips for you at my website at go.askthe builder.com/buildinglot.