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The main use of caulking is to close cracks and gaps that have emerged on interior-to-exterior walls. However, they are useful beyond that application. Included in this section are the additional ways to make use of caulk around your home. 

Use Caulk to Cover Up Damaged Elements of Your Home

If you have a cat at home, you likely know about how destructive they can be. They like to sharpen their claws on all kinds of surfaces and sometimes, they may focus on your stairway’s bannister.

After a while, your cat may have carved into that bannister significantly, causing a big gap to form. Instead of having to spend big bucks on replacing the whole bannister, you can use caulk to fill in the gap left behind. Paint over the caulk after it dries and hardly anyone will notice that the bannister was even damaged in the first place.

Caulk also works well on pieces of wood that had nails removed from them. The caulk can be used to plug the holes and make the wood look good as new. 

Stick Things Back in Place Using Caulk

Caulking features some adhesive qualities that make it suitable for other types of home repair. If you notice portions of wallpaper peeling, carpet coming off, or molding falling away, you can use caulk to help put those parts of your back in their original position.

Still, you should not rely on caulk as a regular substitute for other adhesives. Caulk has a tendency to break down faster as an adhesive compared to other items specifically formulated for that purpose. Reserve using caulk as an adhesive in emergency situations or if you’re just touching up items that will hardly be noticeable. 

Caulk Can Inhibit the Growth of Mold and Mildew in the Bathroom

Tiles are lauded for their durability, but even they are prone to cracking or moving apart after a while. The main problem there is that those openings can serve as nesting areas for mold and mildew. Unless you want to turn your bathroom into a breeding ground for those organisms, you need to seal those gaps as soon as possible.

Caulking works great for this job because it’s waterproof. It will close the gaps that emerged while simultaneously preventing any form of moisture from seeping into them.

Caulk is useful not just for fixing tiles in the bathroom. You can also use it to form a protective seal around new installations such as bathtubs to help secure them in place. 

Patch Up Leaking Pipes and Faucets With Caulk

The faucets and pipes you have installed at home won’t remain free of leaks forever. Wear and tear can get to them eventually and adversely impact their effectiveness.

While applying caulk should not be a long-term solution, it can at least work as a temporary salve. Use it on leaking faucets or pipe connections to prevent potential water damage to your home. Caulking can also buy you some time as you save up for the more expensive repairs. 

Seal Any Openings Pests May Get Through With the Help of Caulk

Pests invade homes for a variety of reasons. They may infiltrate your home because they have a reliable food source there. They may also start taking up residence in your home if they find it to be a good provider of shelter.

Sometimes, pests may also enter your home simply because they can. Openings along your walls or around the base of your home may serve as attractive entry points pests cannot resist. Do yourself and your family a favor by closing those openings right away using caulk. 

What Are the Different Types of Caulk?

There are different varieties of caulking that are currently available. It’s important to familiarize yourself with them so that you make the right purchase based on your needs. 

Butyl Rubber Caulk 

Butyl rubber caulk is best used on the roof to patch up holes there. It also works well around windows and on spots where different materials are present.

Latex Caulk 

This type of caulk is among the easiest to apply and it works best over tile surfaces and bathroom fixtures. Avoid using it in spots that move around a lot though as it lacks elasticity.

Oil-Based Caulk 

Oil-based caulking should be reserved for external applications. As much as possible, you should also use it only on non-porous surfaces to maximize its durability.

Polyurethane Caulk 

The main selling point of polyurethane caulk is that it expands as it dries. For that reason, this is the type of caulk best used on large and/or irregularly shaped gaps.

Silicone Caulk 

Silicone caulk is probably the most versatile variant as it works well on all kinds of surfaces. It rates well in terms of flexibility too, making it a wise choice to use on spots that tend to move a lot.

Water-Based Caulk 

You may also know this as the quick-dry variety of caulk. Water-based caulk only needs about a day to cure completely.